Were You On a Roll?

As I reached into the deep recesses of my purse to find the office key a penny fell out. I bent to pick it up but it was rolling. So I followed it! It kept rolling until it hit a floor mat and then it fell over. I stooped to pick it up and God spoke to my heart.

Many times our lives are like that penny.  We roll along, doing our own thing, fully upright, having a great time. We may not even be reading the Bible or praying all that much, but hey life is good! We’re “on a roll”!

Then we hit a snag. Something looming in front of us stops us dead in our tracks. We can do nothing but fall over. The rolling merrily along comes to a grinding halt and we’re done. We find ourselves flat on our faces and not enjoying it at all!

There’s nothing left to do when we find ourselves flat except to cry out to the One who is higher than we are! Who can reach down to help us?  Other people who are having a hard time? Folks who are having their own great time? 

Unless we acknowledge Him as Lord over our “roll”, it’s hard to believe we can cry out to Him when we’re flattened by life’s circumstances. But we can!  When we realize that we aren’t the masters of our own fates, we aren’t the ones who punch out our own lives, we don’t keep ourselves going, keep ourselves up or keep ourselves “on a roll” we have no problem crying out to God to help us.

Maybe you were on a roll. Everything was as neat as an entire roll of pennies. You had things in order, you enjoyed your life and it was good. Suddenly you hit a snag. You came to the edge of yourself and fell over in pain, discomfort, sorrow, fear, disappointment, disillusionment, dismay, self-condemnation. You thought you’d be fine, but now you just aren’t fine! You feel like you’ve been stepped on, kicked over, thrown on the sidewalk or mashed through the vending machine.  You’re hurting and you don’t know if you can ever get up and walk again, much less get on a roll. Merrily has been replaced with barely and you’re hurting.

Oh beloved! Don’t despair! Cry out to Jesus, for He has been following you all along. He has been watching over you, hoping that you would stop the chaos and give Him some time. He may have let you fall on your face, but only to seek Him. He may have watched the events of your life unfold, but He was never disinterested.  He had wonderful plans for you before the foundation of the world. He still has wonderful plans for you. He will pick you up and set you on a fresh course of freedom and joy as you put your hope, your plans and your future in His hands.  It doesn’t matter how you got to this point. All that matters is that God sees your plight and hears your cries.

Go ahead, call out to Him no matter what your situation because He loves you and He’s for you and He will answer and restore you every time.

Psalm 119:93  I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have revived me.

Psalm 119:67-68 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now Your word do I keep [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it].  You are good and kind and do good; teach me Your statutes. (AMP)

Lamentations 3:55-56 But I called on your name, Lord, from deep within the pit.  You heard me when I cried, “Listen to my pleading! Hear my cry for help!

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (NAS)

Psalm 107:2 … Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! (entire chapter)

Isaiah 59:1 Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is His ear too deaf to hear you call.

Jeremiah 32:17 O Sovereign LORD! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

God Says You're on the Winning Team!

Remember the days of picking kids to be on teams? We wanted the best to hold the line, throw the ball, jump the rope and more. There were the ones that were always picked last. It was hard because kids wanted to be nice, but they wanted to win. So the struggle between having a good team and having a good heart was there on the playground for the whole world to see.

Sometimes the underdog just got made fun of and left to suffer in his or her own problems. Other times we’d find out that the underdog was actually a shining star with talents none of us knew! It was amazing to see the look on the face of the kid who didn’t fit in as everyone cheered on the victorious home run or breaking through for Red Rover.

Our country is in a bit of a mess. I might say we may be in the last inning. There’s trouble at all the bases and the opposing team appears to be bigger, stronger and “badder”.  We’re the underdogs that’s for sure.  Unless we do something drastic we can’t hope to win. Can we?

You’re probably feeling the heat yourself. Life can be a big a mess as the playing field of life gets littered with all kinds of problems. You know you’re the weaker link, the last to be picked and you may even have been left out of the game altogether.  Unless you do something drastic you won’t win. Will you?

Is there hope for us on the underdog team? Is there hope for you as an underdog yourself? Maybe you’re thinking about throwing in the towel and making yourself fit in with the other team. You’re tired of having a good heart, full of good intentions and being lonely and outcast and unappreciated, undervalued and discarded like a bad penny.

Oh beloved, I encourage you today to get out the Play Book of Life and read:  The underdogs win! It may look rough, the sky may be growing dark, the winds of change are blowing in and the devil himself is howling at your door. But God says you are on the A Team! God says you’re a Winner! God says you are victorious not a victim! He says you are beautiful, perfect and redeemed. He says you are able and content and valiant! He says greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world!

It may be the last inning and you may be struggling, but God says I love you and I AM for you and that’s all that matters in the playing field of life!

Psalm 112:6-8 Such people will not be overcome by evil.  Those who are righteous will be long remembered.  They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.  They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

1 John 5:5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

I John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

I Corinthians 1:8-9 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.  God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Is Anything Too Difficult for God?

My husband is the handiest man I’ve ever known. He can just about fix anything. He can make broken things run again. He can repair just about anything, from broken toys to broken vehicles.  We’ve had motorcycle blow-outs and he’s plugged the hole and gone on. We’ve had alternators quit and he figured out a way to get us home. 

One day I called him when I arrived home first.  We had no electricity. I looked in the neighborhood and everyone else had their lights on.  I knew I had paid the bill, yet I was doubting myself. I was torn up! I called him and found out that he was on his way home.  He got out of his car, went to the side of the house and checked the main power switch. With a simple flip all power was restored!

Last night I heard him vacuuming the car. I wanted to go out to thank him and laugh with him, “It’s not gonna do much good with all the trees dropping their blooms.” But before I had a chance to get out there I heard the leaf blower.  Sure enough he was blowing away all those as well!

God says to you this morning, Is your heart broken? I can fix that! Is your faith sight failing? I can correct that.  Are you wondering if you can get through the next hard circumstances looming before you? I can get you through that.  Everything that needs fixing in your life – from church to faith to work to home to anything else you can name as a problem or a trouble – God says to you this morning “I can fix that!” His name is I AM and because of that, He is I AM for every situation in life. He says to you daily that I AM the one who loves you, I AM the one who provides for you, I AM the heart mender, the circuit repairer and the fellowship restorer. I AM your all in all – so that when you come to Me you never have to wonder if you’ve done something wrong, forgotten to do something right or messed up. Even when you mess up I AM with you. I AM here for you, I AM able to meet all your needs, bless all your life and fix all your problems.

You may say you are all alone, you have no one to help, but God is always with you and He is always the answer to life’s problems and He holds the answer to your problems in His heart. Trust Him, go to Him and let Him be your everything, for He always says I love you and I am for you and that’s all that really matters.

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

Exodus 34:6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I AM slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

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

Isaiah 43:11 I, yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Savior.

Jeremiah 32:27 I AM the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for Me?

Psalm 37:5 Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.

Need Help? Jesus Will Always Answer Your Call.

As the buzzer is pressed, the nurse's station replies, "May I help you?" We've been sitting with Danny's aunt and visiting with family for a couple of days now. Each time we call for nurses the response is the same. Each time we have a different need or want and each one is met. Not every request is fulfilled quickly. Sometimes there is a delay and a couple of times we've had to ask more than once. But eventually the answer comes. Whether it's the need for more blankets or a cold drink or more medicine. Whatever Danny's aunt needs, the nurses and the aides are there to meet them.

We all have needs. Even when we are not in crisis, like Danny's aunt is at this time, we still have needs. Every single problem, every single issue, every lack, every need is met for us. When we're in trouble, when we're in heartache, when we're sick, when we're downhearted, when we're lonely, afraid or hurting, all we have to do is call. Each and every time we call the answer comes. "May I help you?" the Lord speaks to our hearts.

Occasionally we lose our focus and wonder if God will answer when we call. We get concerned that He'll be late. We start pacing the floor, arguing with ourselves. Maybe God's not going to answer this time. Maybe He's not going to come to our aid.

But even in our unbelief, even in that crisis of faith we all go through, He answers. Even when we can't reach the buzzer and we can't call out He is there. We have no ordinary assistant, no human nurse or aid. For ours is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! The Comforter, who has promised to be with us all the days of our lives. No need to wonder for He speaks to us so quickly, "I'm here for you". "I AM your helper, I AM your sufficiency, I AM your all in all."

Oh beloved, what needs do you feel are going unmet this morning? God's Word promises that all your needs are supplied! From the earthly to the heavenly - everything you could ever need is done for you. Unlike the patient in the hospital bed, you don't even have to find the strength for the buzzer! You just call out to Jesus, who is present with you always and He will meet and supply and provide. Rejocie this morning that , regardless of your circumstances, God is with you! He loves you so much that He promises never to heave you and He's with you forever so that you'll never be forsaken. Rejoice for you are provided for forever!

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. isaiah 41:13

I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24

Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. Psalm 50:15

Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. Isaiah 59:1

Are You Hungry and Thirsty This Morning?

In the 40’s Automats were the rage in big cities. Automats were cafetrias where rotating vending machines of fresh food and beverages were purchased. Slip in a nickel and you’d get a fresh slice of delicious pie. Slip in a dime and you could buy macaroni and cheese.

I remember watching a movie about a young woman who came to make her fortune in New York. She had no money and she would come to the automat and make soup of hot water and tomato ketchup! She’s stir and fix and add salt and pepper and drink that stuff.

All that food rotating around, being replaced behind the machine with fresh food. It was kept full and literally the machines would never run out. But here was this woman drinking ketchup and hot water! The ketchup and hot water was free but not really tasty and not at all nutritious. Food everywhere but because she was without change in her purse, it was all she could do.

I am reminded this morning of the Word of God. It is an ever rotating completely full Automat of the Soul Body and Spirit. Everything needed for a healthy meal from the Lord is contained there.  Unlike the plight of the young woman in the movie, it’s all free! Our benefactor, the Owner of Heaven and Earth, has paid it all so that we, who are hungry, thirsty and empty can be filled! Every Word displayed on the pages of God’s Word is tasty and healthy and perfect for us.

Are you sitting at the cafeteria table of life and content to make ketchup soup when you could have the whole buffet? Maybe no one ever told you that you could partake of it all – without money, without any credentials other than the mark of Christ on your heart.  You’re hungry and thirsty and beginning to show signs of malnutrition.  Yet it’s all there, waiting for you to pick it up and partake of it.

Oh beloved,   today is your day! Run to the Word of God and partake of it all! Read it from page to page, cover to cover, chapter to chapter and verse to verse! It’s all about God’s love for His people, His bountiful supplies freely laid out for the taking! He’s wooing you and calling you to come and dine. Don’t stay content to sip on that which has no nourishment.  Don’t let the enemy tell you that this is all there is!

God’s Word is all yours because He loves you completely and He paid the ultimate price to give it all to you! God’s Word will sustain you, strengthen you, nourish you and give you the stamina to go the distance – all the way to heaven! God is for you, so He made a way for you to have everything you need for your life now and your life to come! Go ahead, reach out and enjoy!

Proverbs 4:20-22 My child, pay attention to what I say.  Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.

Isaiah 55:1 Is anyone thirsty? Come and drink--even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk--it's all free!

John 4:14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.

Jeremiah 15:16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven's Armies.

Are You Wondering if God Even Hears You?

Heading down the interstate, I was praying for someone I’ve been praying for a long time. I was asking the usual petitions. “Lord, speak to their heart. Lord, come into their home and be the Lord of their life. God, speak and move and change things for them. Send salvation and sanctification and regeneration into their home and their family.”  I heard a voice from Heaven speak, “What makes you think I have not already been speaking to their heart?”

I was surprised and relieved. I felt a very calm spirit relaxed over my heart. I realized I had been praying as though every prayer was just reaching the ears of God. Almost begging God to do something! And then through that still small voice I realized that God is speaking and calling and urging the one I am praying for to return to Him.

It changed how I pray. I now pray in more faith.  Lord, I know that you are speaking to their heart. I pray that their ears will be open to your call. Thank you Lord that you are calling them to You.  Thank you Lord that You love them and are working out Your marvelous plan for their life.

If you’re like me you may not be sure who prayed for you to have a walk with Jesus. I just know that from my earliest childhood I was always thinking about God and always asking Him for things that were beyond me. Because of that I believe someone in my family history interceded for me.  If you’re like Danny you can point to at least one person in your family who was a true intercessor. In Danny’s case it was a godly grandmother and she prayed both him and several of his closest friends into the Kingdom and into service for God. (that’s a whole other story I’d love to share with you)  Most of all I believe it is God who calls and God who wills humanity to believe and live for Christ.

Oh beloved are you having a hard time seeing the results of prayer? Are you wondering if God is listening or if He really cares? Have you been praying consistently for a long time for a loved one? Maybe you’re dealing with personal issues. Have you been asking God for His help and don’t feel like you’ve seen the answer yet?  I can assure you that He surely listens – you can believe this morning that He hears you and He cares. One is His Word. He says so and His Word is His Bond.  The other is practical application – I’ve seen Him work and I’ve heard Him answer. God is no respecter of persons – He hears all His own when they pray. He even hears the penitent prayer of those who have wandered off from His will.

Listen quietly this morning and take ALL your needs to Him. Thank Him for His answers even before you see them.  Praise Him for His marvelous work in your life and the life of those you pray for. Never quit praying and seeking and asking for God rewards those who seek Him. He responds to those who are persistent. Never quit praising Him for God inhabits praise.

I John 5:14 And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases Him.

Psalm 66:19 But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer.

Colossians 4:2 Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. Amplified Bible

Matthew 7:7-8 Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Isaiah 65:24 I will answer them before they even call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers!

Walk in His Promises for 2013!

As the old year slipped away, some folks were partying, some were sleeping, others were wishing on falling stars. Whatever 2012 was like, it’s forever in our memories. For the good times, we fondly reminisce and hold those memories dear to our hearts. For the hard times, we remember that every day is a new opportunity to start over and make a better day for ourselves and those we love. New years melt away into the past so quickly, reminding us to make the most of the times for the days truly are short. Danny and I have been holding hands as the ball drops for 4 decades now. We’ve celebrated with friends of our youth, then with our own little ones in our home. Other years we celebrated with a house full of teens or waiting for the car to roll into the driveway. Then there were the years we had a houseful of friends, learning to celebrate again as a couple with an empty nest. Those years gave way to celebrating with grandchildren sometimes and married children other times. Like many of you, we had years that we had to say good-bye to loved ones and other hopes and dreams left in the past.


But with every New Year, there is the wonderful view that even though things might have been hard, God saw us through it all! And there are always the promises of God to greet us. We are a blessed people indeed! We who claim to know Christ can also lay claim to all the promises of God for they are available as the sun comes up each morning and the calendar rolls over each year.

I know this past year may have been hard for you, but God was with you all the way. Maybe you didn’t know that when the hard time came, but as you look back you can see and take a deep breath – you made it! Maybe you want things to go differently this year, but you’re watching the news and you wonder how on earth you’ll make it!

Oh beloved, I’d like to pray for you! I pray that God will pour out His richest blessings on you for 2013! For you, beloved, I pray that you will not only hold onto the promises of God but you will walk with victory in each of them! I pray that you will not look back to the mistakes, the hurts, the broken promises of people or the unmet hopes of your heart, but that you will look ahead, for God is with you! He loves you more than you can imagine and He’s not only walking with you into the future, He is walking ahead of you, making a way where there seems to be no way! Look up to His countenance, look forward to His promises and look inward to His Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, which dwells in you! You are His forever and He will never turn His back on you or say it’s over! All the way to heaven you will live in the promises of your Lord for they are faithful and true no matter what else may come.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. KJV

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. NAS

I Corinthians 2:12 And we have received God's Spirit (not the world's spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

Romans 8:11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

2 Corinthians 1:20 For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding "Yes!" And through Christ, our "Amen" (which means "Yes") ascends to God for His glory.

Hebrews 6:16-20 16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding. God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind. So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.



Isaiah 43:16, 18-19I AM the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea. “But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I AM going to do. For I AM about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”

Serve the Lord with Gladness!

We helped serve about 500 teens their supper last night at an event called Flame On. Hosted by CMA youth ministry, it is a yearly youth gathering for New Year’s week-end. We filled the plates as the youth and leaders came through the line. This year our oldest granddaughter and her friend are among the attendees. While self-serve might seem easier and require less volunteers, the opportunity to hand the plates full of warm food to each person is a real treat. There’s just something wonderful about serving others.


We live in a self-serve world. Everybody wants to get whatever they can for themselves. It’s all about “Me”, so it’s important to not get in the way of self. Self wants to be crowned, adored, worshiped and enthroned. Self wants to be first, have the best and loudly proclaim when it’s not getting its way. Self will push you over, run you down, eat your lunch and break in line. As times get harder and people have more troubles with jobs, homes, finances, etc. Self will become more and more supreme.

Yet the Lord speaks to His people with another set of do’s and don’ts – being a servant of the Lord is the finest path to greatness. It’s amazing that this greatness has nothing to do with titles or bank accounts or prestige or abilities. It’s simply becoming more like Jesus. It’s the servanthood of dirty dishes and runny noses and ironing clothes. It’s the attitude of giving to others, helping the helpless, returning blessings for cursings and more. It’s having someone’s back, giving more than receiving, waiting on the Lord. It is above all an attitude of the heart. Nothing something you can fabricate for gain but cultivate for Kingdom living.

Oh beloved, as you wipe the sleep from your eyes and you prepare for your busy, busy day, pause just moment and thank the Lord for servants in your life! There are many unsung heroes who are always there without notice, always serving without being seen, always helping others with no mention of their name. And beloved, God says to you this morning that when you serve Him with your whole heart, He will give you opportunities to serve the Kingdom of God in ways that you’ve never imagined. He says that He knows your heart and He’s building within you a servant’s attitude of love. Because He loves you He watches over you as certain things in your life have given you hurt, pain or discomfort. Yes, He knows that you may have been run over, ruled out, misunderstood or kicked to the curb, but He has your back. The Greatest Servant who ever walked this Earth is making intercession for you daily! Oh how He loves you, oh how He watches over you. His Word is His bond and He promises that when man treats you as a less than person, He sees you as a more than servant of His, dedicated to Kingdom living and joyous servanthood. Rejoice, for your King is pleased with you and is waiting for you in Heaven with the royal robes and crown of royalty. For you are His servant, created in Christ Jesus for such a time as this!

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

John 12:26 Anyone who wants to be My disciple must follow Me, because My servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves Me.

Galatians 5:13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.

Philippians 2:5-7 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though He was God, He did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, He gave up his divine privileges He took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being…

Matthew 20:26 But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant.

Proverbs 11:25 The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. KJV

Ready for a Wonderful Gift Exchange? It's Out of This World!

We’ve already been to a couple of Christmas parties. Most of them involved bringing a gift to exchange. Sometimes during these events there’s even the opportunity to swipe someone’s present if you get a chance.  You never know what you’ll come home with, but there’s always the high hopes that you’ll like what you get.  The fellowship and the food are always great as well. With our busy lives, it’s not often that people get to sit together and just visit. Getting a gift as well makes for even more blessings!

There will be gifts to open on Christmas eve or Christmas morning as well in most homes. From the smallest child to the oldest family or friend, everyone wonders what’s in their package. Everyone gets excited as they pull out the contents and everyone oohs and ahhs over each one. Sometimes though the gift may fail to hit the mark. It could be the wrong color or not fit just right.  With most gifts, if there’s something not right the recipient can go to the store and exchange it for a better fit. Occasionally someone will even exchange a gift they received that they just don’t want for a gift that they do want or that fits their personality or size better.

Are you wondering what you’re going to get this year under the tree? Are you concerned that past disappointments make you wonder if it might be right this time? Have you dropped hints, left notes, pointed things out and still hoping someone will take your hint and purchase that much desired gift?

Maybe you’re wishing you could exchange some of the mistakes, problems, troubles, hurts, issues or more. You’ve tried to fix things. You’ve worked hard to relieve yourself of your burdens, but you just can’t seem to get past it. The enemy of your soul has tried to gift you with boxes full of failure, disappointment, and Unforgiveness.  You’re left with an empty heart as you try to stuff the junk in a box and put it in the closet of your life, hoping that bad gift will just go away.

Rejoice! This Holy Season holds more promise than you could ever believe! With the Gift of Christ in our lives, there is much to receive and much to cherish! Every gift from God is good!  He never holds back, He never takes back, He never marks you off His list! For the child of God every day is Christmas! Listen as He shows you His magnificent gift package. He exchanges everything we’ve never wanted and even tried to get rid of on our own for His magnificent gifts!

We exchange our sins for His mercy! We exchange our filthy rags for his righteousness! We exchange our self-will for His will!

Oh beloved! Run to the Greatest Present ever given and give Him your life fresh and new! He promises to withhold nothing from you! He promises to make all His wonderful gifts available to you! He promises to exchange every heartache, every pain, every hurt, every mistake and give you something wonderful instead! He holds nothing back because He loves you! He gives Himself to you because He cares for you! Now that’s worth celebrating Christmas every day!

Romans 5:15  But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:1  As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.

Psalm 16:12 I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”

2 Peter 1:3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

Listen! God Hears and He Answers You! Trust Him.

As our oldest granddaughter and I went to pick up chicken the other night, I received a phone call/prayer request. Talking with my friend on the other line, I finally just pulled into the parking lot of the restaurant and sat there a few minutes. As we finished our phone conversation  I prayed for my friend.  When we were through, I hung up the phone and prepared to move into the drive through to retrieve our supper.  My granddaughter began, “I have two problems with your prayer…” I said, okay, what’s up? She responded, “You said tah-morrah (instead of tomorrow) and you used the word folks. Who says folks?” I laughed as I asked her if she was a prayer “critiquer”. She laughed too! She said, no that it was just funny to hear the way I talked. We both laughed as I said that I was thankful that although we might speak in dialects that someone else might not understand or might think is funny, God hears and understands every word we speak to Him even the different common terms and enunciations throughout the world.  She agreed and off we went with our chicken back to the house full of family.

I don’t know about you but I have prayers that really need an answer. My friend on the other end of the line that night really needed an answer. People throughout the world need an answer. Whether they are foreign speaking maids, international dignitaries, northern farmers or southern wage earners, everyone is hoping and praying for answers. We might not all have the right jargon, the right posture, the right inflections but God hears us all. His desire is not that we come to Him “correctly” but that we come to Him!  He hears the heart, adjusts the desires and soothes the pulse of all who talk to Him.  He knows the desperate cries of the deepest hurts, desires, hopes and more. We are most fortunate that we don’t have to bow a certain number of times, walk backwards, be in fear or reprimand or worse…we just have to ask.

Oh beloved, if you’re like me, you have deep, deep concerns that only a Savior can understand. You may have been put on the chopping block of someone you love, the cinder block of he refiner’s fire or the cold hearth of the rejector’s rebuke. But God hears. He speaks to you and to me this morning and He says, “Are you going to trust Me? Are you going to let Me work this all out? Are you going to give your loved one, your trouble, your situation to Me so that I can do what only I can do? I AM trustworthy, faithful and true. What I said I can do I will do. Just lay it all before Me, turn completely loose of it and watch as I make it all work together for your good and My glory. I love you, I love to lavish My Answers on you because you are Mine. You may have to go through things that are unjust, unfair, unwarranted and unimaginable, but together we will be more than conquerors. Watch in peace and rest in My promises as I unfold the real story, answer the true prayers and give you more than your wildest imaginations can comprehend. I love you and I AM on your side – what else do you need to know?

Isaiah 59:1  Listen! The LORD’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is His ear too deaf to hear you call.

Psalm 91:15  When they call on Me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them.

Psalm 4:3  You can be sure of this: The LORD set apart the godly for Himself. The LORD will answer when I call to Him.

Psalm 62:8  O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge. Selah

Jeremiah 32:17 O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!

Isaiah 65:24  It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

Zechariah 13:9  “And I will bring the third part through the fire, Refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ And they will say, ‘The LORD is my God.’”

Genesis 22:14 Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

Let God Speak His Love Song into Your Life

I was really blessed to have parents who were older. One of the many great reasons is the love of music they instilled in me and the kinds of music I was exposed to. In the early 60’s my dad won a Christmas gift from a local furniture store in Nashville Arkansas. It was a portable record player and stand along with his choice of 20 albums! He and my mom enjoyed picking out something for each of us.

Big band was my dad’s favorite. Among his favorite songs was, “All of Me”.  This morning the words and tune to that song have come to my mind.

“All of me, why not take all of me. Can’t you see that I’m no good without you?” It’s a love song of course. You’ll find out if you google it, but the first few lyrics keep playing in my mind.  I can hear my Lord beckoning me to give myself completely to Him. He’s speaking words of love this morning, and I want to respond: “All of me, Lord. Please take all of me.  Can’t you see I’m truly no good without You?”

It’s a beautiful morning and for most of us it’s a day that we don’t have to rush out and get busy right away. If you’re like me you may be lingering over a cup of coffee, savoring the quiet before the week-end rush of busy-ness.  Do you hear Him calling ever so quietly?

Oh beloved, it’s a love song you are hearing! A song from the One who is so in love with you! How do I know? Because He created you just for Himself!  Before the foundation of the world He knew you. He has a marvelous plan for your life – and it includes Him! Won’t you take a moment and settle in your heart once and for all that you’ve given yourself totally to Him? Let Him speak His love song into your life and watch as that love grows into dependence, confidence, commitment and more! He says this morning, “I love you! I have loved you always. I always will love you.  My desire is that you follow me with your whole heart so that I can keep you safe and close at My side.  My side – which was pierced for you! You are not truly mine until you are totally mine.  I am not truly yours until I AM totally your focus for your life. 

Run to the Word of Love this morning and read! He loves you, His plan for your life is being laid out as you read and His desire is for your holiness to be a result of the love that He has initiated. He not only makes things right, He adjusts those things that have been hurtful or unkind or unjust and works them altogether for His glory in you!  Just ask Him to take all of you and rejoice as He shows you the wonderful life of fulfillment He has just for you!

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.

1 Peter 1:2 God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and is Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace.

1 Thessalonians 1:4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be His own people.

Galatians 2:20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Psalm 63:3 Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise You!

Isaiah 49:15-16 “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?  But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of My hands.

Hijacked by Malicious Thinking? Run to God's Word for Protection!

One of my friends was telling me yesterday that when she got home from work she discovered a pop up on her computer.  It read that it was a warning from the FBI, something like this “Warning. Your computer has been blocked due to illegal downloads of music.” It went on to give detailed instructions to go to the local discount store, purchase a $200 money card and go to their website. Enter that money in the website for the fine and the owner of the computer would then have their computer unlocked. Imagine the person who has been downloading music finding this on their computer. The hijacker who built the program desires to get rich at the expense of an unwitting computer owner.  

Malware. Malicious programming appearing real that hijacks your computer. Some malware is fairly benign. Other programs are serious business. From minor irritation to complete ruination of the hard drive, malware is rampant. If we don’t keep our virus software updated and turned on anyone one of us is subject to succumbing to this nuisance.

We too as believers are subject to malicious programming.  The enemy of our souls wants to speak lies and half truths into our hearts. His desire is to strike terror and make us believe we have to pay over and over again for things in our life that we try to overcome.  If he can hijack our faith he can render us useless in the Kingdom of God.

Oh beloved, are you feeling tortured by past regrets and future fears? Are they playing over and over in the screen of your mind and heart? Have you tried to pay up only to find that the cost is way too high? Run to the Lord this morning and tell Him all your troubles. He will restore you to right standing with Him and He will wipe your life clean by His atoning blood.  Not only that, His Word is your best protection against the viruses of life that will try to come back on you.  His love is your complete protection, His Word is your soul survival and His promises are your road of blessing. Unlike computer hijacks that can wipe out your computer, God’s Word always restores and always covers so that we can always walk in the Light of His Word! What a Savior! What a Protector! Thank Him today for His unspeakable gift!

2 Samuel 22:3 my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence.

Psalm 31:4  Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in You alone.

Psalm 91:4  He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Proverbs 30:5  Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.

Isaiah 33:21  The LORD will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, that no enemy ship can sail upon.

Need Insight for Living? You Can Have It!

You know they make some great commercials. I especially love the insurance commercial where the girl is talking to a guy about what she read about his insurance company on the internet. She tells him “they can’t put anything on the internet that isn’t true”.   At the end of the commercial she walks off with a guy she had “met” on the internet who was a French model, only he definitely was anything but that.  Still she believed it and walked away arm in arm with him.

There are so many things taken as true today.  There are multitudes of infomercials extoling the virtues of one thing or another, all the time promising that their truth is the best.  If you buy it, you’ll be perfect, your life will be perfect, your future will be perfect. Just buy their product, the book, the dvd…whatever they’re selling.   There is much on Christianity as well. I find that I get lost in the information about all of it, unless I spend time in the Word. The more I fill my heart and mind with God’s Word the more easily I discern the false from the true.

Oh beloved, are you drowning in a sea of information? Have you searched everywhere for something to hang onto, something to make sense out of your situation? Maybe you want to do your own thing so you’ve sought out writers who believe you can do just that. Are you tired of running here and there and everywhere to find something that really touches your heart and changes your life? Run to God’s Word this morning and read! All the promises mentioned within the pages of the Holy Word are true. They will feed you, they will increase your beauty, they will add wisdom to your life and they’ll stay with you when everything else, everyone else, is gone.   

What wondrous love is this that the King of the Universe, the Self Existent One would write a Book just for you to live by? No ordinary book; written by no ordinary author; published by no ordinary producer.  Thank the One Whose name is Faithful and True! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters!

Psalm 19:8-10 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.  They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

Hosea 14:9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them...

2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Psalm 86:11  Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to Your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor You.

You are God's Delight and He Loves You Always!

My 2^nd grade teacher was harsh and unkind to me. She was often fussy and I never felt I could do anything right. I cried daily and my stomach was always tied in knots. I could not wait to get out of her class.  Years later I met her on the street and she was so complimentary of me as a student.  She told me over and over how much she enjoyed me being in her class and told people standing with me that she loved me. It was very confusing to know how she treated me but to hear her tell others how great I was. Which was true? The way she treated me or the words she said?

Perhaps you’re dealing with those issues today. It’s hard I know. You do your job well. Whether it’s at home or at work or in the ministry – you know you’ve done the right thing. Yet you are constantly demeaned and belittled. Maybe you are just overlooked and undervalued. 

Oh beloved, the first thing you have to know is that God is with you!  He promises never to leave you or forsake you.  I promise on the authority of God’s Word that if the words are not encouraging and kind they are not from Him! He says to you, never do I speak harshly or assume wrong. My desire is to love you first and help you second. You are my delight and I will always speak love, even in correction. If you are hearing disparaging or antagonistic words they are not mine to you. I love you, I love you, I love you and I will always be for you.

Run to the shelter of His Word this morning and read!  Always know that God speaks love. Remember that as Jesus Himself stood overlooking Jerusalem, He wept! For love of the people His heart was pouring out for them even then. Trust Him to work out the issues that are causing you such hurt and frustration. Let Him lead you and watch as His marvelous plan unfolds. His plan is always full of love and is always good.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through?

Psalm 121:1-2 A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth!

1 John 4:8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:16  We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.