Never Left Alone To Take Any Test

In the training that my husband and I are going through, we have online tests every 6 weeks. Now it’s been a while since either of us has taken tests like this. Each week there is also a test that requires our answers. It’s not a hard test, but there is no way to answer the essay questions without understanding the content of the study. The multiple choice questions are a snap, IF you have read and studied your assignment.

We all have many tests in our lives. Although we don’t usually choose the tests we encounter, go through them we must. There are the tests of patience, of faith and of time. In the tests of patience we learn to let God help us have mercy and give us serenity in spite of the frustrations we might feel. In the tests of our faith, we achieve our greatest results when we put all of our trust in Christ who is our Intercessor. In the test of time, it is endurance that we need most so that our character is built up in God and becomes more Christlike.

God speaks to my heart: It’s not about the nature of the test or the circumstances of it. No matter what you are going through there is only one answer and that is to let yourself be molded into the image of Christ. When God is with us we can do all things because He promises us strength. When met with rejection we can plead for mercy on their behalf. When met with humiliation we can ask for God’s dignity to surface in us. When met with frustrating circumstances we can ask Christ to be our peace. Your heart cries out to be better even when your flesh desires you to stay bitter. Your faith wants to let Jesus arise in you, to replace your stony heart even when things are hard to bear.

Oh beloved, whatever you are going through God is with you. He hasn’t left you to face a single test alone. He knows that you have been battling to see the answer in spite of the questions that come to your mind. Regardless of the questions mounting you can rest in God’s Word and seek His face for answers. The why of a situation may not come your way but your response to the pain, the frustration and the depth of the situation is settled in heaven. Every test you face is a reminder that Christ Himself faced tests. You may feel you have no recourse but to be angry, resentful and frustrated. Now is the time to act instead of react. Ask Christ to come in and take over in your heart, your mind and your spirit. Whatever is thrown at you, the devil would like to use to defeat you. But as your test of faith becomes a channel to be redeemed by God to perfect you, the enemy will have to retreat.

God loves you and He’s for you. Because of this He has sent Jesus to redeem you and the Holy Spirit to live in your heart so that you can choose the right answer – straight from God’s Book of Love. It’s an open book test, beloved, and as you acquaint yourself more and more with the subject you will find the Word of God to be your best resource for dealing with hurts and pain and all the things that tend to make you question the Lord. You are an overcomer, more and more, as you become a student of the Word as well as becoming more like the Teacher Himself.

James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

James 1:12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him. NLT

Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren.

Colossians 3:16 Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts. Amplified

You Can Be Grateful to God Even in the Dark

“When I arrived at the hospital Monday afternoon, Beth was not in the room. A few minutes later she returned from one of her therapy sessions. After a little while, she started a song (I had always started the songs). It was one I had never heard before.
She sang: ‘I am so grateful – I am so grateful – I am so grateful – that He will walk with me’”

The message above is an excerpt of an update from one of our college professors regarding his wife. What you don’t know is the rest of the story. She recently had a stroke and could not talk or sing or walk. And she has a beautiful voice. We heard an angelic singer in the crowd at a worship seminar a few years ago and discovered it was her! I’ve seen her in town for years and she’s been in my office many times. But I didn’t know she had the voice of an angel until that night. It was dark in the sanctuary so that we could see the event on the big screen so we could barely see each other. Nobody else in the room was really singing but her. Yet her voice was clear and perfect. 

God speaks to my heart: What do you do when you cannot speak? When the words don’t come and your heart is in your throat? Do you sing? Can you sing? Do you know the words to the song that is sung strictly from the spirit? When you’re in the dark do you lose heart? Are you faint for fear? I AM with you always. Because of My Presence you can be grateful no matter what. Grateful in the unspeakable moments of dread. Grateful in the darkest hours of your life. Grateful enough to sing and praise Me. Grateful enough to remember even in those times of fear and dread and sorrow: “I will walk with you.”

Oh beloved, are you in a dark and speechless time? You may have been there a while and you see no improvement at all. God wants you to know that even there, He is with you always. Even when you do not know how to pray or praise, He is with you. If you will just praise Him in the storm right now, you will find that He will come in like a flood of light to bless your heart. You will also find that as you praise the Lord for His wonderful care, the enemy of your heart will have to flee. He cannot stand in the presence of the Word, or of praise and especially not of worship. Each step you make with God will help you find your voice again. Each grateful acknowledgement that He alone is your God will cause the light to dawn in your heart and mind and soul. I cannot promise when things will change or how God will bring about the change, but I know He is with you all the way. You are born again to be a singing emissary of praise and a worshiping messenger of mercy and grace. 

Trust Him right now, no matter what, simply because of who He is. He loves you and He’s for you. So you can let Him take you beyond the momentary circumstances of the present into His sanctuary of safety where He will watch over you, protect you and guide you all the days of your life. 

Psalm 16:8 I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. NLT

Psalm 112:4 Light arises in the darkness for the upright; He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.

Psalm 108:1 My heart is steadfast, O God; I will sing, I will sing praises, even with my soul.

Hebrews 12:28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…

Psalm 75:1 We thank you, O God! We give thanks because you are near. People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.

Ready to Take a Cruise? Hold Onto the Captain of the Ship!

We’ve been asked if we’d ever like to take a cruise. I just don’t know. I love swimming, but really only where I can see the bottom and know I’m not in over my head. I am not sure I like the idea that I would be in a tiny floating town in 2 mile deep water. Cruising along with creatures that can eat you doesn’t make me feel safe at all. Probably the nearest thing to a ship I’ve ever been on is a houseboat and it was moored at the time. This is still a possibility and we will continue to think about it. 

I’m not known for my risky adventures. But there are some ships that I’ve traveled on – relationships, friendships, hardships to name a couple. Smooth sailing most of the time. With these three ships I’ve taken some huge risks. Some of the trips on these ships have required me to get out of my comfort zone. Some have been rocky trips, making me seasick with pain. 

To go on the friendship cruise you have to dare to be real and dare to love. This friendship cruise can last for years and years. Occasionally the trip is cut short through no fault of your own. Don’t quit loving, don’t quit being real. That ship has sailed but another one is coming again soon. This is a cruise you don’t have to take. It’s a choice. But the choice is worth it. Rich and rewarding can be the best words if you’re willing. 

Relationship cruises require complete honesty and total selflessness. Big words those both are. Honesty requires you to be authentic, candid and open with those closest to you. Selflessness simply means as the 70’s song said, “think a little more of others and a little less of me”. This cruise can last a lifetime if you go with someone who also wants to travel the world with you. Again, you can leave this one off your itinerary but for those who go it promises great rewards. Make sure you know all about this one before you go – you want to travel with like-minded people who will lift you up and not put you down; those who know the ropes and are willing to share their faith with you as you grow along the way.

The hardship cruise is one no sane person will sign up for ahead of time. Nope. It just shows up one day on your lawn of all things. It’s a rough, rough road to get to the seas that will prove to be choppy and dangerous. You’ll meet some interesting things on this cruise – adversity, lack, need, suffering, rejection. The entire trip is under hard conditions. No let up, no great stops along the way. Just the continual rocking of your heart and mind and spirit until you feel you can’t take another minute and you cry and try to jump ship. This trip is usually the most lonesome of trips for the people you met on the friendship and the relationship sometimes don’t want to go with you when you travel this way. 

You’ll need to carry supplies on all the ships you travel on. Hope – which is the conviction that the trip makes sense regardless of how it turns out. Peace – this will guard your heart and mind better than a Dramamine. The Word of God –you will have plenty of time to read and you will want to find the Truth regarding things you encounter along the way. 

God speaks to my heart: You don’t always get to choose which ship you are traveling on and when you can disembark. But you can always be sure that I AM going to be with you wherever you travel. You will never be totally alone because I AM your closest ally, your most worthwhile relationship and the Captain of even the roughest seas. You can travel in safety. You can trust the harbor. You can rejoice in the midst of it all as you look to Me for all your needs whether at home or away. I love you. So I will send you people to help for a season. I am with you, so I will give you relationships that will build your faith. I will let you go through hardships, knowing that you will grow stronger and more steadfast here than any other trip you take. Your trip is not your destination. I AM the one who travels before you to prepare you for everything you may need, not only along the way, but all the way to the moment you leave for heaven.

Oh beloved, let God lead you! He knows your past. He knows your present situation. He knows your future. His desire is that you let Him be the captain of your life so that no matter where you go, how you travel or what the conditions, you will learn to rely on Him more and more. The only place of true safety is in trusting in the Lord, relying on the Holy Spirit and living in the Light of His Word. God loves you and He’s for you. That’s why, no matter what ship you sail on, the Gospel Ship will be your best voyage ever as you learn to trust Jesus for the entire cruise.

Psalm 4:8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep, For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.

Isaiah 43:1 But now, thus says the Lord, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!

Proverbs 7:4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your intimate friend; 

Joshua 1:9 This is My command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. NLT

Keep Going for God is Going Before You

When our oldest daughter was little she talked early and said very grown up things. It was really cute. Danny and I were talking to each other one day and she was off playing with toys in her room. She might have been 2, but barely. She came running in the room and announced, “You guys make me nerzis!”  Where she had heard about being nerzis (nervous) I still don’t know, but that was her announcement. We laughed and hugged her up and that was that.

Stress is very much a part of life. It comes out as nervousness, worry, anxiety, panic, and being jumpy. I heard a pastor preach one time that we need to quit figuring out how to de-stress our lives and learn how to deal with the stress. People deal with it in lots of ways. Long vacations, medication, hobbies, and trying to run away from problems. They even go in search of themselves, thinking if they find purpose in self then stress will leave. But the pressures and strains of life are just a part of the human existence. Outward circumstances are bound to give us problems, at least occasionally, so what do we do when we’re face to face with troubles, trials and we need a release?

God spoke to my heart last night before I went to bed: You have a destiny to fulfill.  You have a God who will see that it is done. You have an enemy who wants to kill your destiny. Now do you still wonder why there’s a battle raging?

If life is going to contain stressful times then we must learn our God given responses to the feelings that come so that we can be triumphant over the enemy and go on to fulfill our destinies in Christ. While we don’t want to rejoice in suffering, the very act of rejoicing is one of our biggest weapons against worry, anxiety, fear, and panic.  Everything that God promises us in His Word is true. But His truth doesn’t mean we won’t have trials or stresses or battles. His Truth promises to see us through all these things in triumph over the enemy and in victory to live life as a child of the Most High God.

Oh beloved, God knows what you’re going through. He is with you and He is for you. His guardianship is guaranteed for you are His child and He is your Father. There’s no need to live in a state of constant panic for the God of the Universe is with you! If He can put the planets in orbit and cause the tides to ebb and flow, if He can adjust the seasons and give rain in due time, then can He not take care of you? You mean more to Him than many sparrows, yet His Word says that not one sparrow falls to the ground without His knowledge. He knew your life and the purpose He had for that life before you were even completely formed in your mother’s womb. He knew your destiny from the foundation of the world and He loves you enough to make a way for you to complete that destiny in victory and strength. He knows that much has come against you and that you feel weak and powerless at times. He’s seen you try to escape the trials and keep yourself free of stress, but He also sees that it hasn’t worked for you.  He wants you to know this morning that He can give you the commitment and stamina to stay the course. He wants you to know it is in the hardest moments of life that His light can shine through you. He wants you to know that you need to learn to stand against the enemy and stand with the Lord to complete your call in life. And beloved, He wants you to know that you don’t have to go it alone – He is with you every step of the way. He knows about every rejection, every sorrow, every weakness, every time you ever quit because you were looking for a stress free place. And yet this morning He says to you, rise up and go. Head into that stress with the armor of God and watch as you become more than a conqueror and your strength will rise because you are going with God.

God will never leave you or forsake you, so that you don’t have to forsake your place of purpose in God’s plan for your life. Rejoice in the battle for you are destined to win. Rejoice in the Word for that is your armor. Rejoice in the King for His army is with you. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that matters as you overcome it all to live in the light of His Word.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.

Psalm 112:7 He will not fear evil tidings; His heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.

Isaiah 40:28-31  Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,   the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

The Star on Your Christmas Tree is a Wonderful Reminder...

Follow the star…the wise men followed the star to their destination and they found the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  Follow the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night…the wise yet easily distracted Israelites followed and they found that God was worthy to follow. Follow Me…Jesus told them and they dropped it all and followed Him and they were not disappointed.

I’m being followed on twitter. It’s a social site where people can say whatever’s on their mind or can share their knowledge or talk with friends, but it’s kept in short sentences. You can post links to other sites you have.  I’m not what you’d call “good at it” but I do see this as a great way to get the devotionals out to another sector of the world.

Anyway some of the people who are following me have impressive definitions of what they do or who they are. Those definitions show up right by their names.  Some also make incredible promises. They will say they know how to get you published, they know all the right people, they are infamous or they are outstanding in their field of expertise.  Others, like me, share hope and light to those who walk in darkness.

I was reading some of the “tweets” (the little bits of info they publish) and realized that I have none of the qualifications that so many of the authors, publishers and promoters have. They are quick and eager to tell you they merit being followed. They make huge promises. They are in the know. They are worth it. And they really do incredible things. But are they really worth following? And how far should we follow them?

I know the One who is worth following. I know Who has all the answers. Not only is He worth following, there’s no one else to follow who will bring lasting change, eternal perspective and everlasting life. The world will make you some huge promises but they cannot deliver it all to you. The loved one, the child, the pastor, the spouse, the coworker, the friend – they all promise they have something for you. But when it comes right down to it, only One is worth following all the way. Only One delivers on all His promises.

Oh beloved, as you place your star upon your tree this season, rehearse the truth about the worthiness of Christ. Rehearse too that He is the light you can follow so that any darkness you may be experiencing will be dispelled.   He’ll never mislead you, He’ll never misguide you or give you poor advise. Just as that star in the sky on that beautiful night led the wise men to their needed destination, the Lord Himself will guide you to your glorious, God designed, bright with promise destination. It may be hard right now, you may be experiencing darkness in areas of your life.  It may be very hard as you are experiencing loss, remorse, rejection, humiliation, abandonment or fear. Those things have no light in them, it’s true, but Jesus promises to rid your life of the pain of walking in the dark – He is with you always. The stars in the sky and the star on your tree are reminders that you are loved and you are cared for. He’s worth following beloved, with your whole heart, for your whole life. And following Him will lead you right where you need to be all the days of your life.

Matthew 2:9-10 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.

Nehemiah 9:12 And with a pillar of cloud You led them by day, And with a pillar of fire by night To light for them the way In which they were to go.

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.

John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Luke 5:11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, Who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.

Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

No Panic in Heaven Even When You Feel Stuck

Our youngest granddaughter Stella does not like her car seat.  She’s a bit of a Houdini and can wriggle herself out of anything less than a fully buckled in contraption.  Given a long enough ride in the car and she will begin to maneuver to get loose. “I stuck!” she will declare quite loudly. Lots of noise is made as well. Grunting, groaning and more declarations of her situation. It’s cute to us but she’s serious in that once she’s had enough we all know she’s had enough. She has no problem expressing herself, especially when she’s “stuck”.  Same thing happens when she’s trying to dislodge a toy from the toy box. “Stuck!” she loudly proclaims until she manages to pull the right toy loose from the pile inside the box.  Relief comes when Stella is freed from being “stuck”. Sometimes the situation gets so desperate for her that you can hear panic rising in her voice. “S T U C K!” Someone generally tries to come to her aide in those situations, either by calming her down or by helping her get the toy released. If you know anything about Stella’s story you know she has plenty of help – nobody lets her fret for long!

I think about times in my own life when I have felt “stuck”.  You know the times.  When we feel bound by life’s situations and circumstances we are like Stella – we begin to lament, often loudly, “I’m stuck!” We’re strapped in and feel like we’re in the longest, roughest ride of our lives. It’s hard to feel anything but the pressure of the straps of life. We can’t do the driving, we can’t choose the road, we can’t take a deep breath. We cannot get relief and we don’t know if relief will ever come. Are we destined to live stuck? Are we never going to get out of the situation and walk away?

Other times we are trying to get hold of things we want. They don’t seem to want to dislodge so we can take possession of them. We groan and struggle and huff and puff. Still that thing we think we must have is stuck. We continue to work and plan and beg and plead – just because we want it. Maybe we’ve been told we could have it so we’re trying to make it happen. Frustration, consternation, impatience and fury come to our assistance but they are no help at all.  Will we ever take hold of it? Will that prize ever come from beneath the pile holding it down so we can possess it? We find ourselves in a panic and that just makes things worse.

God speaks to my heart: My precious child. There is no panic in heaven. When you are stuck in the situation you don’t like and you are fretting and pleading and trying to force your way out, I am there. Nothing that comes into your life causes panic in the Kingdom. While you may be surprised at the sudden trap of trouble, trial or testing, I cannot be caught by surprise. While you are in a panic I am fulfilling My purpose in you. It is a teachable moment for you as you learn to let panic go and allow My peace to enter in.  In due time I will loosen the hold of the momentary light afflictions you are going through and you will feel free again. Don’t try to make things happen on your own – you’ll just stay frustrated. Relax your hold on even those things that are promises you have received. In due season you will reap everything I have for you. In time, the thing that seems so elusive, the promise that hasn’t come forth will be released to you.  You can trust Me in the meantime and relax for it is peace that will guard your heart and your mind so that you can quit being frustrated. I AM that I AM. No panic, just peace. No fuming, just faith. Look to Me when you feel you can’t go another moment and I will carry you through to the better day. I am loosening the hold life has on you little by little. Although it’s imperceptible to you, one day you will see just how truly free you really are in Me.

Oh beloved, replace that frown with praise! God is with you in your situation. God is working it all out for your good and His glory. God is changing things for you so that you will learn to walk free in Him, no matter what happens.  He loves you and He’s for you so you can rest in His promises for the rest of your life, free as a believer in Christ! Ultimately His goal is that you become more and more like Him. Relax, rejoice and remain – abide in Him and watch as He turns things around just for you.

I Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.

Psalm 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Eclipsed by Life? Look to the Lord for Your Light!

 

Today in parts of the world there will be a full view of a total solar eclipse. In America we might be able to see part of it. An eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun. An eclipse is a natural occurrence but it can be frightening to people who don’t know about its astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to disappear during the day and the sky darkens in a matter of minutes. They often consider it a bad omen or the sign of a catastrophe.

There are times in our lives when life goes suddenly dark. We weren’t expecting it and we had no plans to observe it, but darkness hits us square where we live anyway. We might consider our problems as bad omens indeed. We were living for Jesus weren’t we? Why did He let this happen? Why am I in the dark? We wonder what we did, where we went wrong or why God left us. Will we have to live in this situation forever, caught between condemnation and explanation? When will the sun ever shine again?

We want things to change, we want to fix it all and keep going. God wants us to wait on Him.  We want to work it out quickly while He wants us to rest in Him for as long as He needs us to.

God speaks to our hearts:  My precious child. In the times when you feel you are in the dark, walking alone, fearful of your circumstances, you can know that I am with you. I have not left you to observe the situation alone. Although the problem appears to darken the view of Me, I assure you that I am with you always. There is much you can learn while you feel you are in the dark.  I will strengthen your faith and teach you to walk only by My Spirit, not by your flesh. I can be trusted even when everything else seems lost, in order to replace your fears, your worries, your disappointments, your mourning, your dark times with total and unshakable faith in Me. You can continue to watch the eclipse or you can turn your face to Me. When you keep watching the shadows in your life, you will be blinded to My presence. But if you will trust Me, and look to Me, I will take this momentary hard situation and give you fresh faith, greater wisdom, and firmer resolve to walk with Me.

Oh beloved, run to God’s Word for your needs – every single one of them. His Word is alive and it will illuminate your dark times and it will illuminate who God is.  The Lord wants us to know Him so intimately and so completely that we won't be moved away from Him when difficulties arise in our lives. When the light seems obscured and the hard places are bearing down on us, we may feel that we will be crushed and blinded forever, but God is with us! Not only is He with us, He wants to be all we need!  We can rejoice that when the sun does shine again, we will know that we have been with Him and that we are even surer of His presence no matter what comes our way.

If you are in a dark place and your joy seems obscured remember that God loves you and He’s for you. You are never walking through the problem alone! You will see the light of day again and come through the entire time as knowing Him better and thus trusting Him more. And that’s all that really matters.

Psalm 89:15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, Lord.

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

Psalm 91:1-2 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

Job 42:5 I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. (AMP)

Hosea 6:3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.

God is With You Through Everything!

They waved from the window at Danny and me as I watched him working on our Fiat’s engine. I was there to help if something needed pressing or holding. Our two daughters at the time were 5 and 8 months. They were laughing and playing inside and the oldest was “watching” the youngest. Melody kept waving at the window, but from our view they looked very happy.

The waving and coming to the window ...kept happening so I went to check. To my horror my sweet little 5 year old had a nasty gash that was bleeding profusely! They had indeed been playing and she had stumbled against the cedar chest in the living room.

We ran to the hospital and got her stitched up. The scar remains and every time I look at it I am reminded of that waving little girl who looked so fine but in reality was in a scary situation. I would bet she looks at the scar and remembers calling out to parents who assumed she was just waving.

Often we are met with disasters that we didn’t know were coming. We enjoy life and stumble over a trial or a temptation and we’re cut to the quick. Other times we are enjoying the scenery of our daily travels and we’re hit with a rock square in the jaw! We fall to the ground and writhe in agony. We’re overcome with pain and we don’t know if we can make it. We’re injured and we’re not sure that we’re going to make it. We’re not sure if anyone cares. We don’t know if the perpetrator meant it intentionally or not, but we’re injured just the same. We wonder if anyone else saw what happened. We want to defend ourselves and fix ourselves but to no avail.

God speaks to my heart: Oh beloved! I AM watching you. I AM aware of every stumble, every hit, every sorrow. Although the gashes of life may be horrendous you will not bleed out! Because I bled out for you! You will not be destroyed for I AM the one who has overcome the destroyer for your sake! You will not have permanent scars as long as you give Me the wounds and let Me sow them up with My tender, loving care. I see you waving the flag of surrender and I say beloved, you have nothing to surrender except your life. And I will redeem that surrender with truth and joy. The more you surrender, the more you walk in humility, the more you are still and recognize I AM that I AM the stronger and more invincible you will become!

Rejoice beloved that your King has everything in the kingdoms of this world and the next in His hands. All things work together for good – for you are loved and you are called according to His purpose alone.

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.

Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds.

Psalm 3:8 Victory comes from you, O LORD. May you bless your people.

Psalm 105:4 Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.

Romans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.

Been Through the Wringer?

My Aunt Ruth and Uncle Bill lived in a small house on the property with the fire tower he worked at.  The house didn’t have running water until I was about 8 years old.  She had one of those old gyrator washing machines which sat outside. No electricity was needed and it also had a set of rollers on top. You’d put the clothes through after you’d rinsed them to squeeze out the excess water.  As I think back about that old washer I am amazed at how much work it was to use the thing. Now we just plop our clothes in, set the machine and close the lid.  Back then it was work. But the wringer sure got all the water out of those clothes. They’d roll through and water would pour out the back as they were squeezed.  One always had to be careful not to get their fingers caught in the roller as you had to hold the clothes and wind the rollers at the same time.

God speaks to my heart: I’ve been through the wringer. I would imagine you have too.  Hard times, unfavorable outcomes, hurt feelings, rejection, sorrow, pain all make us feel as though we are being squeezed until we can hardly breathe. We want relief but it seems we’re relentlessly rolled through.

It looks to us that we’re going to die. It looks that way to the observers as well. People are watching and we’re unable to stop the roll.  It’s too much. As the problems roll over us, we’re mashed flat.  

Except that God is with us. He’s with us as the storms of life put us through the gyrator of heartache. And He’s there when we are being wrung out and even when it looks like we’re hung out to dry.

In fact, while others and while we ourselves think it’s the death knell of our life, our ministry, our calling, our heart, our mind, God says it’s just a momentary thing. It’s really going to be okay. It’s not deadly, it’s not going to kill us. In fact, to God this squeezing of our life is just the removal of unnecessary weight.  All that’s going to get through the times of testing and trials is us. There’s nothing else that can get through the pressure.  And even then, when others think we’re done, we’re just moving on.

God will set us out in the breeze of life and pin us up for the world to see our beautiful life.  He will use us to help others to get through everything we’re going through, if we will just keep our eyes on Him.  No one else really matters. We might try to blame the offense on a person, a circumstance or a trouble. But ultimately it is God who has put us through the wringer and it is God who is allowing the excess stuff to be wrung from us.  And it is God who is holding out His hand to pick us up, shake us out and display us for His glory.

Oh beloved, there’s no way to minimize the wringers of life. I know it’s hard. God knows it’s hard. God knows you feel like dying.  He knows you must go through it. But He knows that you will come out better for the situation. He looks at you with love and He asks you to look at Him with the same trusting love.   Life’s situations aren’t always fair, right or pretty. But once you’ve been through it, and once you give it all to Him, He will make you sweet smelling, worshiping, growing and better.

His greatest desire is that you let Him have everything, the good, the bad and the ugly. He’ll wash you with the water of the word and together you and He will have a greater testimony of faith for you will know how much He loves you and how carefully He is for you and that’s all that really matters.

I Peter 5:6-7 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time,  casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Psalm 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.

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

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Do You Have a Bridge to Cross?

A friend from my hometown posted a photo of an old local bridge. It reminded me that I have had my moments with bridges. There’s the old river bridge outside Murfreesboro that had no rails. I remember asking Danny to stop and let me walk over that one. The old grated bridge over the Mississippi River. We went over that one on the motorcycle.  There’s also a 7 Bridges Road back home that had old wooden bridges, 7 of them, to ride over. There are low water bridges, draw bridges and foot bridges.

Some bridges are long and rickety, nearly as old as Methuselah. Others are built tall so that ships can go under them. Whatever kind of bridge there is, it usually must be crossed to get where you need to go.

There are bridges that cannot be avoided. Then there are bridges that must not be avoided.

Danny has never been much to fear anything. He likes bridges. He likes high bridges. He likes to look over the sights while riding on high bridges. He especially loves riding the motorcycle on bridges! For the most part I’ve just looked straight ahead and held on tightly, hoping I live through it.  I’ve always been thankful to have my fearless husband take me places because then, even though I feared it, I was able to experience it.

There are lots of different bridges in life.  Some of them are low water bridges. They must be crossed even if the water seems it will overtake you.  It won’t.  There are the high suspension bridges. They make your ears pop and your heart pound, but they will get you over things that cannot be scaled otherwise. There are the rickety bridges, the kind that seem to move with every step. There’s no way to go but one step at a time. They’ll hold, but you don’t know it till you get over it.

God speaks. There are lots of bridges in life. There’s the bridge from fear to faith. It’s only a step and you’ll be carried over by the Lord Himself. But you and I must take that first step. There’s the bridge from sorrow to joy. It’s a high one, long and tall, appearing to disappear in the clouds of your life. Other bridges may include life to death, but for the believer this bridge is the best one for beyond it lies reward and worship and the presence of God forever. Other bridges must be crossed individually: remorse, guilt, anger, depression, rejection. Even the bridge to purpose and to fulfillment must be crossed.  Each of these bridges looks too rickety, too dangerous and just fearful, but must be crossed to the other side so they can be replaced with God’s best.

Every bridge gets you somewhere. It’s meant to be there so that you can go from the past to the future, the mundane to the exciting, and the good to the best.  Every bridge in life takes you over the things that tend to hold you back, trip you up and keep you at the shore.  

I have a bridge to cross and I would bet you do too. It doesn’t matter what it looks like, what it is made of or how long, high or wide it is – it’s time to cross. Someone may have chosen that bridge for you but ultimately God is the only One Who decides what bridges you and I must cross.  It’s time to trust Him. 

God knows you did not choose the bridge that you must cross but you do choose the Savior, who guides every single step of your life. No other person on earth has the power or the will to take you to the other side. And even when it’s meant for evil or hurt or is just plain wrong, you will get over it. And when you do, you will dance on the other shore for you will see God’s will continuing, growing, blessing and guiding all the days of your life!

Oh beloved, run to the Lord this morning and let Him take you by the hand. Not one single bridge has to be crossed by yourself – He is with you!  He is beckoning you! He is showing you that what appears to be rickety, hard, high and scary is just a walk to a better future, a calmer life, His perfect will!  Give that bridge you are about to cross to Him. He will make it stronger, more secure and safe as you walk together into the future of good things He has planned for you!

Trust Him today, for what looks like the end is just the beginning of the rest of your life and that life is secure for God loves you and He’s for you and that’s always going to make the way for you!

Deuteronomy 31:8  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

Psalm 78:72 He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.

Exodus 33:14 And He said, "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." (NAS)

How to Pass a Stress Test

Yesterday my husband had a stress test.  As we headed to the hospital we discussed what we hadn’t told one another – we were stressed about it! Danny and I have been incredibly fortunate to have very little illness and no regular medications. But this test was going to let us know, beyond the shadow of a doubt how his heart really was. It was no longer a “wonder what’s going on”. It was now a “finding out the truth”.

Fortunately for both of us, and all glory to God, the test revealed what we all know – he’s healthy as a horse. The nurses told him he did better than most people half his age! Once the doctor checked the heart while it was racing, they found that his heart muscle was very strong and there was no blockage. Just the kind of results everyone wants.

We’ve put that behind us now. We can relax in the knowledge that all is well. We are encouraged that we are still able to go the distance and stay the course. I’m blessed to know that my husband is healthy and we can move on.

Stress tests are performed daily at our hospital and all across the country. The attendants are used to people responding in many ways. Some insist on quitting at the first sign of exertion. Some faint while on the treadmill. Others have serious heart issues that require the physician to stop the test altogether.  Others, like Danny, stay on the entire time, even as the physician asks if they can handle just a little more.  We know, after having been in the room together that the doctor already knows what the patient’s heart is doing through the EKG, so that while stressful indeed, no one has to go beyond the limits of their heart’s strength.

Stress tests come for believers as well. Although not daily, they are a pretty regular part of our existence. We are doing fine but then we find ourselves in a hard spot, stressed out about both the situation and the outcome.  We may feel we can’t go any further. It’s too much, we’re too tired, it’s been going too long, we might not make it. But the Great Physician knows us and He’s watching over us. The test is not for Him, it’s for us – He knows our frame. He’s so acquainted with us that He knows the outcome of the test of our faith before we even enter into the situation.

The truth is we can either go on or pass the test or we can say give up and quit right in the middle. Either way, the Great Physician is with us – either giving us a “well done” or grabbing us in His loving arms to hold us until the stress is relieved. Even if our strength is weak and our hearts are pounding, God will give us His strength and renew us in Himself.

Maybe you are in a stress test right now. You thought you were headed for clear skies but a storm arrived out of nowhere. Your heart is racing and your blood pressure is elevated. You know God’s Word but you see the situation!  You know God takes care of “all who…” and saves “…everyone” and “loves the world…”, but what about you? Does He really care? Will He really come through? Will you make it?

Oh beloved, God sees your pain and hears the cries of your heart. He’s not deaf and He’s not ignorant – Not only is He with you through this, He’s gone ahead of you to clear the way for victory! This test of your faith is a momentary thing. It’s a quick test in light of eternity. God calls it a “momentary, light affliction” and He promises that it’s producing its weight in glory.  God is your Great Physician and He will never allow any test that won’t ultimately make you better, give you greater strength and turn out for your good and His glory!

The Lord loves you passionately, perfectly and eternally. And He’s for you always, completely and in any situation. And that’s worth getting through the tests and finishing well in Him.

 

2 Corinthians 4:7 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (NLT)

Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; test my heart and my mind.  (AMP)

Psalm 119:143 As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in Your commands.

1 Peter 1: 7 So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.  (AMP)

Psalm 61:2 From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (NAS)