The Lord is Seeking You - His Treasure

We watched The Monuments Men, a splendid movie about the recovery of art and jewels during Hitler’s attempt to take over the world. It is based on a true story of the greatest treasure hunt in history. As they recovered one prized priceless piece of art after another it was amazing. Yet one piece eluded them. They kept searching until they finally found it. 
Searching for the treasures brought danger, death, heartache and hardship. Fear could have made them forget the task. It was a costly recovery that still means everything to the whole world. 

God spoke to my heart. And what I have to take away the movie is that God loves you. And you. And you. And each and every you who ever reads this. I don’t care what you do. How you live. Where you’re from. But more importantly God does not care. Christ did not head to the cross for a select crew of elite folks found worthy on their own. No. He went with an eternal list of “unables”. Me – the chief of that list. When I look at me I know it. When Christ looks at me He knows it. What we know is completely different though, because His knowledge is based on His love alone. 

Oh beloved won’t you take a moment to step away from the mirror someone fashioned for you and look at the mirror of His word. Won’t you drop the hurts and pains and rejections that have damaged the view that you see of yourself? You are redeemed, you are lovely, you are worth it, you are more. Christ Himself was sent with the task of recovery of God’s greatest jewels and you are one of His most precious ones. God ordained that you be brought back to your original owner, Himself, and Christ made the find through His Cross. The enemy desires to steal everything you have in Christ and he wants to steal you away from God. He wants you to believe that God doesn’t care and that Christ won’t search for you. But oh precious one, God is ever faithful to seek and save those who are lost, whether it’s their salvation needed or they have wandered away for a time. 

God loves you. Really. Truly. Deeply. Eternally. And He is for you. Always. Forever. Absolutely. Without Reservation. Let Him redeem your life for Christ if you have not already done so. And let Him return you to your rightful owner, in your rightful position of blessing if you have strayed. This life is meant to be lived for His glory and you are part of that treasure as you live in the Light of His Truth about you. 

Psalm 106:10 So He rescued them from their enemies and redeemed them from their foes.

Psalm 103:4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

Psalm 35:10 With every bone in my body I will praise Him: “Lord, who can compare with You? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?

Isaiah 47:4 Our Redeemer, whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, is the Holy One of Israel.

Colossians 1:13 For He has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son.

(photo of original monuments men recovering priceless artworks)

God Loves You

 

Danny and I have exchanged quite a few cards over the decades. Easter, Christmas, Valentine’s Day – each one an opportunity to remind ourselves, in writing, just how much we mean to one another . We even have a special phrase we’ve used since our dating years and we both always put this phrase in our cards. We find that as we honor one another our hearts are warmed and we’re reminded of the truth about the endurance of true love.  I keep the cards in a cedar chest and the phrases and the sentiments have remained the same over the years.  

God has written the greatest love letter ever known and He wrote it with you in mind. Each phrase, specially spoken to His beloved, is full of reminders of His great love, His redeeming care and His eternal faithfulness.  This knowledge is all truth, but without opening the book and re-reading the message we are likely to forget the truth about God and the truth about ourselves. Everything about God begins and ends with His love.  It fails, it never changes, it never gives up, and it never runs out.  God’s love is eternal and you can rely on it forever.

Oh beloved, if you’re waking up to a morning where you feel ostracized, overwhelmed, frustrated, fearful or just done in, then it’s time to get out God’s love letter. God knows your present situation, that there are things you don’t want to face, situations you didn’t plan for your life and people who gave up, walked out, quit caring or moved on.  He wants you to know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that He is with you no matter what. He also wants you to know that He’s not some distant authority figure wielding His power over your life. No, He is here to give you guidance, keep you safe, walk with you through the hard places and make your life shine for His glory. He is your Redeemer – He takes His love and His nature and creates in your life a beautiful sonnet of His ability to rescue, save and change the life you are living.

He is more than enough. He is right on time. He is ever present. He is faithful to the end. He is all love and all knowing.  He sees everything that is going on and He wasn’t caught by surprise with any of it, even if you were. He is with you and His plans are trustworthy. He is a God of His Word, even when everyone else might be unfaithful to their words, He stands by them. Most of all He covers your entire life in His love. He begins your day with His love and He ends your day with His love.

His love will emancipate your heart . His love will liberate your captivity. His love will give you purpose, new life and real joy. His love says you are beloved, you are chosen and you are accepted.  His love has nothing to do with your performance. It has everything to do with His nature. He loves you. He’s going to stay the course with you. He’s going to give you a better day, a better way and a better life.

God loves you. And because He loves you He is for you. And because He is for you He will take your life and make it beautiful as you live in the light of His Word.

Romans 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Psalm 86:13 for Your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.

Psalm 103:4 He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

Zephaniah 3:17 For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.

Romans 5:5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.

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

God loves YOU - Believe It!

It’s easy to tell someone you love them. Our Caleb will tell me he loves me almost as often as I want him to. All the grands say I love you with ease. But ask Caleb for a kiss and he is hesitant and most times says no. A high 5 is always available and sometimes a hug. But a kiss is rare. Yesterday he told me he couldn’t give me a kiss because he’d get worms! I know! He has been told not to kiss the puppy because he’d get worms so he pulled a great excuse out of his pocket just in time to keep from having to give me a kiss. 

Often we say the words I love you. It’s all over the world. On pillows and signs, on windows and plates. It’s written out in smoke signals and chocolate as well. It’s a great greeting and something we all enjoy telling people as we depart from one another. And yet just like Caleb withholding his kisses, human love might withhold something. Human love can be lost, can be scrimped on and can be forgotten. 

But when I tell you that God loves you, I’m not talking fondness or compassion or consideration. I’m not talking companionship, affinity or like-mindedness. I’m talking love. It’s beyond me how He loves us. It’s beyond you. It’s beyond earth and every earthly relationship ever created or observed or enjoyed. God loves you. Yes, He loves the whole world. But He loves you. If you were the only person on the face of the earth He’d love you. Unlike the world, whose love ebbs and flows with every human feeling imaginable, God’s love is constant. It never changes. It never recedes. It never recoils from whatever is thrown its way. God says I love you with an everlasting love and He means just that. He’s not moved by your emotions or your commitment or your fickle heart. He’s only moved by Himself and God IS love.

Oh beloved, it’s time to believe. It’s time for you to quit looking at your flaws and your faults. It’s time to stop counting the times you’ve messed up or disappointed someone. It’s time to leave behind the past with its mistakes and missteps. Yes, those things happen. But God loves you. It’s time to quit counting things as the ration of His love. It’s time to stop measuring yourself by others’ expectations. It’s time to quit beating yourself up over wasted time. God loves you. Are you seeking freedom? God’s love will free you to be all you can be. Are you seeking acceptance? God’s love is the proof that you can be accepted. Everything you aren’t He is because of His great love. 

Go ahead and abandon yourself to God’s love. He speaks His love Words over you from Genesis to Revelation. He adds nothing to His love because His love is enough. With His love comes grace and mercy and peace and joy and contentment. But you can’t find those things, not really, apart from His love. Everything you have looked the world over for is found in Him. Letting God love you just the way you are because of Who He is will change you completely. His love changes everything. You won’t have to worry about what might happen if you let yourself be loved, for God will never leave you or forsake you. His love is immutable. It is irreversible. You can’t do a thing to make Him love you less and you can’t do a thing to make Him love you more. He just loves you.

Rejoice, precious one for He calls you His beloved. All you have to do is accept His love shown in the manger, on the Cross, at the Tomb and beyond. Christ is the epitome of this eternal, everlasting love and Christ can be your all in all. Christ’s love compelled Him to make the sacrifice for you. His love is your hope for today and your faith for tomorrow. Christ has made a way for you to be accepted in the beloved. Because of this great love, He’s with you to guide you, protect you, redeem you, and keep you all the days of your life.

Psalm 117:2 For He loves us with unfailing love; the Lord’s faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord!

Romans 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. NLT

1 John 4:9 By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 

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

You Can Be A Fearless Follower

I like to visit with my grandchildren as often as possible. Three of them live right across the street. Sometimes I don’t get done with evening supper or chores or shopping until it’s dark and they’re inside where it’s warm and cozy. Even though they are just across the street, I think about all the stray dogs running around and the coyotes we’ve heard and the foxes we’ve seen, along with deer and other wild animals. There’s even been a bear sighting within a mile of the house. If I dwell on those things I will not walk across the street in the dark, even if I want to see them badly.

But my love for them overcomes my fear of what’s out in the dark. I enjoy their presence. I love to hear what they want to tell me. I enjoy fellowship with them and their parents. It’s worth the trip over.

God speaks to my heart:  Enjoying the presence of My Spirit often requires getting out of your comfort zone. You may feel quite cozy where you are right now, but I am a living and moving God. I want to take you beyond your coziness and further into my Holiness. You enjoy my presence and I enjoy yours. But you cannot expect Me to conform to your comfort. Trust Me when you feel you must go through the dark to get to Me. I AM light and there is no darkness in Me. Look at Me as you come closer into My presence. I will be right where you are, guiding you and blessing you even when things don’t look safe. The reward will be greater intimacy with Me and that’s the goal of your life – to be conformed to My image and walk in My presence.

Oh beloved, you may feel that your comfort is just too good to move out with God. But He’s speaking to your heart daily to trust every move of His Spirit. You may perceive a situation as the darkest of rejections, but man can do nothing to you that will keep you from Me. The fleshly rejection of human beings is nothing. They have only perceived power, just as the darkness seems to hold power over you. You can look at the dark and listen for terror or you can look at the Lord and listen for His truth. The Word of God will keep you safe and get you to the other side of the road where God is leading you. Danger lurks everywhere, but you are concealed in God’s presence. Rejoice that God is with you wherever you may go. And most assuredly you can go where He sends you because that’s where the blessing is. Is He speaking to your heart? Follow His voice. Go where He sends you. Enjoy the benefits of treading where others fear to go. You are blessed, sealed, delivered and destined for God’s call to be fulfilled in your life as you forget about the darkness and live in the Light of His Word!

God loves you and He’s for you - now follow Him fearlessly always!

Psalm 27:1,8 The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid?  The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with Me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” NLT

Hebrews 10:35 Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great and glorious compensation of reward. AMP

Mark 1:19-20 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee’s sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. He called them at once, and they also followed Him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men.

John 10:4 When He has brought His own sheep outside, He walks on before them, and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice.

Repeat the Sounding Joy of Life in Christ!

How many books and movies have begun with these words: “It all started with…”  As I was reading these words this morning, “It all started with a young man named Brother Andrew saying yes to God in 1955” the Lord began to speak to my heart.  The story unfolds of the man who started smuggling Bibles into countries so that someone could read God’s Word.  He did not set out to set the world on fire, but God lit His heart with the fire of the Gospel and the rest is history. (you can read more about his life at http://www.inspirationalchristians.org/brother-andrew/ )

As I think of Christmas I hear those words, “it all started with” God Incarnate appearing in the form of a baby. He went on to satisfy the regulations against us and free us from the law of sin and death.  But more, He set us free from ourselves. He set us free to be more than we ever could on our own. No education, no bank account, no accolades can give us a new life. Only God can do that.

As I think of you this morning, beloved, I think how “it all started out with” Jesus calling you unto Himself. 

You didn’t wake up one morning and say I think I’ll give God a try. No, He wooed you and beckoned you and called you. Until one day you heard Him. Your heart responded and the rest is history. And the never ending saga of the Gospel is continuing for you. You are not done. You are not finished. You are just beginning. You are standing on the cliff of glory. You are stepping out into what seems a chasm of trials, disappointments and errors. But no, look again. It all starts with Jesus, who has touched your heart and taken it for His own.

Oh beloved, your story is so incredible! It is full of the Christmas message, full of the Gospel song, and full of the music of the glory of God, for He is in resident in your heart and you are His. He is carefully watching over your life and all the events that involve you. Even those things that seem so out of control are cared for.  And since “it all started with” Him, beloved, it will all “finish”.  No short term trip this life in Christ. For you are His beloved and His banner over you is love.

Relax in this holy season. Rejoice in His love. Remain in His service. Relinquish the hurt and pain and concern and enter into the joy of His never ending, magnificent care! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can repeat the sounding joy with the carolers of old and rest in the light of His Word.

Psalm 43:4 There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!

John 15:11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with My joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

2 Peter 1:4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Psalm 146:6 He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever.

Romans 12:8 I always thank my God for you and for the gracious gifts He has given you, now that you belong to Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.

Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a holy people, who belong to the Lord your God. Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure.

Pour Yourself a Full Measure of God's Love This Day

As I was putting dishes up last night I remembered just how many coffee cups we have. The collection of cups from my parents is intermingled with our own. There are cups from motorcycle dealerships, Disney World, various vacations, scripture cups and more.  They are threatening to burst open the cabinet that holds them. Do I need this many cups? Not really. But which cup do I discard? Which cups are not worth having?  I can’t bear to part with one, for each has a history, each tells a tale and even the broken ones that have been pieced back together are important.

I choose my morning coffee cup often based on my attitude or feelings of the day. I love to drink from “It’s YOUR Day!” a birthday cup I got many years ago. It reminds me to tell the Lord it’s his day to do whatever He wants to do with my life.  I enjoy the cup that reads “Go ye into all the world…” to share the Love of God with people, the Gospel, the Good News.

That rag taggle, mismatched group of cups reminds me to keep asking God to fill my cup. I would be a totally empty shell without God’s love filling me to the brim. There are times when I need an extra helping of God’s love to get me through. Just like I need more than one cup of coffee.  Without a serving of God’s love that I allow myself to have every morning I would be tasteless and there would be no sweetness to draw on for my day.

Oh beloved, as you drink your cup of steaming coffee, or cocoa or spiced tea, take a moment to savor the richness of God’s love. Pour in a generous, running over cup of His love. Stir it into your heart. And drink of it. Drink and keep drinking. Pour it again, fill it up and let it run over.  You need it. You will be lost and confused without it.  Don’t be miserly with this Love for it is never ending.  No frugality needed here, rather abundance should be the word.  The more you allow yourself to taste of God’s great love, the more you will know you are accepted, chosen, redeemed and forgiven.

Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord; Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.

God loves you and He’s for you can drink from that truth forever knowing His love never runs dry.

Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.

Psalm 36:8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.

Psalm 34:8 O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!

1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails;

Are You Learning Your Lines from the Right Script?

You may think I’m an early bird, but I’ve been watching some of the Hallmark Christmas movies already. I love everything about Christmas - the tinsel, the glitter, the scents and the sounds. I also love all the various Christmas cantatas and musicals that are presented for the public to enjoy. My home is host to several nativity scenes reminding us whose birthday it really is.

Everyone who part...icipates in any kind of show has to rehearse. Can you imagine going to theater and watching unrehearsed performance? How would anyone know how to perform? What would they say? Where would their lines go? How could they time their dances and the entrances and exits? At best everyone would be confused. At worst it would be utter chaos. The orchestra would be doing their own thing, the singers would be making their own music and the actors would be jumping over one another’s lines. Center stage would become the platform for anger, animosity, jealousy, humiliation, confrontation, revenge and more. Someone might get hurt.

Rehearsal is absolutely invaluable for the believer as well. We are playing for an audience of One. We’re not performing for accolades, achievements or applause. We don’t necessarily care if we’re given a good review by man or if we’re considered worthless. We must rehearse daily. If we don’t rehearse daily we’ll fall victim to humiliation, animosity, rejection, humiliation, revenge and more. Chaos will run rampant in our hearts.

Oh beloved, open up God’s Script and learn your lines well. See what God says. Watch Him direct you. Hear His heart and learn it well. Unlike actors who eventually have to put away their script and perform without it, we never have to let go of the Word of God. It is more essential to us than our daily bread. If you do not learn His lines well, then you will find yourself spouting your hurts and your anguish and making it all up as you go. When you lean on Jesus and speak His truth over every situation, He will be glorified through you.

And you’ve got an audience of One, and He is in the wings and He is ever before you and He is applauding your every step. And He is coming to get you at the end of your run. And He is with you all the way, cheering you on to greater heights, higher ways and blessings untold. The Creator and the Director of your entire story loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters…ever.

Psalm 40:5 O Lord my God, You have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

2 Samuel 7:28 For you are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and You have promised these good things to Your servant.

Psalm 119:147 I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in Your words.

Psalm 9:1 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds! (AMP)

Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

God Hears Every Prayer You Ever Speak

Forty-one years ago I was a typical teenager having fun with my friends. I didn’t have a steady boyfriend and I didn’t have a car. I did have a job at the local burger joint in the evenings. One of my best friends and I dreamed of boyfriends, wedding dresses and things girls our age usually dreamed about. I had no idea that in less than 30 days I would meet the love of my life. I could not see into the future no matter how much I daydreamed, planned or wished. Even if I prayed (and I may have) I still had no idea what was around the corner.

We spend a lot of time lamenting what’s wrong in our lives. We wish for more, hope for better, and daydream about plans. We get up each day and go through the motions. Although we may even pray, often we just pray and go on, not really knowing if God will answer. Sometimes prayer comes as a release valve, just to make us feel better. Do we really think God hears? Do we really think God cares about us? Is He really involved in our day to day problems, hopes, desires?

I can tell you for my part, there are things I have been praying about for years. I am standing on the Word of God for the answer. But I see no answer. I am the same woman as the teenager girl who could not look into the future to know the answer to my dreams was less than 30 days away. I don’t know when God will answer. It might be today. It might be 30 days. I cannot see the answer in the flesh, but I can see what God tells me, so I wait, patiently sometimes. Other times I am not so patient.

God speaks to my heart:  Precious child. I am the God who meets all your needs according to my richest in glory.  Everything you personally need is found in Me. But I am more than a God who distantly meets your needs. I am actively involved in your life. Just as you could not see that one answer to your prayers, one gift of your life was less than 30 days away, you cannot see the answers to today’s problems, hopes, dreams and prayers. But you can know that I am going to take care of you. That loved one you are praying for? They’re my loved one too. I love them with an everlasting love. I have a plan for their life and it is good. Trust Me.  You can trust Me because you know I’ve been with you. You can trust Me because your hope is in Me. You can trust Me because although you cannot see into the future, I can. I know, I care and I listen. Keep speaking, keep seeking, keep trusting.

That job? That marriage? That cash crunch? That sickness? That need? That fear? Whatever it is you are thinking about, praying about, hoping for.  Don’t give up. Keep going to God with all your needs.  Don’t worry, fret, or wonder. Pray about everything. Who else in all the universe can come boldly before the throne of Grace and speak to the King of Kings? No escort needed, no bodyguards to pass, no ticket to buy, no ransom to pay. Because we are His, we have instant access. In fact, because of the Holy Spirit, who keeps us sealed for the day of redemption, we have God’s presence with us!

Everything you hope for is found in Him. Every answer to every prayer is held in His hands. Don’t try to peer into the future, but keep talking to God about all of it. Don’t give up, don’t give in, don’t get weary, don’t quit.  

Oh beloved, nestle into the Father’s Arms this morning. Praise Him for the wonderful gift of His presence. Worship Him for Who He is. Adore Him for who you are In Him. Open up His magnificent book of Truth and take in the wonders of God Himself. Learn about Him. Seek His face. Pray, intercede and keep waiting in His presence. You can thank Him for the answers and thank Him for His perfect will.  You can trust Him because He is trustworthy, faithful and True.

God loves you, He hears every prayer you ever speak, He is for you and He’s going to work everything out for His glory and your good. He loves your loved ones too and He’s for them, so keep taking them to the throne of grace. Keep giving Him your needs, your hopes, and your drams.  He sees, He knows and He answers.  What a Savior! What a King! What an Abba Father!

Psalm 17:6 I am praying to You because I know You will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.

Psalm 33:22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone.

Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

Psalm 118:28 You are my God, and I will praise You! You are my God, and I will exalt You!

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

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!

Run with Jesus! His Path is Clear for You

 

In our house there is a way for kids to run through the living room, dining room, kitchen and den and back again. Since our first granddaughter came on the scene 15 years ago, they all run the “run”. Even though we have now taken out the wall between living room and den, they still have a way to run through and around.

Stella absolutely LOVES to run! She walks in and says “run!” and goes. Often one or both brothers join her and they’re in a race to run together and outrun one another. Because Stella is such a lightweight, especially compared to her brothers, it’s real easy to knock her down when they pass her. She will fall and whine a little and then breathe out, “I’m ok”. She picks herself up and runs some more!    Every once in a while she decides to stay down. She may even try dragging herself along with her arms and hands. After a while she gets up and runs again. She never quits running. Every time she comes over, she begins running. Sometimes she hops and skips along with the run, but she’s always moving on.

God speaks to my heart. How we love to run this race of faith. We run headlong and we get to run beside others who want to run the race of faith.  Occasionally we get knocked down as folks run ahead of us. Occasionally we trip ourselves up. Either way, we find ourselves flat on our faces, prostrate before God.

The choice is there.  Do we whine and kick and try to place the blame for our fall? Do we get mad at ourselves because we let ourselves get knocked down?  Do we try to drag ourselves along and refuse to get up and keep going? We can give ourselves sympathy because someone ran on and left us in the dirt. Or we can pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, let God set us back on the mark and keep running. 

 

Will we keep running simply for the joy of running? Will we let God be our reason to run, the reason to get up again, the reason to keep going and especially the reason to have joy in the run? Will we run the race of faith simply for Him and because of Him?

 

Aren’t we blessed?  We don’t have to run for competition, to beat one another, to receive an earthly trophy or crown or title.  We don’t have to lie in the dust and remain motionless for the rest of our days, even if we got knocked down.  With God as our Coach, who speaks words of faith into our hearts and minds we can get up and continue this run of faith!

 

Oh beloved, God knows you were running so well. He knows you got knocked down by life’s circumstances. He knows you just want to lay there and let the pain overtake you. He knows you want to belly ache and grumble because others have run on without you.  But beloved, you are really just running your faith path with Jesus! Yes, people come and go from your path, but you aren’t going to focus on them. Yes, you fall, you get hurt, you’re wounded, tripped up and trampled. But you aren’t ruined, you aren’t sidelined, you aren’t done.

 

Put your hand in your Divine Coach’s hand – the Lord Himself -  this morning and watch as He cheers you on to run with Him! He still has a plan for you and if you will let Him He will give you a clear path to run the race and achieve His will in all you do.  Because He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you will never have to lose the race, you just have to keep running!

 

Philippians 3:13-14 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,  I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

 

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

 

1 Peter 5:4 And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.

 

Hebrews 10:36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.

 

Colossians 1:11 We also pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy.

 

 

Open the Gifts of God - Straight from the Father's Heart

At our grandson Blake’s birthday party Sunday, we all had a great time. There was a big crowd of family to friends.  Everyone had so much fun. Everything Blake got was something he really liked. As he was putting some of his toys on the kitchen cabinet before they went out to play he looked at me and asked if we had gotten him a certain gift. I replied yes that’s what Popaw and I got him.  He was tickled because as he said “I’ve always wanted one of those”.  

Later that afternoon he was over at our house with another gift, washable markers and an Iron Man spiral notebook to write and draw in. He looked at me and asked if that was from us too. I told him it was. He responded, “This too? I like it.”

Although he got many different gifts, he was appreciative of each one.  Not only that, he was amazed that his grandparents had gotten him more than one gift that he really liked!  

God speaks to my heart. Aren’t we like that?  We accept the gift of salvation and we’re so appreciative to God for His mercy and grace. It’s just the gift we all are asking for. We all want to be forgiven and have a new start. But there’s more! He doesn’t just give us the security of heaven. He gives us the security of every single day of our lives! Not one thing happens that God is unaware of or unprepared for. No matter how things look in the natural, in the spiritual realm you have the gift of full security in Him.

And there’s even more. He gives us grace to help in time of need. He tore the veil and gave us an open door to contact Him 24/7 in prayer. There’s the gift of strength for the weary, rest for the worried, peace for the storm tossed and hope for the hopeless. He gives each of us various gifts for the body of Christ, all of which are very important. Your gift is outstanding and just for you!  He gives us all a basket full, running over and over of fruit, so that our lives will be healthy in Kingdom living as we share His fruit with others. 

He even gives the right friends at the right time for the right help just when we need them. Each friend is also a gift from God.  He gives us a sound mind! So that we can rightly know what God is saying in His Word, every single one of us! He gives us peace - not the kind the world gives, which is false peace – but the kind that will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus.

There are so many gifts that belong to the child of God that it’s like your birthday every day! You are His most favored child and as such He desires you to know Truth in the inner recesses of your heart so that you can call upon that Truth when things look bad, times turn rough or life hands you significant turmoil, trouble or pain.  

There’s more and more and more and each time you open another gift, you are blessed and surprised! This too, Lord? This surprise of blessings gives you a thankful heart and a mouth full of praise. And the gifts flow on from the Father to the Son to you His child and then on to others.

Oh beloved, reach into the Birthday bag of blessings, the Word of God! It’s all yours by reason of being Born Again! The promises to set you free, the promises to help you bless others and the promises to get you to heaven – are all there! Keep reaching in and pulling those gifts out. Keep showing them to others and sharing His bountiful ways with everyone you meet. 

Praise the Lord and thank Him this morning for He is Your Exceedingly Abundant God! He’s the Father of Lights who gives no shadows or mystery or doubt. His Faithfulness to you is Great! His Mercies are new to you each and every day!  Why? Because He loves you and He’s for you and that’s the greatest gift you’ll ever receive!

John 14:27 I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Corinthians 12:11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to Himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him.

1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

2 Peter 1:2-3 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Rest in God's Covenant Arms

There’s an old book in my hall closet from the 50’s. Inside the pages have been glued old cartoons, old photos and old sayings. My mother and I worked on “making” a book of things I loved when I was a very little girl.  I had forgotten all about it.  We went through magazines together along with the Sears catalog (remember that?) and glued those cut outs on each page. Because of the wonderful white glue of childhood they have remained totally stuck to those pages. It’s a wonderful reminder of my mother’s love in taking time to do this craft with me. I probably wasn’t very still and was easily distracted and did a lot of giggling, but the project went on for more than a day. In fact it was daily for months.

I always loved using scissors and making cutouts. From paper dolls to favorite toys in the catalog I was always cutting things out. I remember pasting some things to furniture which didn’t seem to my mother to be too “artistic” but I rarely heard a harsh voice from her. Generally she just helped clean up my messes and mistakes and concentrated on the pasting book.  We referred back to that book often through the years.

Sometimes you have to cut things out in order to put something in its place. Sometimes we need help cleaning up the messes and mistakes. Sometimes we have to cut reminders out of our memories, our life, our Bibles to remind us where we have been and where we are going.

I find I still like to cut things out, but now I use the computer and print out quotes and Scriptures, especially when I’m dealing with something – just to remind me of who I am, whose I am and where I am.

You may have felt you were cut out of the good life.  You may have been cut down by those you trusted and admired. You might have gotten cut off in mid-stream while trying to express yourself.  People can be self-centered and careless with their words and actions. You once felt real fellowship but now you feel left alone, uncared for and dismissed.

God understands that you aren’t certain where you fit in. He understands your desire to be appreciated and admired. He promises you in His Word that you will never be cut out, cut down or cut off by Him. You are more than a paper doll and He is the One who created you and clothed you with dignity and love. Your picture is always before Him and your heart is always held securely by His all reaching hand. Even if you mess up, make mistakes, feel unworthy He is keeping you securely pasted to Himself.

Oh beloved, run to the Lord this morning and rest in His covenant arms. He is your Redeemer and when you gave your heart to Him He placed your name engraved in His hand and no man can erase it. You are loved forever and cared for eternally and that’s all that really matters.

Isaiah 49:16 Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.

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

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

Isaiah 51:11 So the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away.

 

 

God's Care Plan for you is Out of This World

We’ve had our car serviced a couple of times already. With our 10,000 mile service we got our tires rotated and the oil changed as well as the usual maintenance checkup. Danny discovered when he returned home that the technician had failed to secure the skid plate beneath the car, so it scraped the 70 miles home on the interstate. When he began looking he also discovered that black soot from the dangling part was all over the wheels and the sides of the car. Looking to make sure they had really changed the oil he found oily black fingerprints all over the hood and the door handle.

The shoddy workmanship made for a lack of trust. If they didn’t do that right, what else did they fail to do well? Upon calling them Danny was told that it was an “accident”.  I was reminded of my dad’s words, “accidents don’t just happen, they are created”. We’ve talked with the dealership several times and they will make things right for us. They have promised to.

We were treated very well when we made our purchase. Wined and dined so to speak. It was nice to be treated with respect and dignity. It was nice to have them go the extra mile on our behalf.

But here we are in the maintenance end and find that we’re not so appreciated. It’s quite disappointing to think that we thought we had a relationship with a company that would keep showing the same quality in their maintenance as they did in the sales. I kind of felt like the honeymoon was over and I’m just another number.

Maybe you started out well in a relationship. Lots of promises were made from undying love to unquenchable care. You were wined and dined and treated like royalty. But now that you’re well into the situation you find that there’s not that real care and treatment you thought you would have.  Words are great, but they’re just words. Now you have to live with the consequences. You feel betrayed and uncared for.   It started out great, but in the moments of need you are left without help, without hope, without encouragement.

Oh beloved, the Lord Himself can be trusted! When you enter into the covenant relationship with Him it’s because He gave Himself up for you. But the walk up the hill with your sins on His back isn’t the end of it. His grace, mercy and peace are yours all the way to the grave. They continue on to the resurrection and the life.  They are continually revived for you by His intercession at the Father’s right hand. Not only that, you have a lifetime warranty – the Holy Spirit – who takes up residence, keeps up the maintenance and gives you all the extras that normal life never does. God Himself has signed your everlasting warranty with the Blood of the Lamb! Because He is Perfect Love, He is trustworthy.

God loves you and He’s for you forever and ever, and that’s the best care ever!

Psalm 111:2-4 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in Him should ponder them. Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails. He causes  us to remember His wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

1 Peter 5:7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. AMP

Jude 1:1 This letter is from Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and a brother of James. I am writing to all who have been called by God the Father, who loves you and keeps you safe in the care of Jesus Christ.

Who's Filled Your Prescription?

In the movie It’s a Wonderful Life, young George worked at the drug store after school. The pharmacist was drunken one day and George found the note that explained the man’s grief stricken stupor: His son had been killed in the war. Because the man was so incredibly distraught he had resorted to drinking at work. George realized that Mr. Gower had filled a prescription with poison and it would ...be disastrous if that prescription got into the hands of the intended customer. George saved the customer’s life and Mr. Gower’s reputation and livelihood by intervening in the situation.

Our youngest daughter was a pharmacy tech for several years before staying home with her children. She knew how important it was to get the prescription right and to make sure the right dosage was administered. Just a small variance in the medicinal recipe could make for weakened medicine, which wouldn’t help at all, or a worse problem. She also knew well what each medicine was for.

God has given us a prescription for life. The prescription fills our exact needs to make for a wonderful life. We don’t have to pay for the prescription or work for it. It is freely administered to each one of us in the exactly right dosage. Our Pharmacist is the Lord Himself and Jesus is His Pharmacy Tech. They don’t make mistakes on the medicine of salvation, sanctification, justification and glorification. There’s no chance of the prescription failing to fulfill its intended use. The Word of God is the perfect manual for administration of it and the usage of it. We have everything we need for life and godliness as God has poured His life giving ointment into our lives. We truly can have a wonderful life.

The problem comes when we are overcome with grief or sorrow or pain. During those dark hours of hurt we may forget or forgo the perfect medicine from the Lord and resort to our own meds. We may try to add to or take away from God’s Word so that the prescription changes and becomes weakened or ineffective. If we add man’s ideas to the mix we’ll have a disaster. Life can be a tough pill to swallow when we forget about the Lord. In our pain we can easily forget the Truth and administer other pain relief to ourselves. Self-medication is disastrous as well. There’s no hope if we mis-medicate, over-medicate or under-medicate our condition.

Are you hurting? Are you trying to work through a serious illness of the body, of the heart of the spirit? Is your soul in anguish over some trial or weakness you can do nothing about? Have you forgotten the source of your life? Have you left the Truth and taken on the lie? It could be anger instead of peace. It could be revenge instead of forgiveness. It could be remorse instead of repentance. It could be a spirit of heaviness instead of the oil of joy. Are you mourning? Are you resorting to the wrong thing thinking it will help? Maybe you’ve discovered the prescription you bargained for is actually arsenic to your life? And now you’re in such a way that you don’t know if you’ll ever regain your strength or be able to live to see the goodness of God again.

Oh beloved! It’s never too late to return to the pure, health giving, life healing Word of God. With the prescription of God’s love, salvation, regeneration, sanctification and godly living all your trials, troubles and sorrows can be handled and your heart will be healed. God Himself promises to administer His life giving ways to you with perfect results. Run to His Word and read: every single promise was written to perfection for you. Every single instruction is pure and simple, reviving your soul, restoring your mind and setting you on the road of comfort and joy. He says to you this morning, come and drink of Me for I AM the perfect Fountain of Life to all who will turn their heart and mind towards Me. Let Me comfort and heal you, for I AM the Lord and I AM with you.

Oh beloved, don’t despair and don’t resort to your own concoction, for God Loves you and He’s For you and there’s nothing more perfect than His Prescription for a Wonderful Life.

John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). (Amplified)

1 Corinthians 15:45 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life].

Isaiah 58:2 Yet they seek Me day by day and delight to know My ways, As a nation that has done righteousness And has not forsaken the ordinance of their God. They ask Me for just decisions, They delight in the nearness of God.

Psalm 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.

Proverbs 4:20-23 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. Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Feeling Powerless? Check Your Connection

In our house we have good connections and not so good. My phone is having connection issues. I worked and worked on it, thinking it was the phone.  After all the work we discovered it’s the connection – the chargers – that are worn out. 

There are plug-ins that are loose as well. Try as I might to plug the vacuum in to the den’s plug, it just falls out. But when plugged in to another outlet, it works fine. 

Those loose connections cause consternation!  You get things set up, you go to work and the cord falls out of the connection. Slowly we are putting in new connections around the house and I have bought a new charger for both the house and the car. 

Our lives are like those connections. We are born again to stay connected fully and only to God.  We go along, have a great time, work, play, eat and take our hobbies to full throttle.  At first there are just little hiccups. Nothing we really have to stop and repair or look into. But the connection gets looser and looser. Finally, that connection is so loose that we’re unable to do the basics of everyday life. We lose our spark. We get apathetic.  We get lethargic. We get depressed.  We just can’t do what we once could do. We blame ourselves, we blame others, and we try to throw ourselves into some other connection. But none of that works.

Whether the vacuum cleaner is connected to power or not it still looks like a vacuum cleaner. The same with the lamp, the computer, the TV. They all look fine and yet without connection to the source of power they won’t work as they were intended. They’ll look perfect, but they will be powerless. So too we can look fine, but a life not connected to the Source of life will be lacking in the power needed to be a mature believer who moves in the gifts and calling of the Lord.

Finally, we stop. We pull over from our life of “stuff” and begin to look things over.  We see this as a bad thing. We’re sidelined. We’re powerless. We’re disconnected.  We feel alone, we feel useless and we feel things are broken for good.

God sees this as a good thing. His greatest desire is that we stay connected fully to Him. He intercedes for us to stay close to Him in power, prayer and peace.  Finally, we begin to get it. We get alone with God to see what’s really wrong. And God fixes us. He repairs the connection to Himself. He restores the power, reconnects our hearts and gives us a fresh start.

Oh beloved, plug in to the Ultimate Source this morning – the Lord Himself. With Him comes all you need for full power, life and godliness. Without Him you can do nothing. But when connected to Him you will have all the wisdom, power and love you will ever need. You will overcome adversity, you will pray with faith, you will receive power from on High and you will gain peace and joy. It doesn’t matter if you are weak on your own or broken and disengaged. With Him as your Source you will be able to do all things.  Not only will you have power, but your power and faith will increase as you rely on Him to do it all through you. You are the conduit and He is the True Power.  He knows you and He bids you to connect and reconnect daily to Him.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why He’s made a way to keep you from having loose connections so that you can walk in His power all the days of your life.

I Chronicles 11:9 And David became more and more powerful, because the LORD of Heaven's Armies was with him.

2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Romans 15:13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Colossians 1:11 being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

2 Thessalonians 1:11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.