Who's Opening Doors for You?

One of my cousins was talking about selling books in Kentucky in the 60’s. One summer he went out there to walk door to door and sell Bibles, reference books and more. He talked about one particular town where every single door he knocked on refused to greet him. On the sidewalks of the small town, every merchant cussed him and tried to run him out of town. Eventually he decided there would be no selling books there, so he left for the next town. He had been warmly greeted in the previous town and greeted kindly again at the next town but that town was completely closed to him.


Have you ever had a door closed in your face? Maybe you weren’t selling anything, you were in a relationship with a friend or loved one and it all went south. You didn’t do anything and yet they shut the door and walked away. Maybe you did something wrong and tried to make amends but the door remains shut.

Oh beloved, I’m here to encourage you today! Rejoice! God is with you no matter what! He is with you when you are greeted warmly and He is with you when you are given the cold shoulder. He’s with you when men speak highly of you, He’s with you when you’re cursed and pushed away. He’s with you when things are going wonderfully and He’s with you when it all goes bad. He is with you!

Today, regardless of your circumstances, you can rejoice, for God is your Sovereign Father and He has appointed the right place for you to be. If He has allowed a relationship to be broken, He is certainly able to restore heal and make it new. If He has allowed a door to be closed, whether it’s a job or a ministry or a friend or family member, He is going to work it all for His good because you are called according to His purpose. You may do your best to open doors or make things right, but ultimately it is God who does the work. His appointment for you is solid and you do not have to be concerned for He goes before you all the way.

It may be hard, I truly understand, for there have been times I have felt the cold winds blow as relationships falter, but I also know that God and only God is the restorer of everything. And as you look to Him and only Him you will never be disappointed, for He is your maker, your husband, your friend and your guide forever! Never despair for God is the One Who is the Door Opener and the Door Closer. No one can do a thing without His sovereign purpose being fulfilled in your life. You can be assured of this because He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

Revelation 3:8 I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed My word and did not deny Me.

Isaiah 43:616 I AM the LORD, who opened a way through the waters, making a dry path through the sea.

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.

Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I AM the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.

Psalm 23:3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.

It is In the Giving Away that We find Real Joy

To make extra spending money when I was little, my mother crocheted doilies. I’m talking about the huge triple ruffled kind that was stiff starched and prominently displayed all over the house. She crocheted with tiny needles and fine thread. I have the last doily she worked on with the needle and thread attached that she was using.  Some would say that is a silly thing to hold onto. But it’s a visible reminder that regardless our life’s circumstances we should continue to create and enjoy every day.  She crocheted those lovely pieces as though she would be keeping them forever, never lacking in quality no matter that they were going to someone else’s home.  She thoroughly enjoyed the very things she was destined to give away.

Often we humans hold tightly to the things we hold dear. Whether it’s friendship or ministry or family or hobbies or talents.  They’re ours we reason. We don’t share well. We keep things to ourselves. We’re almost miserly with our affections.  Yet it is in the giving away that we find real joy.

Oh beloved, God knows your heart. He knows you want to enjoy the days He’s given you, but you find it hard to release the worry and the fear.  What if you give it all? What if you forgive completely, love whole-heartedly and let Him be first? What if you use up the talents He gave you for others? Run to Him this morning and lay it all at His feet. He will take what you are holding back and exchange it for a treasure trove of beauty in your life that’s meant to be shared, distributed, given away. You can trust Him beloved, because all that you give away and in the measure with which you give it is how He will give back to you. He says you cannot give too much. Even in your lack, if you begin to give you will see amazing things begin to happen.  How blessed are we to be people who can trust Him with everything? He loves you, He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

 Matthew 25:29 For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

2 Corinthians 9:6 Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.

Romans 8:32 Since He did not spare even His own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else?

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.

Are You Struggling With Changes? Hide in the Shelter of His Word!

With the arrival of good rain and under 100 degree temps some of my flowers are blooming again.  Among them are what my mother called surprise lilies. You know the red spider looking flowers that produce first then the leaves later.  One stood alone and apparently was not going to open all the way. The rise and fall of temps must have stunted it. It looked like a surprise lily, it was the same color, but never produced a full flower.

Have there been lots of changes lately? Are you struggling with issues as the heat of the day pounds your life? Maybe you’re experiencing the chill of loneliness, misunderstandings or depression.  You want to bloom where you’re planted but the atmosphere is in upheaval and you’re wondering when things will settle down.

Oh beloved, run to the One Who is sun for growth and shade for rest! The Lord has everything you need for Christian growth and His ways will help you produce beauty in your life!  Beneath His tender watch and care you will bloom completely and produce fruit for generations as you trust Him, listen to Him and let Him guide you.  He loves you and He’s on your side as He helps you grow in grace and the knowledge of Himself!

Psalm 84:11 NAS 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.  

Psalm 48:14  For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and He will guide us until we die.

John 15:4  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me.

Colossians 2:7 Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

2 Peter 1:2  May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

It is In the Heights that We Really Learn to Know Him

As I was looking at the photos taken of our recent ride to Petit Jean I was reminded of what a daring man I married! Several photos were taken, not only by me, but others that showed him on top of boulders, out on the cliffs and overlooking chasms. All these years I’ve watched him launch out to places I don’t dare go.  He has always asked me to go along with him, but most times I declined. On the rare occasions where I mustered up enough courage to go with him it turned out to be so worth it! The view would be so wonderful, the scene exhilarating and the realization that I had the courage to go with him was great!  I find that my husband has taught me a lot about life, about taking chances and about looking at the scenery rather than concentrating on the fear and I’m thankful again that He’s mine.  

Oh beloved!  Our walk with God is like this. We love to stroll with Him in the meadows where there’s not much trouble, few decisions and no stress.  Yet it is in the heights of the unfamiliar that we really begin to know Him and to trust Him and thus to follow Him. While it may seem safer to reside in the valley, it is up on the mountain that real change takes place - the mountains where we’re out of our comfort zones, loose from our earthly bonds and clinging only to Him. Why don’t you take His Hand this morning and say yes. Yes to the unknown, yes to the higher calling, yes to the place where you will live with “less of me and more of Thee”.  His marvelous plan is out of this world for you.  Not only that, the view is astounding and the air is fresher. You can trust His plan, you can climb up and be full of courage as together you and the Lord walk the walk He has planned for you.  Take a chance today and watch how your life lets go of the fear holding you to the meadow.  He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

 

Habakkuk 3:19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.

Mark 8:34  Then, calling the crowd to join His disciples, He said, “If any of you wants to be My follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow Me.

Psalm 94:18-19 “I cried out, “I am slipping!” but Your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.”

Psalm 143:10  Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.

You're life is Amazing when Given to Him!

The first time I laid eyes on Danny was after I had car trouble.  I was walking to my aunt’s house to get help and he was sitting at his pasture gate in the old panel wagon he drove.  He was sitting there with huge headphones on listening to music.  As I walked by I didn’t have any particular revelation of the future. How could I have known I was walking past the man who would be my husband? How could I know that one day we’d be living for the Lord and be ministers of the Gospel together? If you asked people who knew us then, they wouldn’t have believed it either.

Oh beloved, you can’t know your future. You may be living for the moment. You may even be enjoying your life and have things all planned out. For some of you things may not be going so well. Your plans have all failed and you fail to see anything that might turn out right.  God has a wonderful plan for your life! Yes, in spite of the hard things, in spite of your best laid plans, in spite of everything, His plan is working out for your life! His plans will turn out, His blessings will come forth, His eternal purposes cannot be thwarted for He Alone is God, the Sovereign King of Heaven and Earth! Why not go to Him this morning and lay your life before Him? He won’t turn you away but instead He will take you into His arms and grant you great and wonderful things! Let Him show you from His Word all that He has for you waiting for the day you say Yes to Him! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

Psalm 33:11  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart from generation to generation.

 Proverbs 16:1  We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.

Proverbs 16:9  The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

 Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

 2 Timothy 1:9  For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was His plan from before the beginning of time—to show us His grace through Christ Jesus.