Do You Trust Him?

Do You Trust Him?

One of our friends often tells of his daughter holding onto the rope as the horse drug her through the dirt. “I’m not letting go Daddy!” she yelled. Our little Stella jumps from the top stair into my arms and evidently she knows beyond the shadow of a doubt that I will catch her each and every time. Danny would beckon our own kids out on the edge of cliffs while we were hiking and they’d just go with him. The grandsons will follow him anywhere on one of those treks. Each experience shows that these kids simply looked into the eyes of the one they trusted and not one of them held back or said anything like “What if I get dirty?” “What if I fall?” “What if it’s scary?”

I’d like to think I trust God. Wouldn’t you? But do we? Really? When we say we trust God, what do we really mean? I trust Him to do things I want? I trust Him to give me my desires? I trust Him to…(you fill in your blank)

I can’t just say I trust Him to make me look good. He may not do that. He isn’t compelled to do so. We care about how we look. We care about what people think. We care about appearances. We want God to make us look good (for Him of course). But He cares about our heart. Real trust says, I will go where you send me, I will speak what you tell me to, I will humble myself and pray more and forgive always…It says I will go the distance simply because Jesus did, He has and He will.

God speaks to my heart: You’ll have to learn to trust Me in order to go where I have ordained you should go. You will have to hang on for all it’s worth. You will have to jump into what appears to be thin air. You will have to go out on a cliff and not care how high you are to position yourself with Me. I AM beyond the natural, beyond the safe, beyond the ordinary. This area of trust takes you beyond the realm of possible to the realm of impossible. It’s okay because I AM the one who calls you and I AM the one who will be with you all the days of your life. You have a choice, but if you choose to step out in faith I will teach you how to let Me speak through you, work through you and your destiny will unfold as the most beautiful life lived. 

Oh beloved, isn’t it time? Why don’t you give God your heart this morning fresh and new. Talk to Him about your lack of trust and let Him give you fresh anointing for the trust you will need. God is trustworthy. He is the author and initiator of Trust. He knows everything about you. Your life. Your hopes. Your dreams. Your hurts. Your fears. He knows you’ve tried to trust others, but sometimes it’s proved heartbreaking. He knows you have held on and yet others have cut the rope. He knows that you’ve looked for love and peace and companionship and were still left hanging. But He’s your Everything and as you learn to live Loved by the Lord of Heaven and Earth you will find that Trust becomes second nature. He will never let you down, never leave you alone and never forsake His call on your life. It’s going to be different in this land of Trust, but it’s worth it. Oh beloved, it is surely worth it.

God loves you and He’s got a wonderful plan for your life. Trust is the issue. And this is all we have to agree to. It’s all He agrees to. I trust Him to make Himself glorified through me.

Proverbs 22:19 So that your trust may be in the LORD, I have taught you today, even you.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.

Jeremiah 17:7 But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.

Isaiah 26:8 Lord, we show our trust in you by obeying your laws; our heart’s desire is to glorify Your Name.

Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Psalm 73:24 You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny.

Cast Out a Little Farther

by rebekahbeene

Danny and I both grew up fishing alongside parents and grandparents. In turn we took our children fishing and now they too take their children fishing. It’s a good, clean activity that can produce some delicious results if done right. It does take some planning. The right bait and the right technique, along with the right equipment makes for a successful catch. Little children don’t know quite how to fish when they start so sometimes it’s a little haphazard. 

Jesus had taught His disciples much and yet they had so much more to learn. I can relate, can’t you? He appeared on the shore seeing that they weren’t able to catch a single fish. They were discouraged. The flesh was not cooperating, even though fishing was their very lifestyle. They already KNEW how to fish. Was it desperation or was it obedience? When He told them to cast out in a different direction they did it. The catch was beyond their ability to haul in. It was more than they could handle. Suddenly the men who couldn’t catch a perch had a month’s load in one cast. Peter, realizing it was Jesus, hurled himself out into the water and swam to meet Him! I love this. Are you ready to step out into deeper water with Him? Are you ready to totally immerse yourself in Christ and not care what happens or where He sends you or what He instructs you to do?

God speaks to my heart: I AM the Lord. I AM the one who has redeemed you, given you a new name, reshaped your life and restored your soul. You are not who you were. So it’s time to cast out a little farther with Me. I want you to know the depths of the riches of My wisdom and knowledge. Where is your weakness? I AM there to strengthen Myself through you. Where is your lack? I AM there to give abundantly beyond all you could ask or think. Where is your blindness? I AM your vision, your purpose, your plan and your provision. Fishing for small fry was good when you were a child in the faith, but I AM calling you to deeper trolling of My Word. This will not be fleshly fishing, but will be Spirit casting into and beyond your natural beliefs. If you will let Me, I will take you beyond yourself and fully into the depths of My Kingdom and it will be for your good and My glory.

Oh beloved, God is calling this morning. You’ve been thinking about letting go of the bank of earthly cares and desires. You’ve wondered if God can be trusted. He can! You may feel less than but God is MORE THAN. You may have been bewildered by the lack of fruit for your labor. You may have been left to go it alone. All this is well within God’s plan to take you beyond the natural and into the supernatural. Run to His Word of Faith this morning and see! Run to Christ and believe! Run to the Spirit and let Him envelop you and change your plans. As you totally abandon yourself to Him you will find that peace will increase, fruit will overflow and life will be better than it’s ever been in your wildest dreams. 

God loves you and He is for you so wherever He tells you to cast your net, do it quickly. That’s where the real fruit and the real life in Christ is.

Luke 5:4 When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper, and let down your nets to catch some fish

I John 1:4 We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy.

Psalm 143:8 Let me hear of Your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! 

Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us…

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.

Jesus Will Free You of Your Excess Baggage

It’s been a long time since anyone in our immediate family has flown, but when they did they carried their baggage on board with them in a large duffle bag.  In 2008 some of the major airlines began charging fees for excess baggage. That rate has gone up continually over the years. Not all airlines charge but even those that don’t charge have a limit to the size and weight of the baggage. And the price for the heavier or larger baggage is pretty steep. Suffice it to say if you carry excess baggage these days it’s going to cost you.

Excess baggage isn’t just carried on a plane. It’s often carried by people. Even believers have their share of baggage. Some of it is carried over from the days before their commitment to Christ.  It’s a heavy load to care and it truly costs dearly to carry the weight around. Some of it is carried due to sins committed in the past. Other weighted down baggage may be marital problems, how a person was raised or even religious expectations.  The cost of carrying the excess baggage comes when you try to carry it all yourself. Imagine walking into a restaurant and carrying all your trip belongings with you. Imagine sight-seeing and having to carry that stuff with you everywhere you go.  Up mountains, over bridges. Walking down the aisle? Carrying all your excess troubles, mistakes, misunderstandings, rejections to the altar.  You quickly get a picture of what happens when the excess baggage isn’t dealt with. It enters into everything you do and everywhere you go. It’s a load no one should carry and it will cost you more than you want to pay.

God speaks to my heart: I have come to the world to lighten the sin load of everyone who comes to Me for relief. There at Calvary I set the precedent for a life that never has to be burdened with the weight of sin. Why are you still carrying that with you? Are you expecting to be able to do something with your past regrets? Hand them to me quickly before you find yourself so weighted down with sin that you cannot enter into My rest. I have also come to ransom you from the weight of rejection, fears, worry, and all the other things that people think they have to carry on with them. Everywhere you go you will need to be light for the trip so that I can speak to your heart, guide your plans and guard your mind. You were never meant to carry anything that is in the way of a burdensome load.  If you will let Me, I the Lord, will take your excess baggage, relieve you of the burden as well as the cost of carrying it around with you and give you My yoke instead. As you learn of Me you will find that My yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light. It’s time to walk freely, be able to dance in My presence, and go where I send you. With excess baggage you are barely going to make it, but free of your baggage you will be able to soar with Eagle’s wings and scale the heights with Me.  

Oh beloved, weighed down? Feeling the weight of the world on your shoulders? Are you finding that the more you take on the harder it is to move? It’s time to give your burdens to the Lord? Your cares aren’t meant to be carried and your sins aren’t meant to weigh you down. You can be free! It doesn’t matter what you’ve done or why you’re weary, take it all to the Lord. It sounds simple and it is. God has made it so simple that as we begin to unload it all on Him we find that He just does away with it. It’s gone as far as the east is from the west. It’s in the sea of forgetfulness. He will never bring it up again and He will never try to weigh you down with it. If you feel that you must take it all up and carry it again, you can be sure that it is not the Lord requiring it of you. Your excess baggage will take a toll in your life, in your vocation, in your marriage, in your relationships, even in your fellowship with other believers, even with your own perception of yourself. These heavy weights may have been given you by others or may be built up within yourself. Excess baggage can be sin, wrong thinking, rejection, humiliation, defeated thinking, depression, discouragement or more. They can be fleshly in nature or even religious. The enemy of your soul wants you weighed down and thus useless for the Kingdom. Wherever it has come from, God will show you because God is love.  The lightening of your load by God through Christ will give you a freedom you’ve never known. It is the freedom that all creation is looking for and it’s just what you’ve been wanting. Try it today, go to God and give Him all your burdens. Begin now. The process may take a while but you will begin to feel so much lighter in mind, spirit and body as you start the process.

God loves you and He is for you. That’s why He wants you to quit paying for the excess baggage you were never meant to carry. He needs you to be free to live, love and share His love, His care and His truth all the days of your life.

John 8:36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

Matthew 11:28-30 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Psalm 34:6 In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; He saved me from all my troubles.

Are You Ready to Get Some Real Rest?

                                                                          When traveling late in the evening I usually get very sleepy. As always, as I get sleepier I start dozing off. When I start dozing off I jump awake and ask Danny if he’s sleepy. I’m always concerned that he will nod off as well. Every single time I ask him he always says the same thing, “No but you are”. It’s hard to relax because my drowsiness makes me think he’s surely going to be drowsy too. But in reality how I am feeling has nothing to do with how he’s feeling. His wakefulness is not thwarted by my lethargy. He is alert and watchful even when I am completely asleep. He’s never scared me or had a wreck while I was asleep yet I keep asking every time we travel. Finally when I am overcome with sleep and can’t keep myself awake I just have to let it go and trust him. He’s never failed me. I know I’m safe as soon as I let myself rest.

I think we may tend to treat God the same way. We find ourselves in a state of commotion – we are worried. So we wonder if God is with us. We’re fearful. So we wonder if God will protect us. We’re in the dark about a situation and we wonder if God sees us. We forget everything we already know. We forget to remember how He’s seen us through other crises in the past. We get drowsy spiritually under the load of present circumstances and we think God might fall asleep – He might miss this one.

God speaks to my heart: You cannot call the shots on your life. As well as you plan things are going to happen. It’s time to let go the desire to control things and learn to rest in My presence. My Word is your book of rest. Inside its pages are the truths that I breathe out over your life. You don’t have to question Me. You don’t have to worry about what I will do. You don’t have to think that just because you are in a dark place that My light won’t shine this time. Your fear doesn’t lesson My protection. But it will lessen your faith in Me. Your constant worry is not prayer. But your prayers are always received by Me. I miss not one tear, not one loss, not one problem. I AM the Lord who protects, guides, watches over and keeps you safe even when you are sleeping. Even when you are thinking I might not come through this time I AM already working out the plans for your life. It’s time to trust Me and let yourself rest. Rest in My promises. Rest in your circumstances. The rest I give rejuvenates your faith, revives your spiritual senses and redeems your times. Trust and rest go together. Prayer and faith gives you purpose. I will never leave you or forsake you. When have I ever done that? Quit wondering if I will be with you now, for I have said I will be with you always, even to the ends of the earth.

Oh beloved, time to wake up from the spiritual lethargy of worry, fear, regret, control. Time to let God breathe His Truth into your mind and let it go all the way to your heart. Settle things with Him now. Repent of disbelief and let Him drive. He has never forsaken His own and if you are His you are His own you can be assured by His Word that He is in charge of the trips of your life. Nothing is too difficult for Him. He has never missed a problem, been surprised by the ordeals you go through or been caught napping in your troubles. The things you are encountering in your life are not going to ruin you. Rather they are going to build up your faith in God.  If you’re having problems resting in His presence get out the Word of God and recite it over your life. Let His Word dwell richly in you. Don’t scrimp when things are hard. It costs nothing to go to the Word and it wields great dividends to the one who lives in the light of His mercy and grace.  Remember His promises and rehearse the truth about Him. You will find that when you let Him lead and rest in Him you will always feel renewed. Things may look worse, but God is making it better.

He loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth trusting Him to take care of it all and letting yourself rest in Him.

Isaiah 43:11-12 I, even I, am the Lord, and there is no savior besides Me.  “It is I who have declared and saved and proclaimed, and there was no strange god among you; so you are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “And I am God.”

Isaiah 44:8 “Do not tremble and do not be afraid; Have I not long since announced it to you and declared it? And you are My witnesses. Is there any God besides Me, or is there any other Rock? I know of none.”

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. NLT

Hebrews 6:18 So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.

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

Psalm 4:8  In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust. Amplified

No Fear of Twists and Turns When God is With You

When you travel on the back of a motorcycle, you get a much clearer view of your surroundings. We’ve been over mountains, through tunnels, around bends and beyond borders. We’ve seen wild animals, up close, and we’ve had some near misses. Danny’s favorite trips involve hairpin curves, unknown roads and wide open scenery. My favorite trips involve moderate speed and tree lined valleys. 

I was talking with another couple who have traveled as well on their motorcycle. She rides her own. As we were sharing stories of our trips she began to talk about the worst road she’d ever encountered. She said that as they planned their trip, one of her other friends cautioned her. “Whatever you do don’t take that highway.” Imagine my friend’s horror when she did in fact find herself driving on that very road. Although they were in a group, she had to ride through it herself. High mountain vistas with no barricades on the turns, above the tree line, made for sheer horror. She said it was all she could do to get through it.

Just like riding a motorcycle through the Rockies or the Appalachians, you and I are bound to encounter treacherous turns that seem to have no end. We want to avoid the hard places. We don’t want to go through anything that takes us beyond our own abilities. We may start out in a group, but they can’t go the distance with us. Well-meaning though they may be, companions will caution you not to travel that way. “Keep it safe” they’ll say. They don’t want you to go through hard times and they’ll say you don’t have to. They may want to have fun and stay in the valleys or even rock on the porch with you. But as soon as you begin the heights of affliction or rejection or turmoil they will leave you to go it alone.

Truth is we all have a road to travel. And if you travel this world long enough, you will encounter things beyond your natural abilities. You will be unsure if you can make it. You will not know if you can overcome the feelings of danger on the cliffs of life. But you don’t really have to go it alone, because God is with you. We’re never really alone. And we have an anchor for our souls and a pilot for our travels into the hardships of life. He’s with us in our turmoil, our afflictions and the summits of despair.

Oh beloved, it’s time to let God take over your travels. He has a plan and every step you make every mile you ride is going to end with His destination in mind. He wants ultimately for you to be so enveloped in Him that you no longer think independently. Awards await you as well. You will find out that you have become an overcomer as you continue to travel wherever He sends you. You will see that you are courageous as you hide yourself in His strength for the journey. You will know that you have become victorious as you travel in the light of His Word. You don’t have to have stamina or fortitude or your own set of masterful abilities to make it. You just have to rest in His truth and travel in His Spirit. You may appear weak in the flesh, but that’s when His true strength comes forth. You may be fearful in the flesh but that’s when His courage appears. Don’t let anyone talk you out of the heights of growth in Christ for it is just beyond the high places that the valley of comfort will appear. Keep on keeping on and keep on praising God as you wind
your way through this life headed for your ultimate journey's end in heaven.

Rejoice that you are traveling in the power of the Holy Spirit. Even though the road ahead, the days ahead, may find you traveling through treacherous territory, you are destined to make it all the way. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can keep going, knowing that you are traveling in the light of His purpose for you!

1 John 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

Hebrews 11:32-34 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

I Corinthians 1:31 so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”

Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

No Need to Fear The Dark

As the lights went off early this morning, Danny had already left for work at 3:30. I found myself in the dark alone. 

As I pondered whether to be afraid or find a light, I remembered a recent visit with our daughters and their families. They shared tales about being afraid of the dark in their rooms. One told of the pile of clothes in a chair that looked like a person sitting there. Overnight they kept their eye on the man hoping he didn’t get up and get them. But as morning came, the true identity revealed just clothes. I too remembered a “tiger” in my room that was a pile of blankets upon the light of day. I was amazed that this seems to be something all kids experience. The only difference in us was that I would nearly suffocate, thinking if my head was covered the fictitious monster couldn’t see me and thus couldn't get me!

There are many things that appear bigger than life in the night watches. Faced with a desperate situation, we can only see what we’re focused on. We can’t see anything well. We get worried and our imaginations run wild. We may even get to feeling that we are done for, that all our hope is gone. We cover our heads, we bury our minds, we grasp for comfort and all to no avail. The problem is still in the room with us, sitting in a chair. Staring us down, the problem seems to loom larger than life. We concentrate more and more on the problem and it just gets bigger and bigger.

But let the Son come into the room and we find sweet relief. That problem, though we may still have it, is not nearly as big as we thought, nor as ferocious. It is just a pile of stuff compared to the Lord. We have Jesus and He lights the room with His presence and lightens our hearts with His love. We are no longer fearful because He is with us. We don’t have to fret or fume or worry or concentrate on the problem. We don’t have to cover our head or bury our life for He has come into the room to give us sweet relief. Not only will He comfort us, He promises to help us with the problem. He knows the situation even better than we do for He sees the end of the night. We are stuck in the situation, but He is here to release us from the blame, the fear and the worry.

Oh beloved, you don’t have to hide from the situation and hope frantically that it will not overtake you! Open up God’s Word and read. He is your Answer - to the problem, to your worry, to the outcome and to the plan for good and not evil. As you turn your eyes on Jesus, the things that are trying to suffocate you will lose their ferocity because you will be looking at the Savior rather than the problem. He promises to give you sweet rest no matter what’s going on around you. God will either remove the problem altogether or He will give you instructions on wisdom to deal with it and peace to know that His ways are best. The darkness will not overtake you for your Lord is the Light of the World and the Light in your present dark situation.

Rejoice that God loves you and He’s for you and that’s all you need to see your way through to morning as you rest in the light of His Word.

Psalm 91:1-2 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!”

Psalm 139:10-12 Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, and the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.

Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

There is Help in the Midst of it All

A few days ago one of our friends posted that he was in his office early in the morning and heard a rumble and felt the house shake. His daughter, who had been asleep, was suddenly up and fearful. They weren’t sure what had happened.  Turns out it was an earthquake! We hear lots of horror stories from California and other countries but Arkansas? They happen occasionally but a magnitude of nearly 3.0 makes for quite a shaking.

While the shaking of their house was only momentary, they’ve been in a shakeup of a much bigger magnitude. His beloved was ill for some time and she was called home to heaven just a few months ago. A huge gap has been left in their lives. Our friend knows the Lord and He knows where she is, but the shaking of his life still has tremors. It may be a while before things settle and probably only when he gets to heaven will he feel completely steady again. But he knows where his strength lies and we pray daily for him to hang onto that strength.

There are all kinds of earthquakes that come into our lives.  Just as we can’t predict the geological kind, we cannot predict the appearance of the shakeups that we endure. We cannot fully prepare for how we will feel during the shakeup either.  When we are in the middle of the sensations of trouble we feel that we will be thrown to the ground. We wonder if the roof will fall in or if we will be overwhelmed. After the initial quake, there often comes a tidal wave of emotions. What do we do? Where can we go? Why did this happen? Who will help? Will it ever end?

God speaks to our hearts. He speaks words of love and affirmation to us as He steadies our hearts in the midst of the panic. I AM the one who will see you through. Not just this quake, but all tremors that want to send your heart into your throat. Your panic is my opportunity to speak peace into your life.  I have no desire to ruin your life. My only desire is that each time you feel the earth move and hear the rumble of turmoil you will turn to Me.  Life is temporary and often it holds hard times that want to shake the foundation of your faith. But I will never let you be destroyed.

Oh beloved, some of the things that we go through have huge magnitude on our lives. They are literally earth shattering. And yet God’s promises remain unshaken.  Precious one, if you will look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your faith, and put your hand in His, He will walk you through the quakes and beyond the rubble.  Just as earthquakes don’t last forever, neither do hard times. You cannot let your earthly circumstances disable you spiritually. Trust God no matter what. Run to Him for He is your only place of ultimate safety. God will not only get you through, He will make you stronger. And your strength will help others through the earthquakes they go through. Speak often of God’s redeeming grace and rehearse His promises in the midst of the overwhelming tide.

God loves you and He’s for you. And His promises can be trusted as you stand in the midst of whatever happens in life, knowing that God will never let anything overtake you. You are safe in His arms always.

Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 40:17 Since I am afflicted and needy, Let the Lord be mindful of me. You are my help and my deliverer; Do not delay, O my God.

Psalm 94:17 If the Lord had not been my help, My soul would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

Psalm 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.

Isaiah 41: 10 Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Psalm 46: 1-3,11 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea; though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold.

A Life Wrapped Up in Jesus

There are a lot of gift exchanges going on. From office parties to church events, everyone is scrambling to find just the right thing for their occasion.  Even the dirty Santa get-togethers require bringing a good gift, because seeing it swapped around the room lets you know you succeeded.

For years I made homemade bows and turned them into butterflies and angels and such. I’ll admit the last few  years has made me rethink spending so much time on that. Now I just try to find big bows and quickly slap them on the package. I have already gotten a couple of gifts and one was wrapped extra nice. It just looked great and because it had a store tag on it, I knew it would be good.

Upon opening the package I found that the contents were broken. It was sitting there so pretty in the beautifully wrapped package I had just opened, but as I slipped my hand in to lift the gift out, only a piece of it lifted up. No problem. The giver did a really good job and I loved my present. It didn’t take long to make things right and the replacement was perfectly together.

Our lives are often like the beautifully wrapped presents under the tree. We’re done just right. Everything in order. Beautiful paper, perfectly formed bow, just the right tag and our life is perfectly presentable. No one knows what the contents are, but the cover is par excellence.  Our exterior is put together in all the right ways. But open the package and peer beneath the veneer and some are terribly broken. Quickly we want to recover the package and make it look good, but inside it’s just broken.  The beautiful covering can’t change what’s inside.

Oh beloved, God sees beneath the wrapping. He knows you. He’s well aware that inside you are suffering with a broken heart. It may be the loss of a loved one to death. It may be the loss of love due to another’s change of heart. It could be that your insides are full of regrets, fears, worries, troubles and agony.  You’ve done a good job of keeping up appearances for appearance’s sake but Jesus wants to get inside. He wants to probe all the brokenness. You want to hide it all. You haven’t dared tell anyone just how broken things really are, but God already knows. And Christ came on that beautiful starlit night to fix you. He is the Repairer of broken things. And He wants to repair your heart and mind and then display you for all the world to see His wonderful workmanship.

If you will let Him He will not just repair it all, but He will make it all new. I know it’s hard to believe right now, when you’re hurting and weary and wondering what you will do. But He promises. He says He loves you and that’s why He’s willing to mend your broken heart, heal your hurting mind and redeem your soul.  He’s for you and that’s why you can trust Him with the deepest contents of your heart.  Even the hardest of times, the broken moments, will show His glory as you are His most beloved child.  He will never leave you with a broken heart, no more than a parent would leave their child with a broken present. Then He will wrap you up in Him and guard your heart and mind forever.

A life wrapped up in Jesus is the most beautiful life you’ll ever live and that’s all that really matters as you let Him make your life just right inside and out.

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

Psalm 34:18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Jeremiah 33:6 Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.

Matthew 6:30 And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Jeremiah 17:4 Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; Save me and I will be saved, For You are my praise.

Malachi 4:2 But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in His wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.

You CAN Walk in FREEDOM!

We watched a rerun of King Kong the other day. The newest version really shows the gorilla as a fierce creature much more realistic than the 1930’s version. His fierceness was overshadowed only by his strength.  Yet for all his strength, he was finally subdued by his enemies. The captors penned him down with enough ropes and strong medicine to knock him out. Their elaborate plan to capture him finally worked, even though he fought them, even though he was stronger, fiercer and bigger.

The word says that the believer is strong and invincible in the face of trials and troubles. We are referred to as more than conquerors and overcomers by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimonies. We are instructed to walk in freedom and be valiant warriors for God.     

Yet the enemy of our soul has an elaborate plan to capture us. Regardless of the promise of spiritual strength to overcome we will fall if we’re not careful. The enemy, our would-be captor, has a cunningly devised plan.  This plan is clever, artful, and ingenious and he has worked hard inventing, developing and formulating the plan.   

Unlike King Kong, who was finally captured, we do not have to succumb to the tactics of the enemy. He’s crafty but we have the Holy Spirit residing in us. This gives us great advantage in the fights of our lives, our hearts, our minds.  As we daily surrender ourselves to God, and declare our dependence on Him alone, we are able to overcome whatever is thrown at us.

While the enemy doesn’t cause every problem in our lives, he certainly wants to take credit for it and use it to his advantage.  If we are angry and we let that anger rule our lives we are submitting to a rope across our back. If we are discouraged and we don’t allow God to replace it with His courage we’ll find another rope has been slung across us.  I would dare say that fear is probably three ropes – fear will tie you down all by itself. Fear of man, fear of failure, fear of the future – none of these are meant to live in our minds, yet without God’s touch we all have fear. The list of ropes goes on and on: disappointment, tragedy, trials, turmoil, sorrow, unbelief…

Thanks be to God the lover of our soul has a plan as well! His plan includes praise, worship and freedom. His plan keeps us safe, keeps us free of terrors and lets us live without concern of the enemy. We don’t have to be taken captive as we learn to apply God’s Word to every situation that comes our way. Ropes are designed to capture us, but we can use them as walkways to greater living.    God’s plan of living even includes rescue when we’ve let ourselves be captured!  He will not allow us to remain captive unless we choose to. He is our Redeemer, Savior and Friend and His Spirit is strong on our behalf to break every chain and loose every bondage we’ve ever had. Brute force, natural strength won’t relieve you, redeem you or set you free. But God’s power is the overcoming victory for every believer.

Oh beloved, God has a wonderful plan for your life! That plan includes walking in freedom no matter what road you are on. It includes walking in strength and power of the Holy Spirit even in the jungles of life.  God is wooing you with His Word this morning to listen and live free. He will lovingly untie every fetter that seeks to control you and keep you down as you give each one to Him.  He’ll even take away the fear of the only natural enemy you have – satan – and replace it with His assurance. You never have to walk in dread of capture as long as you walk in the light of His Word.

God loves you and He’s for you and He provided your ultimate freedom on the Cross so that you can live free and in the power of His might all the days of your life!

Isaiah 43:1-3 Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.   When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.  When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.  When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.  For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Psalm 119:45 I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.

Psalm 59:17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.

Psalm 18:1 I love You, Lord; You are my strength.

Psalm 18:39 You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued my enemies under my feet.

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

Recite God's Truth Over Your Struggles

My daughter was telling me to do something and I grinned to myself and spoke these words, “You’re not the boss a me!” We both laughed. I can remember grandchildren saying that very thing when I had to tell them what to do. I’ve been bossed all my life. You have too. Someone is always in authority over us, right? No matter how high up the rung of the success ladder you go or how low down on the totem pole you are, someone is over you.

Other things are bosses as well: our time, our finances, our possessions. Most of us punch a time clock, balance a checkbook and dust, polish and remodel things.  We have to mow the grass, water the lawn, feed the chickens, change the oil. The list goes on and on. These things boss us in the fact that we have to do them – if left undone they only get bossier!

There are some other things that have bossed me over the years. Shyness was a big boss until the Lord changed my heart. Then there was old fear. Fear and I were best buds for many, many, many years.  I’ve fought and struggled with him many times. Sometimes I would win and other times fear would have its way.

A few weeks back we were riding through the mountains and across the switchbacks of northern Arkansas. Those who have ridden with us in the past know that I don’t like that. But I do love the driver of the motorcycle I’m behind, so I go. I could never enjoy the view because the feeling of going off the edge was so incredibly overpowering.

It was about the third day out and we were riding along beautiful hills and scenic lookouts. The scripture Psalm 34:4 came to mind, “I sought the Lord and He delivered me from ALL MY FEARS!” (my emphasis)  I sat on that motorcycle and talked to the Lord. Quietly under my breath I said, “Lord I would like you to deliver me from this fear.”  I had such peace as I took in the sights and you won’t believe this, but I began enjoying them! No kidding! It was immediate. I let it sink in as I looked out on the expansive view and leaned in the curves. This was better than good, it was wonderful! What had up to then taken my breath away in fear was now giving me extreme joy!

Since Danny and I talk on intercoms, I shared with him what I had done and how God had responded.  He was thrilled! LOL The rest of the trip was totally awesome as I could look over on the breathtaking views and enjoy God’s wonderful world.  God blessed my marriage as well because we can now share in the enjoyment of those views!

I had sought the Lord and He responded according to His Word and “delivered me from all my fears”.  Fear is no longer the boss of me!

For you it may not be fear. Other things like melancholy, sorrow, dread, unbelief, anger, bitterness, attitude – these are the things that try to “boss” us.  Anything that comes between you and your faith is something that’s trying to boss you. If you are having a hard time living life to its fullest, then you may have let something take authority over you. I know things can be hard, but those things aren’t meant to be the boss of you.

Oh beloved! Today could be your day of liberation! It could be the day you call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised! His Word is His bond. His Truth is His answer. Your faith is your key to God’s Word that will unlock the chains that want to be your boss! Let His Word be your source and your healer. Let His Word pour over you and make you a believer! Recite God’s Truth over your struggle and watch as it loses all its strength and has to bend to the Truth! No matter what you’ve been through, no matter how long you’ve struggled, if you will call upon the Lord, He will indeed answer you, release you, redeem you and make all things new!

Take in God’s Word everyday beloved, for the Scriptures are lovingly God breathed for you so that when wrong thinking wants to lord it over you, God will bring His Word to your mind and you can say with authority, “God loves me and He’s for me and you’re not the boss of me anymore!”

Psalm 34:4 I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalm 18:3 I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies.

Psalm 107:2 Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies.

Psalm 107:20 He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.

Psalm 119:159-160 See how I love your commandments, Lord.  Give back my life because of your unfailing love.  The very essence of your words is truth; all your just regulations will stand forever.

Your Strength is From God Himself!

Two of our grandsons spent the night with us last night. We rented Jack the Giant Slayer.  It was pretty good but the best party of the movie was at the very end. The special affects were outstanding, the actors were good and the plot was wondrous. But that ending…

There were gruesome fights, a captured princess and fights for freedom. As the giants in the land were about to take over the entire kingdom, killing all the people who lived there, including the people’s king – they suddenly stopped in their tracks. Beginning with the leader, one by one they all knelt and bowed. Elmont, the king’s elite guard leader, looked incredulously at the sight of those giants in such a position.

He spoke out loud and everyone heard him, including the King, “There’s something behind me isn’t there?” As the soldiers and the King turned around, Jack came up with the princess. He was holding the crown of an ancient king Erik, who had reportedly defeated the giants one time before. He put the crown on his head and the fight was over. Not one of the giants was able to come against the crown.

Let’s face it. We all have battles in our lives. Some of them are quite gruesome. There are battles we don’t want, but find ourselves in anyway. There are battles of the heart, the mind and the spirit. We may love with abandon, only to find ourselves struggling to keep love fresh and real. We give ourselves fully to friends and family but there are times when even the closest of kin will turn and walk. We battle heartaches, loneliness, sorrow, despair. We come up against fearsome foes – fear, anger, rejection, doubt, indifference and more.  We may start out strong, but find ourselves holding on for our life as we see that we are no longer winning but actually up against things we can never overcome…on our own.

But just like the final battle in the movie, we have something behind us! We have Someone Who will come in like a flood and wipe our enemies from the land before us! Our King of Kings promises so many vast and wonderful things for us so that we can be more than conquerors and absolutely victorious in any battle we face! If He weren’t behind us, we’d lose for sure – but He is! And so because He is behind us, we can face everything that comes our way knowing through Our God we win!

God’s battle cry is full of love so that when we feel unloved and unlovely we can rejoice in the victory of His never ending love! God’s battle cry is full of hope – the hope that never disappoints, never loses and always overcomes! God’s battle cry is full of victory, for it is in our weakest moments that He is the Strongest in us and through us!

Oh beloved, are you barely holding on this morning! Don’t despair, but rather declare!  Declare the works of the Lord, speak out the Word of the Lord and gather up the Truth of God’s Word as your sword and shield! You may have thought you were all alone facing your giants, but behind you is God and He promises to rises up on your behalf and overcome everything because He loves you and He’s for you and that’s where the true Victory is!

Learn His Word completely, embrace His Word as your banner in the battlefields of life and watch as through God you will be valiant and find yourself in a win win situation always!

Jeremiah 15:20 They will fight against you like an attacking army, but I will make you as secure as a fortified wall of bronze. They will not conquer you, for I am with you to protect and rescue you.
I, the Lord, have spoken!

Psalm 59:17 O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me unfailing love.

Psalm 34:7 For the angel of the LORD is a guard; He surrounds and defends all who fear Him.

Psalm 139:5 You go before me and follow me. You place Your hand of blessing on my head.

Exodus 14:4 The LORD Himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.

Go Ahead! You Can Do It! Fear Must Flee!

A friend’s children and a couple of their cousins took swimming lessons last week. Everyone learned much although some of them became quite adept at swimming. Her 5 year old son can now at least dog paddle in the water without going under.

But he wanted to do more than that. He wanted to dive from the diving board. He wanted to be able to jump in and swim to the edge. That was his goal.

His mom watched him as he stood on the diving board. He tried so hard to make himself jump yet his fear of heights was stronger than his desire to jump! He was encouraged by his grandmother and his mother and his swim coach. But shaking at the edge of the board, he could not bring himself to do it. Afterwards he was so frustrated with himself as he told his mother, “It looks easy from the side of the pool, but when I get up there it’s REALLY HIGH!”  One day I am sure that sweet little boy will overcome his fears and enjoy the jump, but for now fear looks like the winner.

There is built within each one of us a desire to excel. We have high hopes for ourselves and great dreams and visions.  We daydream of flying higher than high. We have the want to; we earnestly think about it, dream about it and plan it. But when it comes to doing it, to really putting feet to our ideals, that’s when trouble comes.  That’s when fear shows up.

Fear is an incredible force – a foe to be reckoned with.  It will take us by the hand and lead us totally away from our dreams, all the while telling us we just cannot do it. It will make us think we can’t breathe, we can’t move, we can’t go forward.  Fear is a liar and a jailor. It will give us propaganda and then put us behind bars for life.

But there is Hope! His name is Jesus and He came to set us free! Free from fear itself and all of its cohorts – fear of failure, fear of the paste and all the regrets, fear of the future, fear of things, fear of people, and all of the other the fears that we can succumb to.

Nowhere in the Bible will you see your name tied to fear. Not once does God give you a spirit of fear. Never will He encourage you to let fear take you by the hand.  Under no circumstances will God say, go back, you are too afraid! In fact, God Himself gives us marvelous witness to His abounding strength overcoming all our fears! Look to Gideon hiding from his enemies, Elijah running for his life, and Peter denying Christ; all of these great men of faith battled fears that plagued their lives and yet they went on to overcome those fears!

Oh beloved, it’s time to step out on the end of the diving board of life and take the plunge! God means for you to have life MORE abundantly! He says to you this morning, I know your fears and I know your weaknesses, but through ME you can go where I send you and thwart the enemy’s tactical forces of fear. Today is your day to say No to Fear and send it back where it came from. It’s your day to reach for the sky with faith and achieve the goals God has put on your heart.

God loves you and He’s for you and that, beloved, always puts fear to flight!

2 Timothy 1:7 For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind.

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.

Psalm 27:1 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?

Isaiah 41:13 For I hold you by your right hand— I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.’

Psalm 31:24 So be strong and courageous, all you who put your hope in the Lord!

Ephesians 6:10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.