You Can Believe God!

“Do you swear to tell the truth so help you God?” That used to be the oath that was sworn in courtrooms across our country as men and women would place their right hands on a Bible. The truth is something we treasured. Swearing on a Bible meant we put our words in God’s hands and basically were asking Him to help us tell the truth no matter what. I’ve heard that now you can choose whether to reference God into it. As kids we would pinky swear or say the proverbial “stick a needle in my eye…” quote. The truth is so important that even kids wanted to be sure of their friends telling the truth.

My husband is a man of his word. The more I got to know him the more I realized that he tells the truth. I’ve never caught him in a lie ever. I’ve never heard him tell an untruth or try to shuffle things around to make himself look better. He just tells the truth. If you ask him he’ll tell you. Because he’s always told the truth I am in a position to readily believe what he says about any subject. So I’m privileged to rest in his words. They comfort me and help me have knowledge about things I don’t know. I refer to him often when I am asked a question about deep things of the Scripture or other important things like how to loosen a bolt. I am also confident that when I’m with him anywhere he can be trusted. It’s good to know that he won’t lie for me and he won’t lie to me either. Often he has laughed as I asked him something he might not know. He laughs because I assume he knows everything because he tells the truth about everything. Knowledge is a real high quality to have if you’re going to tell the truth.

You and I are privileged to put our faith in God through Christ. As a believer we can know that God is a God of His Word. God doesn’t lie. So we have a sure foundation for our faith. We can readily believe what God’s Word says because it’s truth. We can rest in His promises because He’s a God of His Word. What He says about you is the truth. What He declares for you is the Gospel. What He asks you to do is possible because it’s His truth and He’s trustworthy.

Oh beloved, you can believe God! You can trust God! You can rest in His promises. Are you struggling with an issue this morning? Run to His Word and get the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. God will not laugh at you because He knows everything – everything about you, everything about your situation and everything you need to know to live a life of godliness and contentment. Others may not tell the truth about you or to you, but God has your back. He will turn the things that aren’t right into His glory and your good. Because He can be trusted you can rest in every single promise. You can walk in all the privileges. You can honor every declaration. You can live in His truth and take it as your own.

Precious one, no matter what situation you find yourself in God’s promises are for you. They will carry you through hardships, rejections, disappointments, physical ailments and pains of the heart. He loves you and He’s for you and those promises will let you walk valiantly all the days of your life.

Psalm 119:160 The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

John 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

2 Corinthians 1:20 For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes [answer] in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God. AMP

Romans 4:20-21 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

Psalm 119:140 Your word is very pure, Therefore Your servant loves it.

Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.

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.

Your Choices or God's Choices? What an Opportunity!

Let God choose. You’ve chosen before. You’ve chosen your own way, your own desires, your own plans, your own ministry, your own jobs, hobbies, etc. Some of those things were okay. Some turned out pretty good. Other things didn’t go so well. You’re at the end of some of your own choices and you wish you could go back and do it all over again. But how would you do it over again? Choose differently? Roll the dice? Cut the cards? Wish? Cross your fingers? Hope for the best? Open a fortune cookie? Wish on a star? Talk to the “man in the moon”? Hope God will help?

How about making a change not only in your choices, but the way you make them? Make it a new year’s resolution of prayer and dedication. Declare the Truth about decision making. After all, if God can put the stars in orbit, hang the moon and sun to do just the right thing at just the right times, then surely He can direct our paths. 

It will require a lot more trust than rolling the dice or letting things fall where they may. It will take determined effort to keep your hands off and your feet from walking your own way. But when you let God do the choosing imagine the wonders that will abound!

We watched a couple get married this week who had made that choice before. I have no details on their former choices, but I do know this. They made a covenant with God this time for sure. I’ve heard their testimonies and I’ve seen their faith walk. They’ve forgotten the former things and allowed God to choose something they couldn’t imagine in their wildest dreams. 

God is better at choosing than the most educated, intelligent, wise one of us. He really is. He chooses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, so that tells you something. He chooses with a different thought process altogether. Remember, He says that His ways are higher than our ways. We cannot plan at the level God views. He sees everything, we see at best “through a glass dimly”. 

If you’re like me you’ve got lots of choices to face each and every day. Choices that include attitudes, jobs, love, money, faith, morality, destiny, future, family, ministry, title, ownership, forgiveness. More choices such as marriage partners, living arrangements, money plans, vacations and more. We have all made own choices at times, but those times when we let God choose, when we consulted Him first and asked Him, He has led us where we found that we truly wanted to be – right in the center of His will. There are times when others make choices that affect us, but even then we can trust God to lead us. He is not bound by others’ decisions, He is all-seeing and all-knowing and we can trust Him to lead us even then. Some may say that God doesn't care about the little things in life, but He says in Luke 16:10 that if we are faithful in little things, He knows we will be faithful in the big things. What a promise!

Oh beloved, if you will covenant to let God make your decisions from here on out many blessings will follow along. When God chooses chains are broken, hearts are mended and lives are restored. Jesus came to be the Mediator of all your choices. He promises to redeem your days and bless every step you make. Even if things become rough, you will also have courage to stay the course because God has ordained it. You won’t have to second guess or try to figure out how to make it easier. God will send you to His throne room, send you to the field of harvest, send you to walk through darkness and still remain in the light. How wonderful can life be when you put it all on Him by letting God choose…everything.

He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can trust Him as you give it all to Him every single time.


Psalm 18:30 As for God, His way is perfect! 

Matthew 6:9-10 Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven….’

Psalm 143:10 Teach me to do Your will, For You are my God; Let Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.

Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me

Need Directions? Follow Christ!

Back in the early 70’s my dad often went to the VA hospital in Little Rock. It was the old one on Roosevelt Rd.  One time I took my friend Teri with me. We were barely 16. We dropped my dad off at the hospital for a checkup and proceeded to go downtown to window shop.  We even went into a wedding shop and tried on wedding gowns! I laugh about that now, what nutty things we did.  Mostly harmless, but loads of fun!

The problem with going downtown was the one way streets.  We didn’t really know what we were doing and I was driving. I found myself going the wrong way! Thankfully there wasn’t a lot of oncoming traffic! One man rolled down his window as he met me and warned me.  We got back in the right direction and drove on. It was a close call.

Throughout the years I’ve had plenty of times to discover I was going the wrong way.  Being young you just think you can do it all, have it all and make life conform to your way. Driving a car into oncoming traffic can cause a serious accident. So can going your own way headlong into life.

I traveled my own road for quite a while. It was all about me and it was lined with great ideas and lots of wants. One day I met Someone who told me I was going the wrong way. Jesus loved me enough to roll down His window from heaven and show me the way.  He didn’t just holler at me and say “you idiot!” or “you’re gonna be sorry!”  No, He stopped and got out of His vehicle and waved me down with a banner of love. He left the splendor of His home and went out on the road of life looking for me!  He kept on looking until He found me, then He called me and now He guides me. Occasionally, I might get my direction mixed up and again He will correct me and get me turned around and headed in the right direction. 

While there are many roads that lead to many different places, there is only one road that leads to life. That road is a one way road.  For life and that more abundantly, you have to get on His Road and travel by His guidance. There will be dangers, toils and snares along the way. The road is not always pretty, doesn’t always go smoothly and can travel through dark areas. But this Road will lead to everlasting life in Heaven with Him. 

Not only will He keep you going in the right direction, He will use you to point others to the Way. He will use you to speak His Truth IN LOVE, so that they can go the right way too!

Oh beloved, have you heard the sound of the Lord calling you? Are you headed in the right direction? If you’ve put your trust in Him, then you can let Him turn you around when needed and adjust your life so that light shines ahead in the darkest of nights. He may tell you to turn around, but He always speaks with love. He may ask you to travel with Him, away from all that is familiar, but He will always be with you. His love is His vehicle to call you, to save you, to keep you, to guide you and to get you safely home. And that’s all that really matters.

John 8:12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow Me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”

John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me.

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

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.

Ordinary to Extraordinary When God is Worshipped!

“There were shepherds abiding in the fields.” These words from the Scriptures give me such comfort and peace.  Notice that the Scriptures didn’t say that the shepherds were worrying, troubled, downcast, forlorn or troubled. They were out in the elements in the dark and yet they were not afraid. They were abiding. These shepherds knew their jobs well, knew their surroundings completely and knew their sheep as well as their predators. They weren’t looking for somewhere else to be or a better job or to outdo one another. They were abiding.

Now when the Angel of the Lord appeared they became “afraid”. They had been raised, probably by shepherds, to be shepherds. Yet on this particular night the unusual happened. Something out of the ordinary happened and it rocked their world.  But they listened and the angel was joined by a heavenly host and they had a worship service right there in the field! Not only did they worship, they left what they knew and went to experience what they had never known before. They left the safety of their everyday world for the unknown.  Because they were willing to leave behind the status quo they were able to go and worship Christ, the newborn king.  They went from abiding in the fields to abiding in Him.

Oh beloved, are you experiencing the ordinary in your life? Are you abiding and resting in the everyday occurrences that you know so well? Have you been wondering if there could be more than this?  Maybe you’re afraid that if you let go of the well-known you’ll be all alone.  Fear not! For God Himself wants to visit your world! He wants to take what you know and give you revelation knowledge of Him! He wants you to visit the Christ fresh and new and worship Him with your whole heart! You may remain in your same life, but it will be oh so changed as Christ puts His seal on your life. His greatest desire is that your worship will lead to new horizons for He has such wonderful, extraordinary plans for you!

Let Him guide you beyond yourself and into His realm. Let Him love you like you’ve never been loved before and let Him take care of you as you follow Him with all your heart. There’s no safer place than following the Lord of Heaven and Earth! It is beyond your wildest imagination.

Luke 2:20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.

1 Peter 3:15  Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

Psalm 29:2  Honor the LORD for the glory of His name. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.

Colossians 2:6 And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow Him.

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

Psalm 84:1-2,10 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  I long, yes, I faint with longing to enter the courts of the Lord.  With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God. A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!