God is in the Intensive Care Business

Having spent the past few days in and around the ICU ward of a hospital, I can tell you more about the ins and outs of the ward now that we’ve experienced it.  I can also tell you that folks who are patients in these wards are from all kinds of backgrounds and have varying problems. I can tell you that not one single person had plans to be a patient or a visitor there. And I can tell you that each person is loved by someone. Each person looks completely different and yet they hold these basics in common.

As we walked out of the ward last night, after visiting my brother, who is a patient there, I was ecstatic.  We have faced a dire situation requiring brain surgery and the outcome has been fantastic. After talking for several days about the sickness and knowing how we all felt so helpless and a bit fearful, we are now laughing and thanking God for His blessings of returned health.

While my brother is recovering and will move to a regular room sometime today, I am reminded that God is in the intensive care business.

God wants you to know that He is with you no matter where you are. You are never beyond His reach and never beneath His loving care. He is the Lord of the good times of robust health and He is the God of the hard time, when health is failing or sudden, unexpected times arise. He never leaves His position of Authority and Care. He’s never caught by surprise with the things that want to derail us.  He intensely watches over all of us as the Great Physician and the King of the Universe. When someone asks who my brother’s doctor is, I can tell them his name. But really my brother’s ultimate source of love and care is God Himself. The One who put the stars in orbit and the planets on their rotating cycle is the One who presided over the surgery suite as delicate brain surgery was performed. He is the Same God who oversees the healing of one and the home going of another.

Oh beloved, do you know about the intensive care you receive from the Lord? Do you know how much He loves you? He loves who you are right now. He never says “I love who you will be” or “I will love you when…” but He loves you exactly where you are.  He watches every step you make, and He knows everything that has happened to you. He was with you at birth, He is with you now and He will be with you forever. When you give your heart to Jesus, and allow Him to be the Lord of your life, the Intensive Care is out of this world. You have no guilt about your past, no cares about your present and no fear about your future. It is all in His Loving care and all presided over by His loving hands. No surgeon’s hand is so steady as our God’s hands in all situations of life. He wants you to know that while your situation caught you completely by surprise, He did not arrive on the scene breathless and unprepared. No, beloved, He is always present, all knowing, completely prepared and more than able.

You are in the hands of God and He is worthy to receive your trust. He loves you beyond your wildest imagination and He will always watch over you, guide you, protect you and keep you safe. And when your time on earth is done, He will be there to welcome you into His loving presence forever. Trust Him today, pray for all its worth and be thankful in all circumstances for He Alone is worthy. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s the most intensive care you will ever have all the days of your life.

Psalm 16:8-9  I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me.  No wonder my heart is filled with joy, and my mouth shouts His praises! My body rests in safety.

Psalm 121:1-2, 8 I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there?  My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.

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

2 Thessalonians 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you His peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

Prone to Wander? Fix Your Eyes on Him!

Little Caleb is a wanderer. He comes by it quite naturally. After all his mother was quite the traveler. Mrs. Maureen Stephens of Blevins named her “the wanderer”. She called over to a friend’s house one day after peering out her window to see my little darling standing in the highway. Yep.

Just a few nights ago, Caleb was brought back into his house at dark. He’d been out trying to play with his big brother and new found neighborhood friends. He was barefoot! His shoes had been left somewhere in the creek bed in our back yard. He wasn’t a bit unhappy about the loss of shoes even though it was quite cold out. His parents tell him often, “come back here”, “no no”, “get back in the house”… I found him yesterday standing outside on the porch when I left to go back to my house – no one including me had a clue he’d stepped outside.

We too are prone to wander in many ways. We let our mind wander to the regrets of the past and sometimes to fears of the future and if we’re not careful we’ll be out in the middle of the highway convinced that the old enemy of my soul is about to run me over! We watch too many home remodel shows and find our minds wandering to remodels and redo’s and re-fixes! We’ll have spent tons of money in our mind and find ourselves quite unhappy. Then we remember God’s Word and we’re back inside the comfort of His life for us.

So many things make us want to wander. The love of life, the desire for more, the curiosity of what all is out there. How blessed we are to know that our Father God calls us back to Himself each and every day.

Oh beloved, today as you wipe the sleep from your eyes, rejoice! Your Father God is the One Who is waking you up! He’s said today is another day in His marvelous plan for you. Stay very close to Him! He will always lead you, always guide you and always bring you out safely! Don’t wander and don’t wonder – stay close! The greatest antidote for wandering hearts is thankfulness! Thank Him this morning that He loves you! Thank Him that He will come after you to bring you back to safety! Thank Him that His plan for you is good and that He is always going to guide you if you let Him because He’s on your side!  

1 Chronicles 21:13 “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let me fall into the hands of the LORD, for His mercy is very great. Do not let me fall into human hands.”

Psalm 119:67  I used to wander off until You disciplined me; but now I closely follow Your word.

Psalm 119:175-176 Let me live so I can praise you, and may your regulations help me.  I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me, for I have not forgotten Your commands.

1 Peter 2:25  Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have turned to your Shepherd, the Guardian of your souls.

Psalm 61:2  From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,

Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!

Are You Traveling Alone?

Last week-end we decided to take a leisurely ride with another couple. Neither of us have much free time to ride, but Saturday morning came and we met to eat breakfast together and decide what we were going to do. As we were eating a biker couple came in and the wife started up a conversation. They were from Louisiana and had been here 3 days but only been to Hot springs and back. They wondered if there were any good roads around the area. Danny knows the roads well so after some talk, the couple decided to ride with us. The route Danny took them on was beautiful and they saw sights they had no clue of. Oh beloved, are you out riding alone? Are you wondering where the beauty of the Lord is? Lone riders in unknown territory rarely know the best routes. Have you lost sight of the view from God's perspective? There is a better way. Don't go it alone. Run to the Ultimate Guide, the Word of God and ask the Lord. He will send you to the right "ride group", He'll give you good company to travel with and He'll guide you all the way to His destination.

Ephesians 2:20 Together, we are his house, built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets. And the cornerstone is Christ Jesus himself.

Acts 1:14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer..."

1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we ourselves have actually seen and heard so that you may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

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