God Will Do This

Posted on May 13, 2014by rebekahbeene

This morning I am waking up to a chilly rainy morning. One of those days where you just want to stay inside, hold onto a warm cup of coffee and read a good book. I’m going to have to get out into it eventually and head to work. I am amazed that it’s so nice and cool. For me the weekly rain and cooler temps is just fine. As my dad used to say, “this is good sleeping weather”. We nurse that cup of coffee for all we can get out of it.

We all experience chilly days. Those days when we’d rather stay in the bed. There are times when we’d rather not greet the dreariness. We want coffee, but we want it to do more than it does. While it’s warm and comforting, it really won’t make us feel better in the long run. We may drown ourselves in a good book but it’s just a story and eventually we’ll find the end and have to come out of the mystery, adventure and fiction.

There are times we’d rather not face life at all. It can get dreary. We try to find something to lift our spirits but things have gone oh so wrong and we just can’t believe the downpour of emotions we feel as we struggle to face the truth and make sense out of it all. We try to “pick ourselves up by our own bootstraps” and remind ourselves that “God helps those who help themselves.”  Still we feel stuck in the doldrums and depression may start creeping in, seeping like rain beneath the windowsills or under the door stop. If we keep nursing that hurt, that despair, that trouble we will find ourselves fully wedged under our circumstances. 

Thankfully for the child of God we don’t have to escape life to step into His presence.  We don’t have to pick ourselves up or help ourselves. For precious one, God wants you to know this day that He helps those who simply can’t help themselves. He picks His own up when they are crushed by the circumstances of life and holds them tightly. He is your never failing umbrella in the rain, the shade in the heat of life’s harshest days and the Protector of all who feel so unprotected. He is your Helper! He is your Source of strength! He is your Sun in the rain and your Shield forever! You are His precious beloved possession. And He takes care of His own. He blesses you when you feel unworthy. He drenches you with His ointment of faith and joy when you feel so dry. He covers you with His love and His care. Totally cared for by God Himself you don’t have to regret getting up for this may be the very day you have been waiting for.

Oh beloved, don’t rue the weather. Rejoice instead in God! Remind yourself of what Jesus has done for you! Drink deeply of the water of Life and immerse yourself in God’s Good Book. Every blessing, every promise, every hope, every security is yours. God wrote it all out so that just when you needed it you would find it.  No blanket or quilt can feel so good as the Comforter’s magnificent care. Don’t nurse your problems but rehearse God’s truth. Read it aloud and watch the damp feelings recede back where they come from.

You are an overcomer, you are a blessed believer and God has a future for you, even in this dreary, rainy day – even in what looks to the natural eye to be a dreary life. This day is wonderful because you are in Christ!  God loves you – eternally, perfectly, faithfully. And He is for you – with mercy, goodness and redemption.  What a wonderful Savior and what a wonderful life when you walk in the Light of His Word!

I Corinthians 1:9 God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Isaiah 33:2 But LORD, be merciful to us, for we have waited for You. Be our strong arm each day and our salvation in times of trouble.

Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat…  NAS

Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.

Thank you to Rachel at http://cuppacards.blogspot.com/ for today's artwork. Perfect!

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.

Focus on the Lord - His View Is Magnificent

Little children are so eager to see the world around them. And yet, they have such problems focusing on things that you try to show them. Yesterday evening I was watching one grandson at soccer practice. Two airplanes flew overhead and his little brother heard it. But we could not get him to look in the right direction. Finally I asked him to look where I was pointing. At last he saw the plane. But when it was right over our heads he just couldn’t see it.

We’re like that aren’t we? We have a hard time focusing on the right stuff. We read the Word and we know it’s true but we keep looking at the circumstances instead. We hear God speak to our hearts but we feel the rejection and lose sight of His constant acceptance.

We see problems, God sees plans. We see rejection, God sees connection. We see troubles, God sees opportunities.  God is the light at the end of our tunnel but we get downhearted and truly believe it’s a freight train. Fear starts to take over and pretty soon we’re sidelined. Worry keeps a guard at our hopes and we just give up. Discouragement orders us around like a soldier in a concentration camp.  “You will NOT make it out of this situation you must remain this way forever”.  Pretty soon we have traded all our spiritual knowledge for fleshly misinformation. We are worn out and done in. Hope has left and we can’t find it, even though we look far and wide. The focus is lost and we are unsure if we will ever see God’s presence in our life again.

Oh beloved, you are more than your circumstances! It’s time to focus back on the Lord and His Word. He has a wonderful plan for your life in spite of what you are seeing with the natural eye. Ask Joseph, who was sold by his brothers into slavery. Ask Daniel, who spent time staring down lions in a dungeon. Ask Hannah, who was humiliated because she couldn’t have a baby. Ask Jesus Himself, who was despised, rejected and ultimately crucified. These, along with the entire council of the Word of God are the ones who teach you how to focus rightly even when it all looks blurry and the clouds have settled in and your mind says give up.

Focus on the Lord! Rehearse the promises of God! Rejoice in who you are in Christ! Remember the Truth and discard the lies, for you are not living in your present circumstances forever. You are a Warrior Princess of the Most High God!  You are redeemed from the law of sin and death. You are a Kingdom seeker and a Word believer! You are going through! You are overcoming! You are stepping from one glory stone to the next! You are seeing the Truth and breaking forth into joy! For beloved, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in you!  Get your eyes back on the prize and remember, regard and repeat all the blessings that come beyond the momentary, light afflictions.  It does not matter what you’ve seen, what you’ve been through, not even the past mistakes and future fears, for God is with you! He is your Guardian and your Champion and together with Him you are going to live in the light of His Word.

He loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth focusing on every day of your life and all the way to heaven!

I John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.

Psalm 98:1 Sing a new song to the Lord, for He has done wonderful deeds.  His right hand has won a mighty victory; His holy arm has shown His saving power!

2 Corinthians 4:18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Psalm 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the Lord our God, Until He is gracious to us. Amplified

Micah 7:7 But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Amplified

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Psalm 37:3 Trust in the Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

What Tools Are You Trying to Use?

One of my friends has been sharing a lot about His walk with the Lord during a very trying time. Just recently he shared about trying to get to church one Sunday when things started falling apart. They raise chickens and there were problems in the chicken house he had to take care of. He realized he wasn’t going to make it to church and got really frustrated. Just as he thought he might blow a gasket he looked at the wrench in his hand and realized it was his daddy’s. After that he relaxed and began to enjoy every twist of the tool.

That really spoke to my heart. Each of us have gone through, are going through or will go through tough times. Often the phrase says tough times don’t last, but honestly sometimes those tough times are long and winding and rough. We get desperate in the midst of it all. As if the hard time wasn’t enough, things just seem to fall apart all around us. We try to get it all back together and we try to move on to better things. But it’s hard. It’s hard to believe God, it’s hard to believe the sun will shine and it’s hard to see where we are in the big scheme of things. We work though, hard sometimes, fighting the feelings, trying to restore order and all the time we’re hoping that things will start working again and we can move on. Frustration, anxiety and even self-pity try to come help us, but they’re useless. They’re not fit tools to use in the hands of a believer.

Just about time we think we’re going to boil over with outrage at it all we look up to the heavens and cry out! And then we see. Our Father God is with us. But He hasn’t left us to our own human devises to get through it all. He’s not just absently looking down from heaven. No, He’s with us. And He has given us tools to get things working again in our faith. He’s given us every Word, breathed out for us, straight from the throne room. We have every tool we’ll ever need and we can use them as often as we need to. They’re unbreakable, unbendable and undeniably perfect.

Oh beloved, are you sitting there this morning looking at the broken things? Maybe you’re wondering how you got to this place? You’ve tried every trick in the book and it’s all a mess anyway. Rejoice! Looking at the things our Father gives us helps us get through the rough times. He’s given you everything you need to get through. Repairs needed? Every tool imaginable is there for you. Grace, favor, joy, peace, and more. Prayer, worship and fellowship with God are our grandest tools. No matter how you feel, no matter what is happening, God Himself is here to give you everything you need for this time. He hasn’t left you, He won’t forsake you and He gives you all you need from the storehouse of His Word to get through.

Rejoice in the Word of God! Look up to the heavens and cry thank you! Then reach for the tools your Father God has given you. Every promise is full of strength for you. They won’t break and they won’t disappear when you need them. You are blessed, you are forgiven, you are walking in the light of God’s Word. You have access to the Lord of heaven and earth and as you pray, as you worship Him right where you are, His presence will be so overwhelming that you will know your life is blessed. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can trust His Word to get you through, fix you up and get it all running for His glory and your good.

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is tried and purified; He is a shield to those who trust and take refuge in Him.

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. NLT

Psalm 88:13 But I, O Lord, have cried out to You for help, And in the morning my prayer comes before You.

Psalm 22:2-4 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. He is my refuge, my savior, the one who saves me from violence. I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and He saved me from my enemies.

Psalm 9:9 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble;

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.

God is Closer Than A Phone Call!

When I’m working I don’t always go home for lunch. But yesterday I did. I went across the street and visited with one of my daughters and then I went over to my house and grabbed my phone charger.




As I stepped to the door to go outside a young man was walking up into my driveway with a spray bottle in his hand and a rage on his shoulder. I first thought, wow, detailers can sure spot the dirty c...ars, as mine was still littered with dead bugs and dirt from our thousand mile trip.



But I became uneasy right away and realized that most people aren’t home in my neighborhood during the day and the few neighbors that are home are women and small children. I let him know that I didn’t want any cleaning supplies and he walked on down the street. Now I live out in the country and there was no car, no signs, nothing. Still feeling uneasy, especially with elderly widow neighbors, I just called to talk to the sheriff’s department.



They said they would check it out. Do you know that before I could lock my house and drive a block the sheriff’s patrol was already driving by? That’s a real comfort.

I felt so relieved driving back to work. Relief came because I knew who I was calling. That I knew the dispatcher’s voice, I know our sheriff by name, know the deputies because my kids grew up with most of them and they responded quickly. I had heard we have a great county sheriff’s department but I’d never personally needed them.



There may be nothing to it; he could have been someone really trying to get by, make a living or get some extra money. I hope I was mistaken and that he’s a very nice young man. I’ll probably never know. But I do know now, by experience, that Clark County residents can rely on the system. They can rely on the sheriff and his deputies as well as the dispatcher and others who work to keep us safe.



I also whispered a quick thank you to the Lord when I realized that He is always available for any need I have. The sheriff’s department for me was a great reminder of God’s ever present help. I know that God is just a whisper away because He’s proved it over and over to me!



Are you feeling uneasy and fearful about your circumstances? Are you wondering what you’re going to do? It’s impossible to lock out the world. It’s impossible to stay behind closed doors. It’s hard sometimes to believe that God is for you when life is hard and surroundings feel suspicious. But you can relax and rest in the Lord!



Oh beloved, He speaks to you this morning with authority and love I AM closer than a phone call, quicker than a deputy and full of wisdom, power and might. When you call on Me, there is no lag time, no waiting in line and no stranger on the other end. I AM the Lord Who watches over you, sends my angels to guard you, sends my Spirit to guide you and sends my Peace and Comfort to be with you always!

You can thank Him ahead of time for His watchful care and immediate response when you call No lag time, no waiting in line, no stranger on the other end of the line.

Rejoice that no matter the situation, God is with you and He is an On Time God! He loves you and because of His great love He will be right by your side as King of Kings and Lord of Lords all the days of your life!



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.



Psalm 138:7 Though I am surrounded by troubles, You will protect me from the anger of my enemies. You reach out Your hand, and the power of Your right hand saves me.   ---Saturday, April 27, 2013

Need Help? Jesus Will Always Answer Your Call.

As the buzzer is pressed, the nurse's station replies, "May I help you?" We've been sitting with Danny's aunt and visiting with family for a couple of days now. Each time we call for nurses the response is the same. Each time we have a different need or want and each one is met. Not every request is fulfilled quickly. Sometimes there is a delay and a couple of times we've had to ask more than once. But eventually the answer comes. Whether it's the need for more blankets or a cold drink or more medicine. Whatever Danny's aunt needs, the nurses and the aides are there to meet them.

We all have needs. Even when we are not in crisis, like Danny's aunt is at this time, we still have needs. Every single problem, every single issue, every lack, every need is met for us. When we're in trouble, when we're in heartache, when we're sick, when we're downhearted, when we're lonely, afraid or hurting, all we have to do is call. Each and every time we call the answer comes. "May I help you?" the Lord speaks to our hearts.

Occasionally we lose our focus and wonder if God will answer when we call. We get concerned that He'll be late. We start pacing the floor, arguing with ourselves. Maybe God's not going to answer this time. Maybe He's not going to come to our aid.

But even in our unbelief, even in that crisis of faith we all go through, He answers. Even when we can't reach the buzzer and we can't call out He is there. We have no ordinary assistant, no human nurse or aid. For ours is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! The Comforter, who has promised to be with us all the days of our lives. No need to wonder for He speaks to us so quickly, "I'm here for you". "I AM your helper, I AM your sufficiency, I AM your all in all."

Oh beloved, what needs do you feel are going unmet this morning? God's Word promises that all your needs are supplied! From the earthly to the heavenly - everything you could ever need is done for you. Unlike the patient in the hospital bed, you don't even have to find the strength for the buzzer! You just call out to Jesus, who is present with you always and He will meet and supply and provide. Rejocie this morning that , regardless of your circumstances, God is with you! He loves you so much that He promises never to heave you and He's with you forever so that you'll never be forsaken. Rejoice for you are provided for forever!

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. isaiah 41:13

I will answer them before they even call to Me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers! Isaiah 65:24

Then call on me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory. Psalm 50:15

Listen! The LORD's arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. Isaiah 59:1

All Hope is Not Gone!

Saturday mornings when our kids were little were full of preparation for fun. We rarely ever had a bad Saturday. We were either all outside working and playing in the yard or headed to see family or taking a leisure ride to the lake or to hike. Sometimes it would be rainy or bad weather and we’d have to stay inside but even then we played and watched old movies and cartoons. Saturdays were pretty much just great leisure days.

For the followers of Christ, this particular Saturday in History was not so much fun.  The believers who had followed Jesus into Jerusalem just the week before were now disconsolate.  The ones who had spoken of undying devotion were nowhere to be found. Everyone who had believed was faced with the Lord’s absence. Those who had been healed, delivered and set free were wondering if they would have to return to life as it was before. I’m sure they were thinking that if Jesus, the Perfect One, could be arrested, tortured and killed - it might happen to them as well.

He told them it would happen and He told them not to fear. He told them He would come again to get them and that He would send them a Comforter to help until He returned. But He was gone now. As far as they could see with their eyes, it was indeed finished. Their hope was gone.

Oh beloved, God knows your situation. He understands that you may be having a bad day or a bad month or a bad year. He had a very bad day one Friday, as He was made to take the place of the guilty prisoner. He was mocked for His belief, He was denied His rights, He was pronounced guilty even as He was forgiving the world.

Run to the Lord this morning and let Him give you an awesome Saturday! No matter what you are facing, it’s all been taken care of through the Blood of the Lamb! Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to go alone. Rejected? Fearful? Mourning? He’s with you! Discouraged? Downhearted? Lonely? He’s there for you! He promises that if you put your trust in Him, He will make good out of bad, triumph out of failure and joy out of sorrow.

Let Him give you all His love for His Name is Love and your name is Beloved! Let Him care for you for He is your Comforter always, even unto the ends of the age!

Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed.

Matthew 28:20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, and Standby), that He may remain with you forever—

Isaiah 61:3 To all who mourn in Israel, He will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair.  In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for His own glory.

Feasting on the Manna is So Fulfilling

Danny and I don’t cook like we used to. When we had children at home, fresh meals daily were on the table for their benefit as well as ours. As part time jobs and band and ballgames and dates took over their lives, it was more quick meals and carry outs.

I laugh as I look into my cupboard to see all the “instant” food available. From cocoa to soup, from potatoes to coffee everything we might need is available. Sometimes though, I want a “real meal” so we cook!  You just can’t instantly have a pot of pinto beans or a roast.

We have become the victims of instant everything. From our “smart” phones to our computers and televisions, it’s instant on, instant search and instant information.  We find ourselves frustrated if one of them doesn’t respond as quickly as we want.  Funny that the very things we were told would make our life better have given us more frustration and annoyance.

For our spiritual life, it’s pretty much become the same. A snippet of a good speaker on the television, a little Christian music on the way to work, looking up a verse on our phones or searching the internet for answers to our heart problems has become the norm.  We have overvalued the quick pick me ups and undervalued steady preparation. 

The Lord will give us instant help, constant strength and eternal hope. But to live in the light of His Word, we will always have to take His yoke upon us and learn. Learning takes time. Preparing to be all God wants for us takes time. Ask the ones you know who are strong Christians. They will tell you. Years of learning, years of studying, years of living in the light of the One Who loves us beyond all imagination.

Oh beloved, God knows your busy life. He sees you running here and there, helping your family, doing your job and all that is expected of you.  He sees the burdens, the weariness, the sorrow. He knows you’ve worked hard to get where you are and yet there are times that you wonder if it was worth it. He knows your heart longs to feel the peace that only His presence can give. He says to your heart this morning, beloved, slow down and feast on My Manna so richly provided for you because I love you. It’s free. It’s nourishing. It’s always available just on time. I love you, He says to your precious heart, I Am for you, He says to your wounded soul. I have this, He speaks to your hard situation.  I AM the One Who gives you enough time in those times you don’t think there’s a way.  Rest in Me and I will give you all that you need and more, for I AM a More Than God!

Run to His Word and lay your face on His shoulder for He is love and He is provision and He is there for you always…you will find what you really need nowhere else, ever…

Matthew 6:32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.

Acts 17:25 and human hands can’t serve His needs—for He has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need.

2 Peter 3:18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. All glory to Him, both now and forever! Amen.

2 Peter 1:3 By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the one who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence.

Psalm 25:5 Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You.

Have You Got Good Reception This Morning?

Remember how we used to get different channels on our TV?  We laugh and point to our kids! Danny would say, “Melody put it on Channel 4”. She’d jump up and turn the knob to 4.  When I was a kid I would go out on the porch to turn the antenna for my dad, so his ballgames would come in clearer.  Occasionally the wires would come loose from the antennae and someone would have to release the pole and lower it in order to get those wires reattached. Sometimes a wind would come through and knock that antenna winding, so that someone would have to go outside and untangle things to get reception back.

Nowadays, the satellite installer has to make sure the satellite receiver is pointed in the right direction for you to receive the channels you purchase.  Without the satellite pointed to the source, you get nothing on the screen.

The same principle applies to the believer. As a spiritual receiver we must operate in line with the Word of God to receive.  Without our lining up with the Word of God, we receive nothing. My dad’s sports events wouldn’t come in if the antenna was on the ground. You wouldn’t see my kids hold the knob in their hands and expect the channels to change. Even with the remote controls we all now use, they too must be pointed in the right direction to receive.

You may have been trying to receive from the Lord, but find yourself getting nothing. Without turning to God you won’t get much reception, if anything. Eventually the signal will grow weaker and weaker. Hearing from God is your source of all you need, so turning your life towards His ways and His Word is what you need. You cannot turn His Words around to fit your needs, you have to turn your whole heart to Him to hear clearly and see His will.

Oh beloved, run to the One Who has all you need to receive! Seek His Face for only His Face will do! All other channels will give a distorted view of life and God.  But God’s Word will set you free, give you new life, make you what you can’t be on your own and set you securely on high! You will hear Him speaking love words clearly and you will hear Him saying, This is the way – walk in it! What wondrous love is this that the King of the Universe loves you and has made a way for you hear from Him!  He knows your troubles and trials, He knows your hurts and anxieties, He knows your dreams and hopes – He knows everything about you and His Word is a direct line to Him. Let Him speak Truth and Mercy into your heart today, for His ways are magnificent and His love is eternal.  Always and forever, no matter what, God loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth looking to Him for everything!

Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.

Zechariah 1:3 Therefore, say to the people, 'This is what the LORD of Heaven's Armies says: Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.'

Proverbs 2:1-5 My child, listen to what I say, and treasure My commands. Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding.  Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.
Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.

Psalm 27:8 When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."

Mondays Not Mundane When God is With Us

It’s Monday.  For some it feels like back to the salt mine. Put your nose to the grindstone.  It’s just something you’ve gotta do. Often the American worker wakes up in their mid years and wonder how they got where they are.  There must be more than this may be muttered under the breath as each one after another goes to their vehicle and climbs in for the drive to the office or the plant.  Everyone starts out feeling so good about work and getting ahead. Yet after so many years, the clock punching can get old and the back goes out more than they do.

Life can be really monotonous.  It’s so repetitive in day to day life. No matter how many dishes you do, there’s always dishes to do. No matter how many clothes you wash or meals you prepare there’s always more.  Work, housework, repairs, bills, etc. Is this really it you may be asking yourself this morning.

It is what it is.  Unless…what if our destiny is not in our own hands? What if we don’t go to work alone? What if our paycheck is a gift? What if the money we have and the life we live belongs to someone else rather than just to us?

Your Mondays may have been mundane, but when you apply God’s Word to every day of the week, it’s bound to be Sunday in your heart! Every good gift you have is given to you by Him! Every opportunity to see another Monday is a gift as well. Every paycheck handed to you each payday is a present straight from the Throne Room, giving you opportunities to make it in this world.

Oh beloved, run to the Master Employer and read what He has to say about you! He loves you so much that He has given you something to live for beyond the everyday! Everything you have has been given you by the Lord!  Let Him love you and show you that your destiny is in His hands, not your own! Even if you’ve gotten to a bad spot where there’s more money than paycheck, run to Him! He not only gives you grace to make it, He is able to make a way where there is no way. Love the Lord and let Him show you how to be more than a worker, to be a light in the darkness wherever He has allowed you to be.

Oh how He loves you! Oh how He has plans for you! Oh how He will take your Monday and make it more than glorious because you are walking with the King! You don’t have to be anxious or downtrodden, for you are a servant of the Most High God! Seek His face, work as though He were your boss and thank Him for everything He gives you to do! Seek Him if you need help with your bills, your troubles, your fears. He is always with you! You are blessed, you are walking through the hard places into His loving care and your destiny is secure in Christ!

Colossians 3:23-24 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

Proverbs 3:26 for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

Isaiah 29:19 The humble will be filled with fresh joy from the Lord. The poor will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

Deuteronomy 24:14 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands. NAS

Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

Need Insight for Living? You Can Have It!

You know they make some great commercials. I especially love the insurance commercial where the girl is talking to a guy about what she read about his insurance company on the internet. She tells him “they can’t put anything on the internet that isn’t true”.   At the end of the commercial she walks off with a guy she had “met” on the internet who was a French model, only he definitely was anything but that.  Still she believed it and walked away arm in arm with him.

There are so many things taken as true today.  There are multitudes of infomercials extoling the virtues of one thing or another, all the time promising that their truth is the best.  If you buy it, you’ll be perfect, your life will be perfect, your future will be perfect. Just buy their product, the book, the dvd…whatever they’re selling.   There is much on Christianity as well. I find that I get lost in the information about all of it, unless I spend time in the Word. The more I fill my heart and mind with God’s Word the more easily I discern the false from the true.

Oh beloved, are you drowning in a sea of information? Have you searched everywhere for something to hang onto, something to make sense out of your situation? Maybe you want to do your own thing so you’ve sought out writers who believe you can do just that. Are you tired of running here and there and everywhere to find something that really touches your heart and changes your life? Run to God’s Word this morning and read! All the promises mentioned within the pages of the Holy Word are true. They will feed you, they will increase your beauty, they will add wisdom to your life and they’ll stay with you when everything else, everyone else, is gone.   

What wondrous love is this that the King of the Universe, the Self Existent One would write a Book just for you to live by? No ordinary book; written by no ordinary author; published by no ordinary producer.  Thank the One Whose name is Faithful and True! He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters!

Psalm 19:8-10 The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.  They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb.

Hosea 14:9 Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them...

2 Timothy 3:16  All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Psalm 86:11  Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to Your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor You.

Where Does Our Help Come From?

As we walked into the ER, she was talking to the nurse, “I just can’t do this without my husband. I want him to be here with me.” Married for 43 years, she knew that anything she might forget He would remember for her. She felt lost, dazed and confused. But she felt that if he was just there, things would somehow be alright or at least better. The trauma of the day had her longing for the presence of her husband who after all those years knew her every need, meds, history, fears, etc. Yes, once he got there, once she was safe in his presence, things would indeed seem much better.




I can relate. As I stood in the room, seeing her so helpless, I too was wanting my husband’s presence. All those years of marriage makes for such an intimate relationship that one truly winces when the other feels pain. You just know each other. You trust one another. Familiarity in this case does not breed contempt, but rather it breeds the need for more togetherness. Two indeed become one.



Oh beloved, are there traumas, trials or troubles in your life today? Are you feeling alone in the ER of life, wondering when comfort, joy and peace will return? Have you been trying to fix your situation only to find that it’s not possible to do it on your own? Are you wishing for someone who could come into your life and make things better, make things right?



There is One Who will be there for you always! He’s Ever Present, All Knowing, and Always watching over you. We don’t have to wait for Him to arrive on the scene because He is with us always! We don’t have to hope He cares for His Name is Faithful and True. We’re never alone, no matter what our situation. The longer we know Him, the more we can call upon Him and the more intimate our relationship is with Him. Run to the One Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all you could ask or think! He is with you, He is working things out for your good and His glory! Regardless of what you’re going through now He will see you through. You don’t have to be strong enough for He is your strength! Get out your Marriage Certificate today and read: All who call upon Him will be safe! He is your fortress and your God! He loves you, He’s with you and that’s all that really matters.



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



Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!



Psalm 3:4 I cried out to the Lord, and He answered me from His holy mountain.



Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.



Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

There are many phrases popular among Christians and non Christians alike. One of the best is “God helps those who help themselves”. The quote originated with Benjamin Franklin who believed in God but that God did not intervene in earth's affairs, so all responsibility was incumbent upon people.

Somehow we equate improving our situation by our own self efforts with God and thus begins a long stint of trying to please Him by being good enough, working hard enough or being strong enough. Not only do we try to please Him this way, we try to make ourselves better this way. None of this works.   So finally, we find ourselves winded, worn out and weary.  Or we find ourselves in a trial and wonder how we got there with “God, what did I do wrong?’ hanging on our lips…

This thing called faith starts and ends with Christ! We find ourselves utterly empty of anything good, able or authentic. We call on the One Who is Excellent, Capable and Genuine and we ask Him to come in and change things for us. We admit we’re unable.  We find that He doesn’t want to just change “things” for us – He wants to change us!

Oh beloved, are you wondering how you’ll ever make it? You’ve tried. You’ve begged. You’ve worked. You’ve managed. You hate for anyone to know that you aren’t going to make it on your own. Maybe it’s time to let Christ in. To your situation… your trial… your problem… your failure… your life....  He’ll take what you can’t do a thing with and make it beautiful for His glory and your good!  This is the Good News everyone’s waiting for! He loves you and He’s for you and He has a marvelous plan for your life! Now that’s worth thanking Him for!!!

Psalm 34:2 I will boast only in the LORD; let all who are helpless take heart.

Psalm 70:5 But as for me, I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God. You are my helper and my savior; O LORD, do not delay.

Matthew 9:36 When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Romans 5:6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.

John 15:5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.