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.

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

Are You Learning Your Lines from the Right Script?

You may think I’m an early bird, but I’ve been watching some of the Hallmark Christmas movies already. I love everything about Christmas - the tinsel, the glitter, the scents and the sounds. I also love all the various Christmas cantatas and musicals that are presented for the public to enjoy. My home is host to several nativity scenes reminding us whose birthday it really is.

Everyone who part...icipates in any kind of show has to rehearse. Can you imagine going to theater and watching unrehearsed performance? How would anyone know how to perform? What would they say? Where would their lines go? How could they time their dances and the entrances and exits? At best everyone would be confused. At worst it would be utter chaos. The orchestra would be doing their own thing, the singers would be making their own music and the actors would be jumping over one another’s lines. Center stage would become the platform for anger, animosity, jealousy, humiliation, confrontation, revenge and more. Someone might get hurt.

Rehearsal is absolutely invaluable for the believer as well. We are playing for an audience of One. We’re not performing for accolades, achievements or applause. We don’t necessarily care if we’re given a good review by man or if we’re considered worthless. We must rehearse daily. If we don’t rehearse daily we’ll fall victim to humiliation, animosity, rejection, humiliation, revenge and more. Chaos will run rampant in our hearts.

Oh beloved, open up God’s Script and learn your lines well. See what God says. Watch Him direct you. Hear His heart and learn it well. Unlike actors who eventually have to put away their script and perform without it, we never have to let go of the Word of God. It is more essential to us than our daily bread. If you do not learn His lines well, then you will find yourself spouting your hurts and your anguish and making it all up as you go. When you lean on Jesus and speak His truth over every situation, He will be glorified through you.

And you’ve got an audience of One, and He is in the wings and He is ever before you and He is applauding your every step. And He is coming to get you at the end of your run. And He is with you all the way, cheering you on to greater heights, higher ways and blessings untold. The Creator and the Director of your entire story loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters…ever.

Psalm 40:5 O Lord my God, You have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all Your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

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.

Psalm 119:147 I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in Your words.

Psalm 9:1 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds! (AMP)

Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the Lord’s unfailing love forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep His promise.

Let God Take the Lead

Over the years Danny tried to teach me how to drive my own motorcycle. Disastrous is probably too hard a word but none of the times were pretty.  The last time he tired he put me on in the front and sat right behind me. He told me to just try navigating it. He would help do the throttle and everything else.

As we headed for the ditch (thanks to my direction) he laid his hand son mine and told me to let go. I couldn’t! I was frozen in the situation and simply could not release the death grip (literally) that was on the handlebars. He kept saying “let go”. At the very last moment I somehow managed to look away from the fear and let go. He steered us back into the road and stopped the motorcycle.  Right then I vowed never again. I was content to ride behind my husband and he was relieved to let me. 

It wasn’t the motorcycle itself that was going to cause the wreck. It was my death grip on it. Because I couldn’t let go I was destined to end up in the ditch. Because I was paralyzed in the moment I couldn’t move on, move out or move over.

But because my husband is a good, godly, loving man he just kept talking to me. Finally I realized what he was saying and I let go. I knew it was better for him to have the wheel than me. I was relieved, he was relieved and we lived to tell the tale!

Ever feel that you are paralyzed in a situation, unable to hear God’s voice? The pounding of your ears and the beating of your heart has overtaken you. You are about to wreck and you see no way out. The difficulty is insurmountable. You stepped up to the plate, you got into the driver’s seat but now you’re careening wildly. You thought you knew what you were doing, but this event is beyond your abilities. If someone doesn’t come along to assist or take over for you the ditch is where you will end up.

Oh beloved, it’s time to learn to let God do the steering. It’s imperative that you let Him have control of your life and your plans. Only the Lord knows the road ahead.  As long as you’re the one directing the ride, things are going to be your responsibility.  But as soon as you relinquish control and give it to God, He can take the situation and smooth it all out. Oh it might stay rocky for a while, you might still think a wreck is certain, but God will be the one in charge, so you can rest in His promises and delight in His direction. He is a loving, kind, compassionate Lord and you can trust Him.  Even if you find yourself in a ditch, you can cry out to the Lord and He will come and set you aright. There’s never a time when you cannot call on Him in Spirit and Truth.  There’s never a situation where He won’t come to your aid when you call.  Even in the ditch He can take over control and direction of your life and set you back on course of blessings. Don’t let the enemy of your soul convince you that it’s too late or you’ve gone too far. You are still alive so there’s still time to let God take over the direction of your life!

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can trust His voice when He speaks to your heart, every single time and in every situation all the days of your life.

Psalm 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

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

Psalm 37:23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.

Psalm 94:18 If I should say, "My foot has slipped," Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up.

Psalm 40:2-3 He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear (revere and worship) and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord. (Amplified)

Oh Student of Faith Let God Teach You!

I am amazed when I think of all the teachers I’ve had in my life. Of course my parents were my first teachers. Then there were special family members growing up. They all taught about family, love, forgiveness, acceptance and more. There were special teaching moments too. Uncle Tom taking me out to drive for the first time. I’ll never forget it. My first ride on a horse at John and May Green’s house in Magnolia which ended with a fall but still worth the ride.  My first motorcycle ride – and I might add the only person I’ve ever ridden a motorcycle with – still a wonderful memory. Lots of firsts, lots of learning.  Favorite teachers along the way who taught so much more than basic knowledge.

We never quit learning. Teachable moments abound in our lives. There are things we want to learn and they are exciting and wonderful. We ask to be taught and these things bring enjoyment in the experience. There’s a great sense of achievement. Some of the most profound teachable moments, things we get taught life lessons in, are harder to deal with. We don’t ask for those, but they come. They serve a purpose as well.

Jesus is our greatest teacher. And since He is our Redeemer as well He is able to make those teachable moments, even the hard ones, become our most cherished lessons.

We go through the hardship of loss and He teaches us that He is the All-Sufficient One. We need nothing else and no one else to make it. We find ourselves clinging to Him even more tightly, and resting even better in His Truth.

We go through rejection and He teaches us that He is El Roi, the God who sees. He knows our situation, He is with us in it and He will sustain us and comfort us and be with us.

We suffer with weakness and sorrow and again He teaches us to trust Him for He is El Elyon, the Most High God. He is able to cover our weakness as we learn to walk in His strength.  

God speaks to my heart: We don’t always understand the situations of life, especially those that come so suddenly at us, but we can understand who God is.  He says to you and me this morning : I AM and beside Me there is no other. While I AM the Great and Mighty Creator of the Universe I AM also your Comforter and Friend. I AM approachable, so that you can bring everything to Me. Together with Me you will make it through the trial, the test, the situation and learn more about Me. I AM all you will ever need, and I AM enough.  I AM your greatest ally, I AM the One Who gives you perfect love, perfect peace, perfect care. If you will trust Me with the hardest situations and let Me teach you more about Me I will take those things that have tried to destroy you and turn them into blessings for you.  Even if you feel as though you might die – whether that death is your life, your possessions or your ministry – I AM able to redeem every single situation.  As you lean on Me and learn from Me you will become more like Me, for I use every situation in your life as an opportunity to learn – to die to self and to live for Me.

Oh beloved, what are you going through? Are you suffocating in the circumstances or are you breathing in God’s Truth deeply and securely? Nothing will ever separate you from His love. Nothing will ever take away His loving care. He sees, He knows and He’s your champion teacher.  All the way to heaven He will guide you, direct you and keep you safe if you will let Him teach you in those most profound moments and let Him bless you in them as well. God loves you and He’s for you, beloved, and that’s all that really matters.

Romans 8:38-39 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Matthew 11:29 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.

Psalm 71:17 O God, You have taught me from my youth, And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.

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.

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.

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.

Bogged Down? Get Out God's Assignments and Praise Him!

When we lived in Tyler we had a huge detached double garage at the back of our lot. This is where I learned to love being a teacher. I had a chalkboard and I loved to write assignments on the board. Oh they’d be long, long assignments! Usually playing school only involved me and Dee Dee, a neighbor. But we’d play! Assignment seemed to always fascinate me. I liked having something to do, a list to remind myself and then to cross it off the list as I accomplished it.  I think that’s one of the reasons Precept Bible Studies was so appealing to me.  We had homework assignments during the week. We would be sent home to glean from the Word.  If you didn’t do your homework, you could not share in class the next week.  I’ll forever be grateful for our time as both Precept students and as Precept teachers.  Learning to study the Bible in depth and find nuggets of Truth for yourself – learning what it really means – gave us an incredible foundation for our faith.

Just as there were assignments in school and in Bible study, there are assignments in life. Some are wonderful – love, joy, peace, faithfulness, gifts of the Holy Spirit, to name a few.  Others aren’t so good.  Fear, condemnation, pessimism, gloominess, hopelessness, despair, to name a few.   One set of assignments is given to us freely by the Lord when we are saved.  The other set of assignments is from the enemy of our very souls. As with all homework we must be careful of what we’re working on – for what you “work on” is what you become proficient in. 

Oh beloved! Run to the Lord this morning and learn your rightful coursework! His Assignment Book is full of good words to learn, great precepts to walk in and awesome power for living!  Every good and perfect gift is from Him! Every sorrowful and depressing gift is from another. God says to you this morning, Come to me, Your Teacher, and learn of Me. When you know Me and My Word, you won’t be tempted to follow the wrong assignments. All of my gifts, every single one of them, are good and pleasing and kind.  I love you, and because of My Great Love, you have no worries concerning learning of Me. I AM for you, so you have no worries concerning following Me! The only way to reject untruth being spoken into your life is to learn MY Truth! Come, beloved, you are heavy laden with lies and discouraging words! Let Me speak Truth into your life so that when it’s all said and done, you will be able to live as more than a conqueror!

God loves you and His Word proves it.  He’s for you and His precepts light the path for you. Hallelujah to the King!

John 17:17 “Make them holy by Your Truth; teach them Your word, which is truth.”

Psalm 19:8  The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. (NAS)

Psalm 119:14-16 I will study Your commandments and reflect on Your ways.  I will delight in Your decrees and not forget Your word.

Psalm 119:110  The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not gone astray from Your precepts. (NAS)

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

Philippians 4:8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.