Weather Predictions May Fail but God's Word Stands

I woke up in the night and as usual I looked out to see how my area of the world was faring. To my surprise and delight I found it was snowing! My surprise was because this is a very late snow. It hasn’t snowed in Arkansas this late in decades. My delight was not because it’s snowing. To be truthful I am totally done with winter and ready to have a springtime that sticks around a while. But yesterday we had a comparison of sorts about the different weather predictions. I was quoting NOAA and another family member was quoting a different weather channel. I felt foolish and a little ridiculous, especially if it didn’t snow at all. I secretly hoped it would snow just a little to prove NOAA was right.

God speaks to my heart: The Word of God is no weather prediction center. It is the way, the truth and the life. It’s all encompassing, ever faithful, right on time. You can count on My Word to deliver for its intended purpose. I AM so wrapped into My Word that the breathing out of it over My world is essential for life and breath of all creation. Not one snowflake floats to the ground that I am unaware of. Not one storm, not one gale, not one flood. It is I the Lord who has made all this and I the Lord will see you through everything, whether the weather is favorable or fearful. My Word and My love are totally connected so that you can trust Me. My Word is My bond. If you need to know what to do in any circumstance of life don’t wish for it. Read My Word and rely on it with your whole heart, mind and soul. This is how you find strength to stand the weather of today and hope to face the future of unstable conditions. You may not be able to count on another thing but you can count on My Word.

Oh beloved, as you are waking up this morning, you may be facing the most insecure times of your life. The weather of your heart may make you want to stay in the bed and you may wish to refuse to greet the day. Don’t languish another moment in fear and dread. Get up, read up and stand up on the Word of God. Align yourself with His Truth. Ask Him if there’s any area that may have a gap between His Truth and your living and let Him teach you how to close that gap. He loves you and you can count on His mercy and grace as you learn to live according to His Word. He will guide you into all Truth for the Holy Spirit of God Himself dwells in believers to give them all they need for living a godly life. Trust His Word today. As sure as the snow is falling, the Word of God is True. It’s the only truth you can trust. God is for you and as you learn to live in the light of His Word you will find yourself in capable hands always, no matter what the weather may predict, no matter what Wall Street says and no matter who is in charge of the Government.

Jesus is Lord over all the Earth and you can count on His Word forever. Recite it daily, refer to it for everything, post it in your home, on your dashboard and bring those Words of life into your heart and mind and soul and live loved, cared for and protected all the days of your life.

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Psalm 125:1 Those who trust in the LORD are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.

Isaiah 45:19 I publicly proclaim bold promises. I do not whisper obscurities in some dark corner. I would not have told the people of Israel to seek me if I could not be found. I, the LORD, speak only what is true and declare only what is right. NLT

Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward.

Stormy Weather No Problem for Jesus

You will probably receive two devotionals on Sunday. (Saturday's devo escaped my plans to put it on the blog!)

Here is Saturday's:

Can you believe this weather? This is officially the first day of winter and it’s 70 degrees at my house where and in just a few days we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ. There was thunder and lightning last night with at least one tornado warning in the area. Today is projected to be stormy as well.  People want to panic because they don’t have everything done and it’s the last Saturday before Christmas.

I am thinking of the Lord and His disciples in the boat during the storm. They were panicked. They were in the presence of God and yet when the storm arose they lost it. I see them scurrying around, batting down the hatches, pulling in the sails and wondering if they would even survive. They were upset that Jesus slept while they prepared and worried and planned their own demise.

The facts of their situation included their knowledge of storms. That’s about all they allowed themselves to think about. They were so caught up in the momentary problem that they couldn’t see anything else. They had walked with Jesus everywhere and had seen Him perform miracle after miracle and yet in their own stormy situation they couldn’t think straight.

Would they have been happier if Jesus had jumped up in a panic with them? Would they have been glad that He was helping prepare for the end? Of course not. They wanted Jesus to do something and He didn’t seem to be doing anything but sleep!

And we are there. At least some of us are. We’re in a boat of our own making, in the storm of our life and water is lapping at our throats. We’re tossed in the sea of troubles when we should be resting in His promises. But we think He’s sleeping. We think He doesn’t know we don’t have enough time, enough money, or enough presence of mind to make it. We’re in the storm of our life and we know we’re going to drown. Where is God when we need Him? It’s only a few days until we celebrate His birthday yet we don’t feel His presence at all. We’re in a panic. We don’t know what to do first or which way to go but this storm in our life is going to do us in.

Oh beloved, God knows what the weather is like at your house and in your heart. He knows the trouble you are facing. He knows it’s only a few days until everything is supposed to be just perfect and yet He cannot be found in your panic. It’s too loud. It’s deafening and the roar will only get louder…until you come and sit at His feet. He promises, whether it’s Christmas or not, to still the storm or get you through it. It’s not what He does that makes the difference nearly as much as simply His presence. No more babe in the manger, you are protected by the King of Kings! No more a crucified Christ, you are watched over by the Risen Lord! No more vacated Savior, you have the Holy Spirit residing in you! He’s not ignoring your storm, He’s making all things new for you. He’s not aloof, He’s living proof! He’s not away, He’s holding the enemy at bay. All the hopes and fears of all your years are satisfied in Christ.

Quit watching the storm and look instead to the wonderful reminders of God’s glory and grace all around you! Open up the Book of Books and read about you, your situation and your Savior. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s why you can be assured He will get you through this storm and safely to shore to celebrate with Him forever!

Luke 8:24-25 The disciples went and woke Him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, He rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. Then He asked them, “Where is your faith?”

Psalm 31:22 In panic I cried out, “I am cut off from the Lord!” But You heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.

Psalm 121:4 Indeed, He who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps.

Psalm 29:10-11 The Lord sat as King at the flood; Yes, the Lord sits as King forever. The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Psalm 27:5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock.

Duct Tape Can't Fix Everything, but God Can!

It usually rains during the Changing of the Colors Rally. In fact it used to rain so much that in the 80’s we had rally pins in the shape of rubber boots, umbrellas and raindrops. It became nicknamed “the rain rally”. This year was no different. On Saturday night it came a deluge, along with high winds and thunder and lightning. We went to bed in the comfort of our bunkhouse but Danny woke up about 3am to check things out. He found that we had a huge weight of water in one area of our roof and that the canopy we had out front had totally collapsed along with the metal frame. When we got up the next morning, Danny removed the folded up the ruined frame and pitched it in the trash. It had wind damage before as it was one of the flimsier type of canopies, but I noticed the two places where we’d repaired the frame previously with duct tape had still held.

Duct tape is pretty awesome. It now comes in fashion colors and prints as well! From fluorescent pink to black with skulls you can find a duct tape to meet your needs both in function and fashion. Even our oldest granddaughter wants some of the stuff. No matter what design you use, there is an intended use for the stuff that everyone employs. It’s used to re-attach loose parts, splint broken pieces and cover holes. Things that are messed up and need to be discarded can be made usable again with a simple application of a simple “tool”.

Oh beloved! This morning you may feel that your life is coming apart at the seams. Is there brokenness that you feel may never be fixed? Maybe you have been discarded and told that you are no longer of any use. With all that life has thrown at you, you may be feeling torn in the heart or ripped to the core. You may even be thinking that you’re ready for the junk heap. But hold on! Run to the Lord and let Him apply His Word to your life. The Word is able to cover every problem. Unlike duct tape, the Word is no temporary fix!

God says to you, I AM total restoration! I AM able to make all things new! My repairs are permanent because I AM able! My love for you is permanent and My Word is a stronger bond than anything life has to offer. Run to Me and let Me love you through your problems and on to victory! I will never leave you or forsake you for you are Mine!

Jeremiah 30:17 I will give you back your health and heal your wounds,” says the LORD. “For you are called an outcast…”

Joel 2:25-26 “Then I will make up to you for the years That the swarming locust has eaten, The creeping locust, the stripping locust and the gnawing locust, My great army which I sent among you. “You will have plenty to eat and be satisfied And praise the name of the LORD your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you; Then My people will never be put to shame.

Psalm 71:20-21 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor

and comfort me once again.

Jeremiah 32:27 I AM the LORD, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?

Are You Struggling With Changes? Hide in the Shelter of His Word!

With the arrival of good rain and under 100 degree temps some of my flowers are blooming again.  Among them are what my mother called surprise lilies. You know the red spider looking flowers that produce first then the leaves later.  One stood alone and apparently was not going to open all the way. The rise and fall of temps must have stunted it. It looked like a surprise lily, it was the same color, but never produced a full flower.

Have there been lots of changes lately? Are you struggling with issues as the heat of the day pounds your life? Maybe you’re experiencing the chill of loneliness, misunderstandings or depression.  You want to bloom where you’re planted but the atmosphere is in upheaval and you’re wondering when things will settle down.

Oh beloved, run to the One Who is sun for growth and shade for rest! The Lord has everything you need for Christian growth and His ways will help you produce beauty in your life!  Beneath His tender watch and care you will bloom completely and produce fruit for generations as you trust Him, listen to Him and let Him guide you.  He loves you and He’s on your side as He helps you grow in grace and the knowledge of Himself!

Psalm 84:11 NAS For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.  

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.

John 15:4  Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in Me.

Colossians 2:7 Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.

2 Peter 1:2  May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.

Are You looking only at Your Circumstances? Look to God!

We had a ride planned yesterday but early on there was thunder lightning and heavy rain. Probably the heaviest rain our county's seen in months. Mid morning the weather broke and we headed out for our destination. It remained cloudy and cool the entire day, which made for incredible riding. An August day in Arkansas with a high around 76 degrees is unheard of. We rode to Petit Jean, ate a late lunch and went to survey the bear caves. While there someone checked the radar on their phone which showed heavy rain coming in. Much discussion went on about hurrying to leave, putting on gear, making it home.  We knew that any moment it might start raining but some folks had never been to Petit Jean so we continued the plan, hoping to outrun the rain. There was frequent looking to the radar which still guaranteed a deluge.  Finally someone said, “If all we do is look at the radar we will miss the fun of all we’re doing right now while it’s not raining.” As it turned out it never rained on us despite the gloomy radar.

Life is a trip full of ups and downs and changing weather.  Often the road we travel has its potholes, steep hills and hairpin curves.  Just like the weather life’s circumstances can change in an instant. We may be having the time of our life and suddenly it’s all different.   We may spend much time looking to the future, knowing that a storm is brewing and we wish we could avoid it.

Oh beloved, if you continue to look only at your circumstances or what you think may be ahead, you will miss the beautiful life God has given you! Everything you will go through in life is sifted through fingers of Love. God knows the road ahead, He knows the weather and He knows your heart. He is more than able to care for you throughout life. He’s not only able to get you through, but because He is going ahead of you, you can enjoy today full of joy in Him without dread of the future. Run to Him this morning, quit looking at your circumstances and let Him show you the beauty of this day.  How much does He love you? Enough to give Himself up on your behalf. How much does He care for you? Enough to send His angels to guard  your entire life.  Jehovah Jireh, Our Provider, has grace for today and bright hope for tomorrow prepared just for you!

Philippians 4:6-7  Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.  Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 91:11  For He will order His angels to protect you wherever you go.

Proverbs 15:15  For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.

Isaiah 43:1 But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says,
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

Deuteronomy 31:8  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”