You Can Trust God When You're "Done"

Children’s Hospital was the location for two year old Caleb’s procedure last week.  They were not looking forward to him being put to sleep. It also concerned them because he has separation anxiety – he never wants to be away from his mother.  Diona said that after she told the nurses that, they brought Caleb a little pink medicine and sure enough it did the trick! He began to relax and no longer care what was going on. They wheeled him away on the gurney without incident and put him to sleep.

The procedure was done quickly and when he began waking up Diona and Eddie were able to go back to the recovery room.  They found Caleb trying to wake up. It took a few minutes but sure enough he got wide awake.  Then he began to attempt pulling out his iv and taking off the oxygen from his nose. Then he wanted loose from the oxygen monitor on his toe! He kept saying “socks” and “shoes”.  He repeatedly said “Done!” He was done with it and he was ready to leave.  “Done.”

Oh beloved, are you done? Are you tired of the situation and ready to just throw your hands up and say “Done”?  You’ve prayed, you’ve hoped, you’ve relaxed, you’ve recited Scripture and yet things are a tangled mess.  You’re tied up in knots and you’re ready to just walk away.  You feel you’ve given it enough time and now it’s just time to go. You’re disappointed, concerned and worn out. 

Run to the Word and drink freely of His Truth! It will calm your nerves, cure your fears and keep you hanging in there until the situation is over.  God says to you this morning that He can untie those knots and release you from the tangles if you’ll just give it all to Him. He says, I Know what you’re going through and I AM with you! While circumstances seem hopeless, with Me nothing is ever hopeless. 

Trust in the Lord and let Him love you to victory. He will go before you and lead you where you need to go. He will also keep you while you’re on the gurney of life! No separation anxiety with the Lord for He loves you and He’s always with you and that’s all that matters!

Psalm 40:3  He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD.

Psalm 91:14  The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love Me. I will protect those who trust in My Name.

Psalm 59:9  You are my strength; I wait for you to rescue me, for you, O God, are my fortress.

Isaiah 30:18 So the LORD must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the LORD is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help.

Jeremiah 14:22  Can any of the worthless foreign gods send us rain? Does it fall from the sky by itself? No, You are the one, O LORD our God! Only You can do such things. So we will wait for You to help us.

In the Dark? Learn to Carry the Light with You!

It’s been a great week. There’s been some of the most awesome preaching ever. We’ve had excellent fellowship with wonderful friends. We’ve made new friendships as well. We’ve had truth sown into our lives and we’ve sown truth into others’ lives. Some of the CMA’ers participated in the 5K walk/run. A couple of CMA’ers are regular runners and they did that every morning.

Before daylight it’s quite dark around here. There is the occasional streetlight that pours out bright light nearby and everyone can see there. Those bright lights don’t go out very far though. Unless the runners carry a light with them to light the way, they have a hard time seeing. They could, I guess, just run around near the streetlights but they wouldn’t get anywhere. Without their own flashlight, the draw to the big lights can disorient and cause you to veer off your path.

Coming to Christian rallies and going to revivals is a lot like hanging out under a streetlight. We could spend all our time here. We don’t want to leave. Like the disciples, upon seeing Jesus, we say, this is great, let’s build a city here! But we’re given the mandate to go into all the world. How can we see in the dark unless we carry the light with us?

Oh beloved, run to the Light of God’s Word. Let Him sow Truth into your life. Let Him speak words of love, encouragement and faith into your heart! Go,whenever you can, to hear great speakers and Bible teachers. They are there for your benefit and are an incredible blessing. But when you go, go in the Power of the Lord! He will light your path daily with His wonderful Word and He’ll help you stay on course with His loving instructions. He knows that you may be going home to hard times or tough circumstances, but as you shine His light on your path, you will find strength for the journey and relief for the road you are on. He loves you, beloved, and He’s for you and that Truth will light your way, even when you are going alone. For truly, you are never alone as long as you carry the Light of His Word!

Isaiah 42:16 I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.

Psalm 89:15 Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD.

Isaiah 2:5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the LORD!

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

Colossians 1:12 always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light.

Life Can Get out of Adjustment! Time to Apply His Word.

My mother went to the chiropractor whenever she felt her back bothering her. He explained to her the importance of the spine being in alignment for your overall health. Poor posture could cause other problems. She wasn’t sure what he did on those visits, but she knew she felt better. The results were worth the trip to the next town for a visit.


Life can get out of adjustment. Things can begin to look out of kilter and cause us problems. Sometimes it’s just life itself that has us troubled. Maybe you’ve prayed and prayed for a situation but you’ve seen no progress. You’re about ready to give up. It could be that you are hearing bad reports about your life. Someone may have told you you’re worthless, useless, hopeless or more. You’re beginning to feel bent over from the weight of the things you’re carrying. It’s hard to get up and get out of bed because you’re just frazzled and tied in knots inside as you try to figure out how you got here, why you’re having trouble and when there will ever be relief.

Oh beloved! It’s time to run to the Great Physician for an adjustment! Let Him speak Truth into your life and get back in alignment with that Truth so that you can walk with power and continue on to Victory! God’s Word is your source of healing for your health, your heart, and your emotions. The Physician says that He hears your prayers and He delights in answering them according to His Word, so find the Word for your situation and cling to that! His Words to you are always full of love and He says you are beautiful, you are important and you are His! He will lovingly adjust your thinking as you take in His medicine, the Word of God. And each time you begin to falter, if you turn to His Word, the adjustment will come every time.

Unlike going to the chiropractor which requires traveling there and getting an appointment, hoping that you might be able to get a visit, the Lord is always on call and He’s only a prayer away! Thank Him this morning that He loves you and He’s on your side, for that’s all that really matters.

Psalm 119:25 I lie in the dust; revive me by Your Word.

Psalm 119:28 I weep with sorrow; encourage me by Your Word.

Psalm 119:172 Let my tongue sing about Your Word, for all Your commands are right.

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

Psalm 139:17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered!

Ephesians 4:23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.

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.

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?

Dangers Abound! But God is Greater!

A rattlesnake, 2 tarantulas and a scorpion have been found in areas across the CMA Campground. Our little Caleb picked up a stick by our campsite and got stung by a wasp. Sounds like a dangerous place to be! There are hidden dangers as well – old stump holes, piles of leaves, potholes and more.

If we concentrated on the dangers we’d just pick up camp and go home. Why take the chance? Go find a safe place and hide out there. The only problem with this thinking is the same risks are found at home. All I have to do is look around and see: spiders in the corners, wasps on the eaves and snakes in the grass. I can spend all my time looking for these and more. No matter what I do, dangers still abound.

Oh beloved, what are you concentrating on? If you concentrate only on troubles and seek to avoid them, you will be frustrated and sleepless. But if you will look to the Lord and seek His face these barriers will no longer seem so big. Rather, God will increase your faith and make your way less fraught with concern. He says to you this morning Turn your eyes on Me. Yes,there are dangers lurking everywhere but I AM over all and I AM your source of safety for all your spiritual, emotional and physical life. I AM the One who sets your feet upon the Rock and gives you sure footing throughout your life so that you can live for Me free of the fears that keep others from moving on to higher things. Your heart and your soul belong to Me so let Me teach you how to be fearless and overcome!

Run to His Word today and read for it is the Ultimate Safety Manual! God loves you perfectly and watches over you continually. His plan for you is magnificent as you turn your eyes away from worldly cares and look full in His Wonderful Face!

2 Samuel 22:3  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.

Job 11:18 Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety.

Psalm 16:9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.

John 16:33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

Ezekiel 34:31 You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken!”

Whisper His Name! He is with You Always!

When we got ready to leave for the Rally our 5 year old grandson wanted to come with us. Since they’ve moved across the street, we get to see each other every day. He enjoys grandparent time, especially wowaw, as he has her wrapped around his little finger! We were packed up and ready to get in the car and I was hugging the babies one more time. Blake came up to me and whispered, “Wowaw, don’t left me.” Well, of course my heart wanted to say, come on boy, let’s go! Leave school behind! Who cares? Instead I reminded him that he had school and that he’d see us at the end of the week. He seemed to be okay with that and we came on to the mountain.

There are times in our lives when we don’t want to let go of those people places or things that bring us comfort. We’re attached emotionally and it’s comforting. There are other times when we go through hard places and we just want to cry out to God, “Don’t leave me!” Or we wonder, “Have you left me Lord?” We wonder as God leads us to make decisions that mean giving up something or moving away from someone, why do we have to do this? While God doesn’t always “make” us give things up, He can. He has every right to lead us wherever He needs us to go.

Oh beloved, whenever you whisper His Name He is there! Whatever you have to turn loose of or say bye to, He’s with you. While people, places and things are subject to change, He is not! He is Unchangeable! His love for you is extravagant and enduring and yet He’s not bound by emotion. He can be trusted! Whatever it is that you’re going through, whatever it is that He’s speaking into your life right now, you can know it’s for your best and His glory! He says to you this morning, trust Me! I will tell you where to go but I never expect you to go alone. I will lead you by the way you knew not, but when we arrive, you and I together, I will show you the beauty of My will. I AM that I AM and you can always rely on Me!

Seek His face today! He’s showering you with affection and joy! He loves you and He’s for you and His plan for you is Heavenly!

Psalm 40:5 Oh Lord My God, You have performed 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.

Psalm 57:2 I cry out to God Most High. To God who will fulfill His purpose for me.

Psalm 43:3 Send out Your light and Your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to Your Holy Mountain, to the place where You live.

Psalm 84:12 O LORD of heaven’s armies, what joy for those who trust in You.

To Sail on with the Lord You Must let Go of the Shore

Stella is getting sturdier on her feet. While she’s not walking alone all across the floor yet, she will let go of one piece of furniture and take a couple of steps to the next one. It takes her a moment. She will hold on with one hand and spy her next spot. Then after careful consideration, you can see her little mind working, she lets go and goes for the next one.  It’s cute and we all applaud and whoop! Sometimes she doesn’t quite make it and down she goes.  When she first started, she cried every time she went down. Now she just plops and readjusts.  Sometimes her brothers get right in her way just as she steps and down again she goes.

We often want to set out into uncharted waters. We’re certain in our hearts that something is over there. But by our calculations it’s a pretty wide chasm. We wonder about the dangers ahead. We wonder about the things that could get in our way.  We think we hear the Lord beckoning us to let go of the shore, but it’s a daunting process.  Can we trust ourselves? What if we get loose and go down?

Oh beloved, it’s time to set sail. It’s time to reach beyond your present circumstances. It’s time to move out of your fears, your mistakes, your troubles and move on into the future. If you belong to the Lord, your life is no longer your own.  He says to you, let Me take you beyond yourself. Let Me relieve your fears and show you how to live free of the ropes that hold you so tightly to your present shore. It’s beautiful ahead and I am choosing to use you to follow Me. Unless you’re willing to let go of your present comfort, you will never truly set sail with Me.

Yes, the waters may be deeper, there may be obstacles ahead, but with the Lord’s applause as you go, what else is needed? He loves you and together you and He will do marvelous things with your life! He’s on your side so every worry is taken care of, and every fear is calmed. Set sail today for this is the day you have!

 John 10:4 After He has gathered His own flock, He walks ahead of them, and they follow Him because they know His voice.

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

Psalm 121:3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber.

 

 

From 10/10/12 Remembering Matt Turner

This is from a post on Remembering Matt Turner Wall on Facebook. For those of you who would like to see it or share it, here you go. 

As I wake up this morning and ponder all the things going on in my life, I just have to sit and mourn for a moment with one of our local families. Today is the day they will lay to rest one of our own. Matt Turner, Awana member and later youth member with my own kids, lost his life in a car accident on Saturday evening. People all across America lose family members every day. And this young man was no more loved than anyone else’s father, son, husband…but for us in Arkadelphia and in Arkansas, it is especially tragic. His father, who was our pastor for many years, lost his battle with leukemia a few years ago. His mother, a fellow Sunday School member, was always a perfect pastor’s wife.

I watched the news shows about Matt’s life. Matt wasn’t just our kid in our town, he was a newscaster in Arkansas. One story especially touched my heart and made me laugh. His little daughter, 10 months old, got to see a monkey in real life. The monkey touched Matt’s head and then began licking the hairspray from his hands. I chuckled as I remembered that Gary Turner’s hair was never messed up! We even did a skit at church camp where we sold special hair spray – the Gary Turner brand.

Lisa came by my office not long ago and I shared with her that everyone thought Gary was the strong one, but it was actually Lisa who was strong. She responded that you just do what you have to do and you trust God to get you through it. Her strength in God is showing through yet again.

For those of us in Arkadelphia, we are mourning the loss of our pastor again through this tragedy. We mourn for the little girl who won’t remember her daddy. We mourn for the young wife whose marriage was cut off too early and I especially mourn for the mother who is never expected to outlive her children. We mourn for things we cannot hope to understand this side of heaven. Bro. Gary himself told us that in the video he made before he passed away. Live for Jesus.

Oh beloved, today is all we have. It’s fleeting. It’s short. I hope you will settle your arguments. I hope you will forgive your mistakes and those of others. I hope you will mend fences and break bread. I hope you will look beyond one another’s faults and see that everybody is worth knowing, worth loving and worth forgiving. For Christ forgave us when we were surely unforgiveable.

Won’t you make that call today? Won’t you give that hug you’ve been withholding? Won’t you just let it all go and run to the Father’s Arms and let Him hold you and console you. Let Him make all things new and fresh. His mercies are renewed daily. And, let Him guide you to make today be your best day ever. You are loved by God, you are important to Him and that really is all that matters. (((HUGS)))

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;

Romans 14:8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

7.2 Corinthians 5:15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

Colossians 3:12-13 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
 

Hijacked by Malicious Thinking? Run to God's Word for Protection!

One of my friends was telling me yesterday that when she got home from work she discovered a pop up on her computer.  It read that it was a warning from the FBI, something like this “Warning. Your computer has been blocked due to illegal downloads of music.” It went on to give detailed instructions to go to the local discount store, purchase a $200 money card and go to their website. Enter that money in the website for the fine and the owner of the computer would then have their computer unlocked. Imagine the person who has been downloading music finding this on their computer. The hijacker who built the program desires to get rich at the expense of an unwitting computer owner.  

Malware. Malicious programming appearing real that hijacks your computer. Some malware is fairly benign. Other programs are serious business. From minor irritation to complete ruination of the hard drive, malware is rampant. If we don’t keep our virus software updated and turned on anyone one of us is subject to succumbing to this nuisance.

We too as believers are subject to malicious programming.  The enemy of our souls wants to speak lies and half truths into our hearts. His desire is to strike terror and make us believe we have to pay over and over again for things in our life that we try to overcome.  If he can hijack our faith he can render us useless in the Kingdom of God.

Oh beloved, are you feeling tortured by past regrets and future fears? Are they playing over and over in the screen of your mind and heart? Have you tried to pay up only to find that the cost is way too high? Run to the Lord this morning and tell Him all your troubles. He will restore you to right standing with Him and He will wipe your life clean by His atoning blood.  Not only that, His Word is your best protection against the viruses of life that will try to come back on you.  His love is your complete protection, His Word is your soul survival and His promises are your road of blessing. Unlike computer hijacks that can wipe out your computer, God’s Word always restores and always covers so that we can always walk in the Light of His Word! What a Savior! What a Protector! Thank Him today for His unspeakable gift!

2 Samuel 22:3 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.

Psalm 31:4  Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me, for I find protection in You alone.

Psalm 91:4  He will cover you with His feathers. He will shelter you with His wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.

Proverbs 30:5  Every word of God proves true. He is a shield to all who come to Him for protection.

Isaiah 33:21  The LORD will be our Mighty One. He will be like a wide river of protection that no enemy can cross, that no enemy ship can sail upon.

You Don't Have to Run on Empty - Fill Up with God's Word.

Last night I went to one of my grandson’s football games. He didn’t play until 7:30, so by the time I left the house it was dark. Another grandson, Blake, went with me. He was excited to get to see Lucas play.  As we traveled through town and out towards the sports complex, I remembered that I had been needing to stop and get gas for a couple of days.  For some reason, I drive right by our favorite station everyday yet often don’t remember or don’t take the time to fill up.  Then I find myself, like last night, with the red needle all the way down.  As we entered the road leading to the football and soccer fields, we wound on through the baseball fields that were well lit and full of activity. We turned the bend in the road and found ourselves in the woods! Suddenly Blake said, “Ooh it’s dark in here!” We had left the comfort of the light and I was on a road I’d never driven. I agreed and hoped again that I had enough gas to get me through the dark and on to the fields.  After the awesome game, of course with #56 being my favorite player, we got our chairs and headed for home. On the return out of the complex roads and onto the main street, I realized there was a huge hill up ahead. Did I have enough gas to make it through the line of cars in front of me and behind me? Did I literally have enough steam to get where I needed to go?

As we got to the gas station, I breathed a sigh of relief. As I opened the gas cap, I heard a huge exhale of pressure and I knew that I was running on empty. As I filled the car up I vowed to not let it go so long. It’s not safe to be out at night and take the chance of running out of gas. It wasn’t like I didn’t have plenty of gas stations in town to fill up at; it was just that I hadn’t taken the time. I was busy. I got the needed petrol to make it on home and to more events the next day. But I cut it awfully short.

Are you running on empty today?  Are you busy with everyday events, trying to juggle the house, the office, the church, the family and more? Are you running around on fumes, hoping that last month’s or last quarter’s Bible study is enough to get you where you need to go?

Oh beloved, run to the Lord this morning and take freely of all He has for you! He beckons you to come and fill up on His Word, so that you have the steam to make it through the day. There will be mountains to climb in the faith and you may encounter things you’ve not mastered before. You will need all God has to get you through!  How marvelous that God is standing there beckoning you to stop and fill up each and every day.  All of His promises, all of His fuel for living, is readily available, free for the asking and never in short supply.  Oh how He waits for you to stop and drink freely of His living water! Oh how He watches over you even while you let yourself run on empty.  All you need to fill up your heart completely with His power for living is to stop and rest in Him. Oh how He loves  you! Oh how He’s on your side! Oh what a Savior!

Proverbs 19:20-21 Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life. You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail

Isaiah 55:1 Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat.

2 Thessalonians 1:11  So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of His call. May He give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.

Psalm 107:9  For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.

Psalm 143:8  Let me hear Your lovingkindness in the morning; For I trust in You; Teach me the way in which I should walk; For to You I lift up my soul.

Acts 2:28  You have shown me the way of life, and You will fill me with the joy of Your presence.

You Are God's Greatest Treasure!

We love to watch American Pickers. Hitting back roads from coast to coast, the two hosts earn a living by restoring forgotten relics to their former glory.  Sometimes I cringe as I see them discuss items I know from my youth. To think a $5 toy is now worth hundreds is amazing. Danny and I will laugh and sometimes we find them looking at something with gleaming eyes that we once owned!  The two guys will go through junk and traverse waist high weeds looking for something they just can’t live without. They’ll go up into the loft of a barn that is sure to cave in any moment, but they’re not afraid because they are on a treasure hunt!

They both have an eye for things. Especially when evaluating potential purchases that are covered in mildew, buried under dust or broken into fragments. I’ll be worrying about chiggers and snakes but they’ll spy a rusty piece of junk. Next thing you know they’ll be extolling the virtue of their find.  Turns out it’s not junk, just looks like it.  It’s actually a beautiful piece of Americana that someone somewhere will pay five prices for.  One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

You may have resigned yourself to living on an old shelf in the back room of life. As far as you can see, there is absolutely no virtue left in you. You feel worthless, useless, worn out, discarded, cast off. It could be someone has told you that you’re nothing. It could be that you have told yourself this for so long that you now believe your own heart.  You may even have mumbled to yourself: “trash”, “rubbish”, “disgusting”.  

Oh beloved, there is One Who is pursuing and seeking you. Though you may consider yourself trash, you may have been told you are trash, you are the Father’s greatest treasure! He is so incredibly fond of you that He’s gone all the way to the cross for you! He loves to restore forgotten lives to His glory! He doesn’t just take broken things to revive them; He takes them and makes them brand new!  Run to His Book of Treasures this morning and read all that He has written about you. His Words are loving, His restoration is gentle and His future for you is to set your feet upon the Rock!  Believe Him today and watch as He makes all things brand new! He loves you, He’s for you and that’s the True measure of your Worth!

Psalm 139:13-15 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.  You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

Isaiah 63:9  In all their suffering He also suffered, and He personally rescued them. In His love and mercy He redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.

Psalm 94:14  The LORD will not reject His people; He will not abandon His special possession.

James 1:18  He chose to give birth to us by giving us His true word. And we, out of all creation, became His prized possession.

Ready to Plug into Your Real Source of Power?

Next week we’ll be attending The Changing of the Colors Rally near Mena. I can remember back not many years ago, before this family had cell phones.  There was really only one good place for friends to use them. Up near one of the signposts.  Everyone would go to that spot to get their message out.  I can even remember borrowing a friend’s phone to call our family at home.

Now my “smart” phone goes with me everywhere. One day last week the battery died while I was at work and I felt so disconnected. I couldn’t even call my daughter when I needed to because her number is on speed dial – I don’t even know it!  Most folks text, take photos, play games, talk, use their calendar, consult the weather and look at late breaking news via their phones.  You could say we’re “plugged in”.  What would it be like to go a few days without it?  

Are you plugged in this morning? Are you in right connection with your Power Source? Are you seeking God daily for your necessary nourishment? Are you spending time with the One Who set the stars in orbit and gave you life? Unlike the cell phone’s apps, this life is no game.  Without the Lord’s Words, spoken sweetly to us during quiet times, we are totally disconnected from our spiritual source. We cannot hope to know what’s going on in the spirit realm without taking time to connect. 

While there are sun spots and dead zones and tower failures which may render our phones useless for a time, there’s never a time you cannot connect with the Lord. He’s always  there, always full of power, always available and always able to give you enough time to make the call to Him.

Oh beloved, run to the Lord this morning and read from His Wonderful Blessings for you! Put down the phones, turn off the tv and sit quietly in His presence. You will never be disappointed and you’ll never have to worry that the message won’t come through clearly.  He’s speaking to you already this morning as He says, Come to me, I know you labor and are heavy laden. I’ll give you the rest and renewal you so desire. I AM your true source of power! I will bless you as I pour My heart into your heart. I will renew your strength and give you all that you need for this life, for this day – and more…Blessings and honor come from Me alone.

You are loved, you are important and God’s line is never busy – you won’t ever have to leave a message. What a Savior. What a Father. What a Redeemer He is!

Psalm 119:114  You are my refuge and my shield; Your word is my source of hope.

2 Corinthians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.

Deuteronomy 8:18  Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful, in order to fulfill the covenant he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.

Psalm 63:1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 4:3 You can be sure of this: The Lord set apart the godly for Himself. The Lord will answer when I call to Him.

Frustrations? Run to the Lord Who Can Handle it For You.

Not long ago I found myself fuming about something. I can honestly say I don’t remember what it was, but I remember the outcome. It was a week that had been unusually tiring. By Friday, that tiredness was turning into frustration. I really didn’t think I could “get it all done”. I went out to the garage to move something.  And it didn’t want to move. So I moved some other things around. All the time I was talking to myself about my frustration. There was one more small object to move out of the way before I could move the bigger object and get to what I was after. I picked it up and tossed it out of the way. I didn’t become the Hulk, really! But everyone in my family knows that it’s quite dangerous when I throw!  My aim and my pitch never go in the same direction. So this small object hit a box and bounced back. Onto Danny’s motorcycle.  At this point I realized I was being ridiculous and I picked the small object up to move it, not throw it.

That is when I spied it. The tiny nick of paint on the fender of Danny’s motorcycle.

And then I heard the voice of my Lord say,

“Anger always causes damage”.

I know what you’re saying. “What, we’re never supposed to be angry?”  The problem with anger is not that we get angry, but what we do with that anger.  I talked to myself about it instead of the Lord.  I found an object to vent my anger on instead of asking God to remove it from me.  It was my focus that got me into trouble. Rather than focusing on God’s redeeming abilities, I focused on my frustrated weariness. But God in His beautiful loving ways, spoke oh so gently to me. God did not return anger, righteous indignation or punishment on me.  He just walked around the day with me watching over me, hoping to get a moment with me and then at just the right time, He taught me. In love.

Oh beloved! I know for some of you there are things going on in your life that seem insurmountable. You’ve hoped they would go away, but they’re still staring you square in the eye. You’re getting tired and you’re ready to do something about it – in your own strength. But there is One Who has promised to follow you all of your days. He wants to speak the loving truth into your life so that whatever comes you can lean on Him for His strength, His wisdom and His courage to do the right thing no matter what. He says to you, I love you. I’ve got this. I know you can’t handle anymore, so just give it to me. Let me take your frustrations and your fears and turn them into jewels of the faith for you. My exchange system will never cause damage and never bring regrets. But you’ll have to Trust Me. You can, you know, for My Name is Faithful and True. Lean on Me for your support and together we’ll go into the situation and I’ll make things beautiful in their time.

Hallelujah! What a Savior! Who takes our infirmities and heals our wounds and renews our spirits. All in love, because He promises to love us forever and be with us always. And that’s all that really matters.

Hebrews 10:35-36 So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you!  Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.

Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry (fret or fume) 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.

Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.

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.

You Will Find Your True Value in God's Word

I love definitions. I like to look up synonyms and antonyms. I guess you could say I love words. To me they paint pictures that the heart can see. Definitions are incredibly important.  Without the proper usage of words, we could accidentally hurt someone.  We might even hurt ourselves.  We’ve got to know the difference between acetaminophen and arsenic. One cures, one kills.   Once we know the truth about something, the real definition of it, we can use it properly and for its intended purpose. 

I know some of you are hurting this morning because of words. Someone has labeled you and struggle as you might to remove the moniker, it wants to stay firmly planted in your heart and mind. You may have heard it so long that you now believe it to be the truth. You may only have heard it once, oh so long ago, but it stuck. People may have harmed you by telling you lies about yourself. The enemy of our soul is the ultimate liar and he loves to whisper those lies into our hearts.  Words to discourage, tear down, destroy.  To make you feel unworthy, unloved, unimportant.

Oh beloved! Run to the Ultimate Book of Definitions and find your true value inside its cover! All of God’s Words will speak life into your body and beauty into your soul. They always lift you up, they always encourage you. They will bring improvement and restoration.  God says to you this morning, believe Me for I speak the Truth to you. It is MY definition of you that counts. If you will begin to live in the light of My Word, you will see yourself as I see you. Then you will be able to go out and share with others what their true definition is.  Seek My Face, listen to My Words and let Me love you! Together we can destroy speculations from the enemy of your soul so that you can truly live loved! I will always love you, I will always desire your best and I am always on your side!

Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the LORD always, for the LORD GOD is the eternal Rock.

John17:17 Sanctify them [purify, consecrate, separate them for Yourself, make them holy] by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. (Amplified)

2 Corinthians 10:5 We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ

2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

Deuteronomy  33:3 Indeed, He loves His people; all His holy ones are in His hands. They follow in His steps and accept His teaching.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.

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.

True Rest is Found in Christ.

It’s the week of the big move for one of our daughters and her family.  They didn’t have all their things moved the other night, so they stayed over with us. That night Blakely woke up disoriented and frustrated. When I got him a drink of milk and tried to take him back to our bed, he said “I want to sleep in my own bed”.  I thought it was cute and was going to take him to the extra room but he went back into my room. He refused to get in the bed though, and slept on the floor for a couple of hours. The next morning his mother told me she had asked him to lay down and that they would pick him up and put him in the new bed. He had gone to bed thinking he would wake up in his new room so he was of course disappointed.

No one wants to go to bed thinking something wonderful is going to happen only to wake up to disappointment, discouragement or a severe change of plans. While the adjustment can be hard, the Lord ultimately has good plans for you.

Oh beloved, is your mind reeling this morning?  Are the circumstances you are waking up to beyond your control? Maybe your heart is broken or your feelings are hurt.  You had a plan. You felt good. Things were looking up. You’d like to refuse to move on.  Never fear! Though your outward circumstances can change in an instant, your inward state of mind can remain steadfast, peaceful and calm.   Rejoice as you run to His Word and see that all He asks is for you to follow Him. That is where True Rest is found! He loves you and He has promised to be with you all the days of your life.

 

I Peter 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by His great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation!

Psalm 91:1 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 138:8  The LORD will work out His plans for my life— for Your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for You made me.

Psalm 112:17 They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.

Hebrews 6:19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary.

Mirror Mirror - Reflecting His Glory!

They’ve remade Snow White into a full length feature film. It’s just a little different from the original animated movie of the 30’s. The phrase, “Mirror, mirror on the wall…” comes to mind as the story revolves around the issues with Snow White's vain and wicked stepmother, the Queen, who feared that one day Snow White's beauty would surpass her own. Each day, the Queen consulted her magic mirror asking, "Magic Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?" As long as the Mirror answered, "You are the fairest one of all", Snow White was safe from her stepmother's cruel jealousy.   Every day the spirit says that the Queen is the fairest, and she is content, until the mirror informs her that Snow White has finally become the fairest in the land. Then the trouble really begins as the wicked hearted Queen begins to formulate plans for Snow White’s demise.  The Queen is hard hearted, jealous and self-centered. 

It is in the looking to ourselves for our worth that we find trouble. Just as the Queen consulted the mirror on the wall for her needs, we too may look in the mirror to see if we’re good enough, the best, most important. If we don’t deal with those issues, we may become obsessed with ourselves, absorbed with our own positions, and begin to see others as a rivalry.  The only way to deal with jealousy and selfish ambition is to look into the mirror of God’s Word as hear Him say “I AM the fairest of them all”.

Oh beloved, what do you see in the mirror? Your shortcomings, your problems, your ambitions?  Maybe there’s one who has given your heart such problems and you just want to walk away. Look again! See the mirror of His Word as He speaks life into your heart. He says to you this morning Look to Me for your worth! Look into the Mirror of my Word and see it’s all about My love for you and My plans for your life.  You are unique and no other can take your place, but all are welcome at My Table. Walk closely with Me and learn My ways so that you can begin to reflect Me not only in the mirror but in your life. Trust Me to work out issues in your life.  I love you more than you can imagine and I have a marvelous plan for you!

Just as Snow White triumphed in her innate goodness, so too we, who live according to His Word and for His glory will walk in triumph! God bless you as you seek to reflect Him Alone!

1 John 3:2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but He has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He really is.

2 Corinthians 3:18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image.

Romans 11:36 For everything comes from Him and exists by His power and is intended for His glory. All glory to Him forever!

Psalm 119:5 Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect Your decrees!

Colossians 3:10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like Him.

All of God's Promises Are True for You!

There was such a huge crowd in Fayetteville this past week-end. Walking together was a big deal too. There were so many people walking up and down the streets that you had to hang on tightly to stay together. Once our hands loosened and I found myself walking across the street alone. I felt a presence behind me and a real chill as I began to worry. Finally, I decided I’d just have to turn around and look. Thankfully Danny was catching up with me and grabbed my hand.  If someone else was following me, they were gone and I was thankful.

There is an enemy of our soul who wants to follow us everywhere we go. He’s called a “roaring lion” and is described as “seeking whom he may devour”. His character is described as crafty, shrewd and devious. He’s also good at being deceitful, falsehearted and lying. While this is not a full description it is sufficient to say he’s up to no good. He’s like the wolf in Red Riding Hood – dressed as grandmother but inside he’s still a wolf. He promises one thing but does another.

There is a Lover of our soul who promises to follow us everywhere we go. His character is Faithful and True.  What He promises He will do. And, all of His promises are exceedingly abundantly above all we could ask or think. We never have to look over our shoulder because goodness and mercy are following us. He is always seeking our good and His glory. He is like no other – He is the King of Glory!

Oh beloved, run to the Word this morning and read: all of God’s promises were written just for you! Learn all His promises, study all His precepts. Know that He is always with you, always for you and always watching out for you. He’ll never lead you wrong and He’ll always make things right for you. Even when the enemy tries to trick, deceive or lie, God is never going to leave you alone. I know it can feel like you are walking alone, it can feel like our soul is in danger and that problems will never cease. But the Lord says to you today Trust Me as I guide you into All Truth. Honor Me as I show you how to walk regardless of the circumstances. Love Me as I have loved you. All of My Kingdom is yours as you are my child – my heir.  Honor Me and I will honor you.

God knows your situation. He’s leading you through each one, He’s following you with blessings and He’s carrying you all the way to heaven! Hallelujah what a Savior, who loves you and is on your side and that’s truly all that matters!

Proverbs 29:25 “Fearing people is a dangerous trap, but trusting the LORD means safety.”

Psalm 95:7  for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the flock under His care. If only you would listen to His voice today!

Psalm 139:5  You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

2 Thessalonians 3:3  But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

Keep Asking - He Delights in You!

We will have new neighbors this week. The house across the street has been empty for several months now. It was full of life and fun just a year ago, before the owner’s wife passed away.  Then he moved back home to Tennessee.  It’s going to be nice to have someone in the house.  There’s more to that story…

I got some news recently that did not line up with what I’ve been praying. I was frustrated and hurt.  I thought I had seen signs of the prayers beginning to be answered, but with this recent turn of events I was floored.  In fact I was sure that God just wasn’t going to answer that particular prayer. 

I was sharing my dismay with the new neighbor, who just happens to be Stella’s mom and my daughter. She said, “I’ve got a devotional for you.” And this is what she related: “I prayed to get an opportunity to move to Arkadelphia.  All the time I griped daily. I would say to myself you’ll never get to move. Things will never change. Gripe,  complain, etc. But here we are moving into a big house with a great yard and two bathrooms.”  She continued, “God answered my prayers even though I was saying it just won’t happen. Even though I was complaining pretty much every day”.  Well? You guessed it.  I will continue to pray, no matter what my eyes see, no matter what the circumstances are. I know I am praying according to God’s will, so whatever comes I’ll keep praying.

Oh beloved, what have you been praying for? What is that heart’s desire that you just keep hoping for?  I want to encourage you this morning to keep asking, keep knocking, keep seeking! Don’t look to the circumstances or the situation, but look to the Lord! Remember that satan can throw roadblocks at you, things that seem to say there’s no hope, but he can’t stop God’s will.  There’s nothing God loves more than to answer His children with good and wonderful answers!   Press on to the One Who loves you; press in to the One Who delights in answering your prayers; press close to the One Who is for you. How blessed are you who speaks with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lord about all your troubles, trials, hopes, fears and desires – knowing He always answers in His time and right on time!

Psalm 6:9  The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer.

Psalm 118:21  I thank You for answering my prayer and giving me victory!

2 Corinthians 10:4  We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments.

Luke 11:9 And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.