Life is Fragile! Follow the Lord and Trust Him

As kids, both Danny and I participated in drills during the school day. Among them were the fire drill, tornado drills and even atomic bomb drills. We were urged to listen to our teacher and follow her instructions quickly and without questioning. After all we were preparing for a life and death situation. It was imperative that we obey in order to save our lives.  I can imagine that the teacher in Connecticut who saved the lives of her entire classroom must have urged the children to get into closets and cabinets quickly. Were they afraid? I’m sure. But they knew their teacher, that she could be trusted so they listened to her. She probably told them to be very quiet as well. Her quick thinking combined with their quick obedience saved their lives. The teacher, just like our teachers back then, shielded the lives of her students.  

While none of the drills I participated in as a child ever resulted in needing an escape or protection plan in real life, still I remember believing the teachers’ words without any desire to disobey.  For the fire drill, when she said “line up” we did! We wanted out of the building as quickly as possible. Out on the school yard we’d look around and see that the entire school was safe. 

We are a blessed people, those of us who have believed God and listened to His voice. We have said Yes, when He called and accepted the shield of faith that saves our lives, literally. The call to Christ is no fire drill, it’s real and the call to obey is urgent. Without a quick response to the Savior of the World, we won’t make it out alive. Today is all we have. Tomorrow may not come.  There are many dangers, toils and snares – each one designed to take our lives by keeping us from heaven. But God’s plan of Salvation is so simple that a child can follow it.

We are blessed as well because when our Lord says “line up” it’s in our best interests to do so. Sure, everybody’s doing their own thing, but God says to His children, “Line up according to My Word.”  It’s not a drill, it’s real life. And the only way you’ll be safe is to quickly obey the Master’s call. His Word is not meant to keep us bound but to set us free! True freedom is only found in putting our trust in One Who knows better than we do. He can be trusted and followed without question.

Oh beloved, life is so fragile! Are you listening to the Father’s voice? Are you handling your troubles, trials, sorrows and mourning with prayer? Are you giving your hopes and dreams to the One Who created you so that you can live a life without regrets? Are you sure in your heart that you can trust God, that even when bad things happen, you are safest in following Him closely and listening to every Word that proceeds from His mouth?  God freely offers you the blessing of heaven, but He wants to give you the blessing of obedience here and now as well. Won’t you run to Him this morning and take time to hear Him clearly? Before the noise of the day and the busy-ness of life drowns out His voice. His love is saying, “Here is the way” and His care is saying, “Safe are those who trust Me”.  Now that’s a God worth praising and following all the days of your life!

Luke 1:46-47,49 Mary responded, “Oh, how my soul praises the Lord. How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! For the Mighty One is holy, and He has done great things for me.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.  Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

Jeremiah 17:7 But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.

Deuteronomy 13:4  Serve only the LORD your God and fear Him alone. Obey His commands, listen to His voice, and cling to Him.

Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.

Psalm 16:11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever.

Let's Give Thanks to the Lord Above!

This week I had the wonderful opportunity to take one of my grandchildren to school. It’s always fun to have a morning with children for they find delight in just being with you. We looked at the heavy frost and he exclaimed that it looked like snow. He also knew where all the best Christmas lights were from home to school.  He wanted to sing Christmas songs too, so we found a radio station that was playing them and listened.  We even joined in as “Here Comes Santa Claus” was belted out by Gene Autry from 1947.  As I listened I heard lyrics I was not familiar with. The phrase, “Santa Claus knows we’re all God’s children – that makes everything right”. Wow. Then still listening I heard another phrase, “Peace on earth will come to all if we just follow the Light. So let’s give thanks to the Lord above, cause Santa Claus is coming tonight”.  I don’t ever remember singing those lyrics that included God in our celebrations. My daughter said she had asked me about the lyrics recently, but I guess until I listened myself without a lot of distractions I didn’t truly hear them.

We live in a world that is trying desperately to drown all sounds and sights of the Lord of Heaven and Earth from our midst. From manger scenes to songs of the season, God is ignored, despised, rejected and removed.  Not only at the holidays, but in everyday living as well God is relegated to the coffee table or the bookcase or the occasional Sunday morning. Perhaps like I forgot the lyrics to this song, you have forgotten the lyrics God spoke into your life. You may be trying to go it alone. You may have not realized when you walked away, but you certainly feel the pain of the loneliness of leaving Him out. It’s never too late to call out to God, for our country and for ourselves.  His hearts’ desire is that we return to our Creator with our whole hearts. You may hear a lot about God, but unless you listen personally, there are many distractions that are eager to lead you away from His presence.

Oh beloved, why not take a moment this morning to renew your fellowship with the One Who gave you life! You were no accident, you are no mistake, you are not a problem, neither are you unlovable. In His sight, you are precious, beautiful, worthy and a exquisite gift to this world. Hear Him calling you? Love songs in the air, sung by the Heavenly Host, are calling out to you today. Stop and rejoice in the Truth of your life – you are cherished, you are blessed, you are forgiven, you are ransomed, you have been made honorable and you are right in His sight. Now that’s worth giving thanks to the Lord above!

Joel 2:13 Rend your heart and not your garments.  Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and He relents from sending calamity.

I Peter 1:18-20 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom He paid was not mere gold or silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.  God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but He has now revealed Him to you in these last days.

Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 1:4 We know, dear brothers and sisters, that God loves you and has chosen you to be His own people.

Psalm 36:7 How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter
in the shadow of your wings.

I Corinthians 1:30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; He made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin.

God Sees the Redeemable in You!

I look at some of my old keepsakes and I realize they are falling apart. Little bits of ribbon are dangling and words are fading. Shiny adornments are coming loose and smudges of dirt and age abound. Anyone else would just throw the “junk” away. But it’s my junk and many of the pieces hold precious memories.

It’s amazing what a little craft glue will do.  The thick white substance has been around my family for more years than I’ve been alive. If you look closely at some of mother’s old knick knacks you’ll see faint lines of the stuff holding things back together.  Whoever invented the stuff did a good thing. Otherwise many a craft and memory would be thrown away.

Our lives are a lot like knick knacks. Some of us are pretty worn out for the wear. Our hearts have grown weary and our emotions are tattered messes. We long for the days when we felt and looked fresh and clean, without a chip or blemish. We long for things to be put back together and as much as we try, nothing seems to work. Someone might look at one of us and say, “Nope, no good, let’s pitch ‘em”. No redeemable value, not even enough for a garage sale.

But God sees the redeemable in us. He looks beyond the tatters and worn spots. Unlike repairs on dainty ornaments or knick knacks, which only make things look more like the original, God wants to take your life and make it completely restored and different! He looks deep into the heart of things and finds us fit for His mantel shelf. His desire is to take us, polish us up, make us new and show us off for eternity.

Oh beloved, if you’re feeling a little forlorn and useless this day, run to Jesus! He is the fixer of broken hearts and broken lives. He can and will take everything that’s wrong about you and about your life and make it new again! He is truly the glue that will put your heart and life together again. No matter if you feel you are dangling at the edge of the trash bin, He will take everything about you and make you renewed!  Give the pieces of your life to Him. His promises are promises, unlike the world’s promises which are subject to change, emotion, personality or economy, God’s promises are REAL! He loves you, precious one, and He calls you to come to His repair shop and let Him work it all out for your good and His glory! Now that’s worth praising His name!

Revelation 21:5 And He Who is seated on the throne said, See! I make all things new. Also He said, Record this, for these sayings are faithful (accurate, incorruptible, and trustworthy) and true (genuine).        (AMP)

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.      (AMP)

Ephesians 1:4 Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.

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

Psalm 71:22  Then I will praise you with music on the harp, because you are faithful to your promises, O my God. I will sing praises to you with a lyre, O Holy One of Israel.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22 It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and He has identified us as His own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything He has promised us.

You Can Have it All This Christmas!

Each year I work hard to make sure at least one present under the tree is something that the recipient really wants. I want them to be excited when they open the package. I want them to ooh and ahh and show delight in the contents.  While it may be something they “need”, still I want it to be fun.  While it may be something they asked for, still I want them to be surprised. My desire is to bless them. One of my grandsons asked me to open the presents now – why wait? Indeed, the expectancy of the looks on one anothers’ faces at the tree makes me all the more eager to participate in the gift exchange. Sometimes I wrap the presents and think that later I’ll get around to putting labels on them. This is a big mistake because I might forget, and have in the past, what was in the package and who it was for. So I’ve found myself opening the occasional package to remember.  Other times we adults have gotten tickled as little ones open packages and spend their time playing with the box, totally ignoring the gift that was inside!  

I know that Christmas isn’t always everything it’s cracked up to be. There are the issues of living life in a fallen world. There may be sorrowful things in your life. Adult children living away from God’s will, family members in failing health, jobs that no longer bring meaning, bills that keep piling up, spouses that grow cold and indifferent. Hurts and agonies and frustrations run rampant, it seems maybe even more so during this season. Christmas may not hold all the wonder it used to, but isn’t there something redeemable in this season turned so commercial? Isn’t there somewhere in the recesses of our hearts that we humans can find solace and hope and wonder again?

Maybe it’s time to put down the wrapping paper and the ribbons. Lay aside the long to-do list. Put aside the pile of bills for just a moment and ponder again the wonder of all that we can find in the Christ Child. All our hopes and dreams begin and end in Him and if we let Him, He will make not only Christmas, but every day a blessing in Him.   

Oh beloved, run to your Savior! He’s calling you so gently, so lovingly, so earnestly! It’s imperative that you rest in the love of Immanuel, for He is God with us! In this world you may find starkness and sorrow and little or no fulfillment, but in Him…. In Him  you will find all your hearts’ desires realized. In Him you will find all the comfort you could ever ask for. In Him you have rest for your weary heart, peace for your worried soul and joy for your sorrowing mind.  In Jesus, God will meet our every need, through Jesus we will be given every provision, and from Jesus we will receive every blessing God can give.

He says to you this morning, I AM your source of Light in a dark world. I AM your source of blessing in a world full of curses, I AM your provision in a world that is meeting less and less of your needs. From Me, in Me, all that you need is found. Rest in Me, rejoice in Me, for I AM all you will ever need and more.

While you may not find all you need under your tree, in your home, at your office or in your relationships, IN CHRIST you have it all! Now isn’t that worth celebrating and giving God the glory! Thank Him this morning as you rehearse all that you are in Him for He loves you extravagantly and He’s for you eternally! Wow, Immanuel, God with us – what a Savior, what a King, what a Love!

Colossians 2:9-10 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

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 Corinthians 4:6 For it is God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Psalm 130:7  O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is unfailing love. His redemption overflows.

Lamentations 3:24  I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

You are a Child of God! Rejoice in Anticipation!

Have you noticed how kids are always full of anticipation? They get excited about going outside, playing in the yard, taking a bath, going to school and more. At Christmas they generally don’t care so much about what they get as the anticipation of the gift itself – just watching a child open a gift is a wonder to behold. They anticipate Santa coming, grandparents visiting, and playing with cousins. Everything they do is covered by anticipation. Don’t believe me? Rake leaves with kids. Watch how they look with delight at the pile of leaves as they dive into it. As the saying goes, “Oh to be a kid again!”

Our adult lives are full of duties and plans. We really don’t have a lot of time to “waste”. We’re busy, busy, busy.  Get things done. Move on. Hurry, rush, and keep our minds on our tasks. If we’re not careful we’ll find ourselves no longer enjoying life, but simply going through the motions. Perhaps you’re thinking, what is there to enjoy? What is there to look forward to? What is good about this life with all its problems, troubles and sorrows? How do I celebrate when there’s nothing about my life worth celebrating!

Oh beloved! It’s time to take a moment to remember - you are a child – you are His child if you have given your heart to Him. Just like Christmas, life itself is about the heart! Let Him give you a fresh look at everyday life. Let Him put the sparkle back in your eyes. Let Him become Everything for you! With Christ, every day should be anticipated for His Word, for His Spirit, for His incredible care. His desire is that you deck the halls of your heart with His Joy! Hang the tinsel of His Blessings! His Love and Peace is yours by birthright as a child of the King! No matter what your day looks like, no matter the sorrow in your world or the world around you, there is Strength for today and bright Hope for tomorrow. He loves you Extravagantly and He’s with you Eternally! What else really matters?

 

I John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.

2 Peter 3:13  But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.

2 Corinthians 6:10  Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

Nehemiah 8:10b … Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the LORD is your strength!”

2 Peter 2:2-3 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,  now that you have had a taste of the Lord’s kindness.

Psalm 21:6  You have endowed him with eternal blessings and given him the joy of your presence.

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.”

Reflect His Glory by Abiding in Him

When Danny brought our live tree into the house it was wrapped up tight so that the limbs wouldn’t get broken during travel from the tree farm to the store.  That made it easy to manage from the store to the house as well. But once inside that tree needed to have its bindings removed.  By the time I got home, the tree was looking quite full.

Danny had cut the binding loose, sat the tree in a reservoir stand and positioned it just right.  Throughout the day he had poured water into the reservoir – several gallons by that evening. The tree was not only bound up, it was thirsty. As it took in water it also began to branch out, and display its true splendor.  We thought it looked like a good tree with a straight strong trunk, but you never know how it will look once you get it home.  This tree was beautiful. The care we are giving it, fresh water daily and vacuuming up any needles around, decking it out with all our finest decorations, has given it a truly regal look.

We’re a lot like a store bought Christmas tree. For many, days are spent going from one destination to another. There are ballgames, piano lessons, homework, office management, car repair, vacuuming, dusting, washing, and more. There are issues and problems everywhere. Misunderstandings, misgivings, misappropriations, mistakes and more. More bills, more broken things needing fixed. We find ourselves being tossed around as we go from one problem to another, one appointment to another, one destination to another. Before you know it, we can be bound up as tightly as that Christmas tree. 

But when we come into the house of the Lord, into the presence of Jesus, we begin to unwind. He takes our bound up lives and begins to remove those things that have us so bound up. Just as He laid aside the grave clothes, we too are able to lay aside those things that bind us.  He also gives us living water so that we never have to thirst again, even in the dry days of disappointment or discouragement.  He sets us securely in His Word so that our reservoir of living water never goes dry.

Oh beloved, let God take you into His presence! Let Him lovingly apply the Word to your life so that you can move freely and show all the splendor a child of God can show! You were meant to be lovingly displayed as His precious possession. You were meant to live a full and beautiful life.  All you have to do is let God take the bindings from your heart and life. Let Him love you as you were meant to be loved. Let Him feed you and care for you as only He can. What wondrous love is this that the Lord of Heaven and Earth has picked you and set you securely in His Presence to show His glory all the days of your life! What absolute care is yours as He is your Caretaker. He will never grow tired of you, you will never dry up and be thrown away! For His care is Eternal! You are His beloved and His love and care is your path to true beauty and true rest. Rejoice!

Deuteronomy 14:2 You have been set apart as holy to the LORD your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.

Psalm 94:18 I cried out, "I am slipping!" but Your unfailing love, O LORD, supported me.

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.

Isaiah 41:9 I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, 'You are my servant.' For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.

Psalm 92:12 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.

Psalm 73: 23-25, 28 Yet I still belong to You; You hold my right hand.  You guide me with Your counsel, leading me to a glorious destiny. Whom have I in heaven but You? But as for me, how good it is to be near God! I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter, and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things You do.

Ready for a Wonderful Gift Exchange? It's Out of This World!

We’ve already been to a couple of Christmas parties. Most of them involved bringing a gift to exchange. Sometimes during these events there’s even the opportunity to swipe someone’s present if you get a chance.  You never know what you’ll come home with, but there’s always the high hopes that you’ll like what you get.  The fellowship and the food are always great as well. With our busy lives, it’s not often that people get to sit together and just visit. Getting a gift as well makes for even more blessings!

There will be gifts to open on Christmas eve or Christmas morning as well in most homes. From the smallest child to the oldest family or friend, everyone wonders what’s in their package. Everyone gets excited as they pull out the contents and everyone oohs and ahhs over each one. Sometimes though the gift may fail to hit the mark. It could be the wrong color or not fit just right.  With most gifts, if there’s something not right the recipient can go to the store and exchange it for a better fit. Occasionally someone will even exchange a gift they received that they just don’t want for a gift that they do want or that fits their personality or size better.

Are you wondering what you’re going to get this year under the tree? Are you concerned that past disappointments make you wonder if it might be right this time? Have you dropped hints, left notes, pointed things out and still hoping someone will take your hint and purchase that much desired gift?

Maybe you’re wishing you could exchange some of the mistakes, problems, troubles, hurts, issues or more. You’ve tried to fix things. You’ve worked hard to relieve yourself of your burdens, but you just can’t seem to get past it. The enemy of your soul has tried to gift you with boxes full of failure, disappointment, and Unforgiveness.  You’re left with an empty heart as you try to stuff the junk in a box and put it in the closet of your life, hoping that bad gift will just go away.

Rejoice! This Holy Season holds more promise than you could ever believe! With the Gift of Christ in our lives, there is much to receive and much to cherish! Every gift from God is good!  He never holds back, He never takes back, He never marks you off His list! For the child of God every day is Christmas! Listen as He shows you His magnificent gift package. He exchanges everything we’ve never wanted and even tried to get rid of on our own for His magnificent gifts!

We exchange our sins for His mercy! We exchange our filthy rags for his righteousness! We exchange our self-will for His will!

Oh beloved! Run to the Greatest Present ever given and give Him your life fresh and new! He promises to withhold nothing from you! He promises to make all His wonderful gifts available to you! He promises to exchange every heartache, every pain, every hurt, every mistake and give you something wonderful instead! He holds nothing back because He loves you! He gives Himself to you because He cares for you! Now that’s worth celebrating Christmas every day!

Romans 5:15  But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:1  As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.

Psalm 16:12 I said to the LORD, “You are my Master! Every good thing I have comes from you.”

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.

A Life in Christ is Beautifully Decorated!

A couple of nights ago I posted a photo of Stella on facebook looking intently at our Christmas tree. She had come over to visit for a couple of hours. She was actually asleep when her mom brought her, but as soon as they got out of the driveway Stella was up! As usual, when she enters our living room she begins, “Woo! Woo!” She LIKES our tree! Diona says she doesn’t mess with theirs, but for some reason she just can’t keep her hands off of the tree at our house.

Someone commented on the photo, “Don’t you wonder what’s on her mind?” So now you get the rest of the story.  Stella had gone to the tree, over on the back side so I couldn’t see her.  But I could hear her talking to it. So I said very quietly, “no no”. She came around the tree a few steps and stopped again, putting her hand out, talking quietly to herself and then looking at me.  She inched around the huge base of the tree and with every few steps, she repeated the motions of talking, wanting to touch, me saying “no no” and her putting her hand down. 

By the time the photo was taken she was intently spying a little wooden soldier hanging from a lowest branch. She kept looking towards me, but finally she could no longer resist and she quickly plucked the soldier from the tree.  I no longer wanted to say “no no”, so I watched as she turned it around in her tiny little hands and talked to it. Content that she had finally got to touch the tree, she laid him down and walked away to play elsewhere. She was happy that she had experienced what she so wanted!

We raise our children so well on “no” that there are even manufactured t-shirts that state “My Name is Not No No!”  It’s not our intention to squelch the wonder and miracle of those first exciting experiences, but we have to keep order and we really do. We can’t just let them tear up things. Without order there’s chaos. But watching Stella first go around the tree, talk to herself about it, reach out tentatively and then touch the tree, ever so gently, to pluck that soldier from its boughs reminds me.

This reminds me of that first touch of Christ on my life. I knew I was forever changed. I knew things were going to be different. I also knew that I had wanted order and neatness in my life.  Touching Christ was messy. It was going to shake up my world. Not everyone would understand this newfound love of my life. Not everyone would want to tag along or experience Him with me. I even heard a few “no no’s”.

Oh beloved, as you wake up this morning I pray that you will let yourself go and let yourself experience fully ALL that is offered from God through Christ! Just as the splendor of Christmas trees are decked out all around us, a life in Christ is a decorated life like no other, with the light of life shining out for all to see and be drawn to. He is the light of the world! He is the Creator of the Universe! He is the giver of the blessings! All of it is for you! Go ahead, reach out and touch Him for He is risen and He is calling you. He always calls you with love, He never says no, don’t touch Me for He delights in even a touch of the hem of His garment! He knows you because He created you to be a shining example of His glorious mercy and grace. He’s for you and He created you to be a living illustration of His wonderful blessings and care. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Ephesians 4:24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.

John 1:16 For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift. (Amplified)

Psalm 4:7 You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

John 16:24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using My Name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

Ephesians 3:19-21 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen

You were Born to Be Wild ---About Jesus!

A few years back Kerry Gibson, who was our CMA evangelist at the time, sent out an email to members. The request was to pick a song for the state coordinator and each area rep to sing, in front of everyone, during our state rally! Folks had a blast picking out the songs. I still see George singing, “They’re gonna put me in the movies…”

The song they picked for Danny to sing was “Born to be Wild!”  When Danny got up on stage to sing his rendition karaoke style, he pulled out all the stops. He played an air guitar as though he’d always been playing! He threw his long hair around and danced across the stage. It was spectacular and the crowd went wild. Danny’s enthusiasm for the song caused the crowd to become enthusiastic and thoroughly enjoy the fun.  Kerry had sent out a request that promised to create a fun atmosphere, Danny got enthusiastic about the request which in turn gave the members a good time and the rest is history.

We are in fact, born to be wild! Jesus’ whole life was wild! This walk of faith is WILD! It’s beyond our wildest imaginations. We’re like careful little librarians, born into a boring little life and BOOM! We’re born again and translated from ordinary into extraordinary. Taken from guarded to wide open.  We once were part of a safe, sane, sensible life, doing what we know to do. Suddenly we’re taken out of the life of normalcy and plunked into the wild times of God, The Creator of Heaven and Earth! His creative power pours into our hearts and we are forever changed.

Sometimes we forget our birthright. We get tired, or we get offended, or we get hurt. We look around and the crowd recedes and we think we are on stage alone. So we walk away. We attempt to go back to what we knew. After all, this wild life with Jesus is daring, adventurous, unimaginable and not so secure in and of itself. At least when we were living our own life we knew what was going to happen. We’re tired so we think it’s time to rest. We’re alone, so we think it’s time to retreat. We’re vulnerable so we go find a safe place.

The problem with going back is that we are not who we were. So when we attempt to go back to what we used to do we don’t find the same wellbeing and pleasure we once did. Because we were born again, to be wild! Wild about Jesus! Wild about the Gospel! Wild about our faith, our family, our friends! Wild about our freedom to be all He asks us to be and more!

Oh beloved, run to the Word of God and read! He’s wild about you. He’s wild about blessing your life. He’s wild about walking you through every problem, every trial, every heartache, every sorrow. He wants to go with you everywhere and He wants you to go with Him all the way to heaven! He wants to take you in His arms and dance with you across the stage of your life. Without Him things might look safer, but in reality it’s not. But with Him, life will be daring, adventurous, purposeful and heavenly! Let Him love you and let Him care for you all the way to heaven! For beloved, you were born to be wild about Him!

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, I AM the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on) Me, although he may die, yet he shall live;” Amplified Bible

Psalm 103:1 Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

Jeremiah 24:7  I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

Psalm 70:4  Let all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, “Let God be magnified.”

Isaiah 63:9  In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.

Psalm 27:4  One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD And to meditate in His temple.

Psalm 103:1 Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.

In His Presence is Peace!

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love the reds, browns and golds of the season. I can observe the beautiful leaves as I drive onto our street, with the large oak trees lining the lawns, including ours. Each day I’ve noticed how the colors get more and more vivid. From the green hues of summer to pale yellows of early fall to the brightest autumn colors. Oak and sweet gum leaves are aflame with color.  The view is always so nice.

As I drove into our street yesterday afternoon I was surprised to notice a big change in the view. Ankle deep leaves now line the street while most of the trees are pretty bare. The season has changed again and it’s beginning to look like winter. The stark reality was colder and less welcoming. I remembered that my home was filled with light and warmth and color. I couldn’t wait to get inside and gaze at our lovely Christmas tree and rest.

Life can change in an instant, just like the seasons. One day you’re enjoying the beautiful view and all is well. The next day things can change. The outlook can go from pleasant and enjoyable to stark and cold in the blink of an eye. Outside there are troubles, dangers, temptations, and more. Hurts and anguish can totally replace the warmth of former days. Our reliance on the world around us becomes very apparent when it all goes south. That’s when we long for the warm fire of our home and the familiar smells and sights that bring us great comfort.

God spoke to my heart. The Christian life has seasons as well. When life goes into winter mode and we find nothing pleasant in the view and our hearts are cold from the troubles, we seek for solace somewhere. As soon as we go into the house of God, into His presence, we are relieved. Things outside of His presence may not change quickly or ever, but God’s presence is the only thing we really need to fulfill the longing of our hearts. His warmth is ever present, His truth is full of the colors of His personality and essence and we find that in basking in Him we are not only revived, we are strengthened for the next day.

Oh beloved, run to the Lord! Rest in His promises! Seek out His loving presence. He’s calling you to come in out of the weather and sit with Him. Relax in all that He is. He is greater than your troubled world, He is full of warmth. All you need, absolutely everything, is met in Him. It may be winter in your life, but in His presence it’s lovely!  Gaze into His Wonderful Face and rest in Him. His love will warm you all the days of your life and His comfort and care will cause you to forget your surroundings as you concentrate totally on Him.  He takes your ordinary problem filled days and makes them Holy as He consecrates your life to Himself! Thank Him today for He is your refuge and source of blessings always.

Psalm 43:3-5 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.  There I will go to the altar of God. To God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!   Why am I discouraged?  Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God!  I will praise Him again— my Savior and my God!

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.

Psalm 31:20 You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them. You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.

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

Jesus is the Greatest Gift!

 Not all of my presents are under the tree. Some are still in the store. I am reminded of the old shows where the boy is peering through the Christmas store window at the red wagon. Others are hidden in strategic locations, waiting for wrapping and bows. I’ll admit I’m a Christmas junky. Nothing does my heart better than sitting in the early morning watching the Christmas tree. I love presents! The more the merrier! They don’t have to be expensive. It’s the surprise I enjoy the most. I love the look of wonder on my grandchildren’s faces as they open each package. I especially relish Danny opening his packages. Finding just the right gift for the love of my life is important to me. His response makes me so happy! Gifts are a wonderful expression of love.

God is the best gift Giver ever! As we peer into the window of the Word we are filled with delight at all the splendid gifts available to us who are believers! Jesus, God’s very best gift to us, is the greatest gift ever given. Because of this incredibly gracious and merciful gift, nothing we could warrant on our own, we have more incredible gifts.  Whatever your need, God has gifted it to you through His Son, The Savior of the World.

I know every day doesn’t feel like Christmas.  There are hurts and anxieties and troubles and arguments and oh so much more. There may be more month at the end of the money. There are uncertainties in this world. Things and people you may have counted on may be no longer available.  If we focus on those things, we won’t be able to receive gifts that we need from the Lord. Everything you and I need, dear hearts, is found in Him.

Oh beloved, snuggle up with the Lord! Feel the warmth of the fire of His love! Feel the comfort of His beautiful blanket of care! Drink freely of the cup of His anointing and let it wash over you. His Word says you are lovely. His Word says you are worthy. His Word says you are justified freely.  His gift of Salvation makes you totally justified. His gift of the Holy Spirit sets you apart for Him and the gift of His Word will help you live a life without regrets and full of His wisdom. And the gift of Heaven promises you eternal life in His Magnificent presence! Oh how He loves you! Oh how He’s for you! Oh what a Savior!

Romans 5:15-17 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ.  And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins.  For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

James 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. (NAS)

2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

 

 

Don't Feel LIke Singing? Then Rejoice in Him!

Some of our past Christmas photos aren’t so hot. LOL! Old cameras or film left in a drawer for too long make for foggy results. Sometimes the kiddos wouldn’t stay still so we’ve got phantoms running through the picture! We were celebrating and having the best time, but you wouldn’t know it by the photos.  Then there are the shots with heads cut off, the missing person picture shots and the not so flattering results! The photos may look chaotic even when the actual event was serene and wonderful!  The view from our eyes may be beautiful, colorful and rich, but cameras don’t always return what we see with our hearts. Yet photos will continue to be taken so that we can somehow capture the few great moments of love and laughter! These photos serve as memories of the celebration we had!

Our hearts take snapshots as well. Most of the time our memory shots are wonderful! Parents laughing with each other, husbands sneaking bites of specialty cooked delicacies, children sneaking candy canes off the tree. Looking through our hearts’ picture album may bring more precious memories of cousins and Santa and presents and more.

For some though, the images aren’t so great. This year may be a time of mourning for recent loss or a time of sorrow because of current discord. Things don’t always go well in families. People don’t always behave and not everyone is sweetness and light. Troubles abound, even at Christmas, even during celebrations. Spouses walk away, loved ones go to heaven and children don’t act like “their raising”!

Our photos may indeed reveal that our lives can be a lot like a shabby chic Christmas! Lots of things going on, lots of different textures and styles all jumbled together.  If you only look through the lens of the camera you may find more shabby than chic.

All things in my life aren’t like I want them and I bet it’s the same with you.  I’m going to celebrate anyway! I’ll celebrate the joys because they are gifts from God. I’ll celebrate in spite of the hurts because they are stepping stones to stronger faith! I’ll celebrate regardless of the disappointments because they are the path to His appointments! I’ll celebrate even in my loss because I count it all loss to gain Christ! 

Oh beloved, do you hear the sounds of rejoicing in the background of your life? It’s Father God and His Heavenly Host rejoicing and celebrating! They are rejoicing in you! They are celebrating your life! For you are an overcomer, you are victorious, you are the joy of Almighty God’s heart! Celebrate with the Lord Himself for He says to you this morning “Look up! It’s time to rejoice in Me. I AM your celebration, I AM your cause for singing, I AM your reason for living.  I have loved you forever and My plans for you are to celebrate all that you are In Me.  Look at My Photo Album, the Word of God, and see how I feel about you, see how I plan good things for you and see how I can take all the smiles, the tears, the laughter and the mourning and put it altogether for your good and My Glory! I AM your answer to today’s problems, I AM your reason for bright hopes for tomorrow. Only Trust Me – for I AM your God and there is none like Me. I Love you and I AM on your side always, from Christmas to the end of the age.

Psalm 135:3  Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; celebrate His lovely name with music.

1 Chronicles 16:10  Exult in His holy name; rejoice, you who worship the LORD.

Psalm 33:21  In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.

Psalm 68:3  But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.

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

Habakkuk 3:18  yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

Romans 12:12  Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

Philippians 4:4  Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!

God's Love is Your Perfect Christmas Gift!

A Charlie Brown Christmas came to mind last night as I read a friend’s post.

In A Charlie Brown Christmas, everyone who’s ever seen the little 30 minute kid’s movie knows that Charlie Brown’s tree was absolutely pitiful! It was almost completely bare of needles and the top looked broken and bent. Now this tree was once a much better specimen. It started out like most trees. Growing in a tree farm, it was cared for lovingly. Fertilizer in the spring so the needs would be deep green and the limbs remain healthy. Mowing underneath all year long so that weeds and vines wouldn’t encroach. Trimming ever so carefully by the skillful hands of the tree farmer, just so. Not too much removed, but just enough to make the little tree and all the other trees in the farm stand perfectly and become full and robust.

Once the tree was cut and removed from the farm it was destined for someone’s home. But there are many variables in the life of a Christmas tree – from the farm to the store to the home. The little tree of Charlie Brown’s evidently had it pretty rough. First, with lack of natural water the needles got dry and ginger. The liveliness of the tree began to wane. Then the winds came and the trunk became bent underneath the trauma. Finally, after being thrown from truck to yard it had all the effects of mistreatment. After all, once at the store, trees are just mean to be a cash crop. No real care given to any of them.

Charlie Brown’s tree was not met with enthusiasm. In fact it was a cause for derision and great laughter. But somehow Charlie Brown saw something important in that little wisp of a tree. And, when he got at his lowest point, his friend Linus came to his rescue. Linus did not offer him more money to get a better tree. He didn’t offer to discard the tree for him. He didn’t try to make the tree better by adding to it. He didn’t even try to convince Charlie Brown that he was okay, did the right thing or any such advice or help.

Instead, Linus did the only thing that would truly help. The only thing that a true friend could do. He pointed Charlie Brown to the real meaning of Christmas.   

Linus states he can tell him, and recites the second chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 8 through 14: “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men.'" Linus finished by saying, "...And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown."

Which takes me back to my friend’s post, reminding me that when we point one another to the real meaning of not only Christmas, but life itself, we have done well. When we share the TRUTH about God and His wonderful, magnificent, astounding, unending, eternal, everlasting, perfect love for each and every one of us, we have done our part to take that friend out of the elements of life and into the warmth and caring of Almighty God. As we give out the living water and they take it in, things change. Attitudes change. Hearts change. Lives change.

Oh beloved, are you absolutely sure that you understand that God loves you? That you are truly indeed His beloved? And, because you are His beloved, you can look past the forlorn elements of your life to the Living Gospel and see! Rest beneath the promises of God! Rest under the shade of the Mighty Living Lord! Hear Him calling you? Yes, you. He always says Beloved, and if you ever hear words that don’t speak love and tenderness, you are not hearing from the Lord!

Run to His Word this morning and ask Him to make it real to you. The enemy of your soul wants you to believe his lies and he has been formulating them for a very long time. However, the Savior and Lover of your soul formulated His love songs to you before the foundation of the World! He is Loyal, Faithful and True! And His love was created just for you! Let His living water revive you. Let His constant care and tender pruning make you what you could never hope to be on your own. Rejoice as He speaks His love song into your heart singing “I love you, I’m for you, I will deliver you and heal you and keep you forever with me!” What wondrous love is this, oh my soul, oh my soul!

Psalm 31:7  I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil—for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep. (AMP)

John 15:9 I have loved you even as the Father has loved Me. Remain in My love.

Ephesians 6:11  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

John 8:44 b  …(satan) was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Romans 8:37-38 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. 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.

 

 

 

 

It's Christmas! Be a Kid! The Most High God is your Father!

Our grandson Blake spent Friday night with us. It was his plan to help decorate our Christmas tree and the house. He was a great help! I told him we’d have to be careful with the ornaments because some of them were very old and fragile.  He’d gingerly remove one from the box and ask me if it was one of those special ornaments. Those go up high so that little sister and brother fingers can’t reach them! By the time Popaw had returned from the store with more Christmas lights, 500 to be exact, Blake was beside himself with excitement. We keep our ornaments and other decorations in plastic tubs and he could not rest until the tubs were empty. He even wanted to put the forlorn dozen antique Santas on the tree! I finally convinced him to put those back in the tub.

When Blake’s mom came over to look at everything, she was holding Stella, who immediately started saying “ooooh” and “wow”!  She was ecstatic! Caleb was excited too because he loves the musical bears and snowmen we have around the house. He’d push the button, hear the song start up and exclaim, “It’s working!”  Nothing is more wonderful than sharing Christmas memories and traditions with grandchildren!

There's no pretense with grandchildren. They just love tell you their innermost feelings, they believe you completely and they abandon themselves for the joy of your presence! It’s so sad that when kids grow up they take on the grown up world of suspicion and cynicism.  Children don’t look for hidden motives or intentions. They just love you and believe you and have a blast with you!

Maybe you’re a cynic. You scoff at heartfelt sentiments. You laugh at tender-hearted conversations. You’ve looked under Santa’s beard and you know the truth. Tender memories are for kids. A cynic’s outlook is scornful and habitually negative. Maybe you’ve become a realist. You know things were great as a kid, with all the mystery and wonder of the holidays, but really, there’s no need for that anymore. You’re very practical and stoic. Perhaps you’ve let yourself become suspicious. You’ve become one who doubts others’ motivation and thinking. You think something fishy is going on and everything around you, everyone around you, has become questionable, unreliable and shady. After all you just can’t trust people anymore.

Oh beloved, it’s Christmas! Time to be a child again! It’s time to leave behind fleshly thinking! It’s time to take pleasure again in the delicate, fragile and heartfelt moments of the Season! Be a kid! Have a blast! Enjoy the past, relish today and let yourself have bright hopes for tomorrow! It will be okay because the Lord Himself is with you! Tell Him your innermost feelings for He is waiting to hear and always listens! Believe Him completely for He is Faithful and True!  Abandon yourself to Him for He is Ever Present and Always Reliable!

He’s speaking to your heart this morning. He says to you “I love you! I was born to give you life and give it to you lavishly, abundantly, without reservation and with no hidden motives. You are Mine and I am yours. I AM the gift of your wildest dreams, I AM the answer to your deepest problems, I AM your Abba Father, so you can relax and be My child! It’s Christmas! Won’t you let Me take you into my heart and arms and show you what Christmas is all about? I AM the Reason for the Season and I AM able to make you feel with your heart, trust with your mind and let yourself go for the joy of the moment! Trust Me for I AM Faithful and True! Enjoy the Season for I AM able to make all things work out for you. Together you and I can have the Best Christmas Ever! Why? Because I love you and I’m for you and you can see that all the way from the Manger to the Resurrection. What else could you possibly need?

Galatians 4:6  And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”

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.

I Timothy 6:17b “…trust in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy (KJV)

Ephesians 3:6  And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

Psalm 31:19  How great is the goodness You have stored up for those who fear You. You lavish it on those who come to You for protection, blessing them before the watching world.

Matthew 18:3 And said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent (change, turn about) and become like little children [trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving], you can never enter the kingdom of heaven [at all]. (AMP)

Rejoice and Follow the Star!

Who Are You Following? God Leads His Redeemed!

The ornaments went on the tree last night. Among them are a rag tag angel from 1956, a plastic Rudolph from 1957, ornaments from each year our children were born, a key ornament given to us from my mother the year we bought the house we live in, motorcycles of all varieties, birds, crosses and more.  Each one is significant in that it holds a special memory in my heart.   Occasionally I’d just like to start from scratch, do something different, make a new memory and decorate the tree totally different. But each year I mention it, someone will invariably say, “Noooo, we have to have it the way we always have!” I understand. I want things to be the way they were when my kids were little. When they just believed what we told them, knew we were right and followed along willingly. We can’t take credit for it, because we didn’t choose Him, He chose us. But we have chosen to follow God, imperfect though we may be - we have chosen to follow Perfection. 

There’s a lot you can follow in this world. You can follow the headlines. Follow the stock market. Follow cattle and timber prices. Follow Paula Deen, Martha Stewart, actors, singers and more. You can follow your own instincts, follow your heart, follow your dreams. You can follow the flesh, follow your cravings, follow the crowd. Everything you follow will end up somewhere. Every person you follow you will end up being taken to an undisclosed destination.  That is until you arrive. Do you know where you’re going?

The wise men followed the Star. They looked up into the sky and set their eyes on that one thing and let it guide them to their destination. Maybe their motives weren’t that pure, after all they were sent by Herod to spy things out for him. Why indeed would a King of his stature be worried about a baby born in Bethlehem? 

We follow Christ all the way. From the Babe in a manger to the Teacher on the hillside, to the Crucified on Golgotha’s hill. But we don’t leave Him in the manger… We follow His beatitudes but we don’t call him Teacher… We follow the cross, but He’s not dead….We follow Him past the grave for He is Risen…we follow the eastern sky…for we look for His return.

Oh beloved! Who are you following and where do you want to go? If you are looking for a different destination then you’ll have to change your course. Follow Christ! Perhaps you have a loved one or loved ones who are following things that will hurt them, destroy them, or take them where they don’t need to go. Pray for them to follow Christ! Keep praying, keep seeking, keep asking! For Christ Himself has promised He will answer when we call! No one else may believe that God will answer, but you can be assured that when the course is changed the destination will be changed as well.  

He says to you this morning, Behold I AM the One Who is Risen and Coming Again for you and for all who put their trust in Me! Look for Me in every aspect of your life! Watch for Me in every situation of your life! Rest in Me for every heartache and pain in your life. Look up! As you follow Me with your whole heart I will show you great and magnificent things you have only longed for and dreamed of!  You may not have seen all the answers to your prayers yet, but I AM the One Who hears you, Who answers you and Who blesses your life. Every one of my Promises is truer than the stars in the sky and the moon in its orbit. Nothing is too difficult for Me. Follow Me and together we will redecorate your life for My glory! I love you and I AM for you and on that you can depend.

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.”

2 Peter 1:19 Because of that experience, we have even greater confidence in the message proclaimed by the prophets. You must pay close attention to what they wrote, for their words are like a lamp shining in a dark place—until the Day dawns, and Christ the Morning Star shines in your hearts.

I Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.

Colossians 1:3 We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Exodus 15:13 With Your unfailing love you lead the people you have redeemed. In Your might, You guide them to Your sacred home.

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.

Micah 4:5 Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the LORD our God forever and ever.