Embrace Life - Don't Avoid It!

My brother has been coming to visit often the last year. It’s been so nice. There were literally years we’d go without seeing each other. You know, you get busy, you’re raising a family, working, all that.  Anyway, I am getting to see him at least every 3 months and we are having a wonderful time together!

When he travels this way, he uses his gps. He sets it to avoid toll roads since he has to come up through the Dallas area to get here. He By keeping away from the roll roads he keeps away from paying for the drive.

Danny’s aunt, who is in hospice, quit traveling a long time ago. She wanted to avoid the long trips and just got to where she didn’t want to go anywhere but church and grocery stores. She began to avoid travel altogether long before she wasn’t able to go anymore.

Sometimes we just want to avoid things because they’re a lot of trouble or they make us tired. Danny and I used to leave for his dad’s house at 6 pm on Fridays. We’d arrive around 2 in the morning. We finally realized that we were too tired to do that anymore. We’d have a hard time driving the  hours it took to get there in the night.

There are specific things we all try to avoid.  Pain, suffering, sorrow, fear, disappointment, discouragement, or loss.  If we’re not careful we’ll find ourselves trying to avoid joy, happiness, discovery, blessings and more.  We convince ourselves that something bad will eventually happen so we avoid the good things that life brings our way.  We could avoid life altogether, but troubles and heartache know our address so they come knocking on our door no matter where we live.

Try as you might, you can’t avoid some things.  There’s no way you can set your heart’s gps to avoid life’s ups and downs.  You cannot isolate yourself but you can insulate yourself. God’s Word will teach you how to make it through the things you would rather avoid.  It will also teach you to embrace the good things and take them as blessings while you can.

Oh beloved, God has a wonderful plan for your life! Even through the hard places, He is with you to carry you through! While there will be hard roads to travel and not so pleasant places to visit – He will be with you always! You never have to go it alone! Unlike a gps, which could fail or send you the wrong way – God never fails and you can trust Him even when it’s hard.

Embrace the joys and take the blessings whenever they come! Rejoice with friends and family. Live well. Laugh often. Love much. Although we don’t know when life’s hardships will appear, we know that as we enjoy the good times we are making memories that will carry us through to heaven. God loves you, He is with you always and He can be trusted to take you all the way home to heaven! And that’s all that really matters.

2 Corinthians 1:4 He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.

Deuteronomy 12:7 There you and your families will feast in the presence of the LORD your God, and you will rejoice in all you have accomplished because the LORD your God has blessed you.

 

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

Psalm 23:4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

Revelation 7:17 For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

 

 

 

Time to Forgive Everyone Everything

I bought a metal plaque this week-end at a little Christian bookstore inside Gospel Light Church where we held our CMA Seasons of Refreshing. It read simply, “Forgive Everyone Everything”. It caught my eye and it caught my heart.


I’ve heard it’s possible, but I’ve never met anyone personally who doesn’t love their own children. I admit we parents have no idea just how in love we are going to be while carrying the baby, but at the moment of birth we are forever undone over this bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.



It’s not always a honeymoon. Kids are imperfect. Parents are imperfect. They step on our toes when they’re little and then they step on our hearts when they’re older. Many times we punish inconsequential things and overlook the big stuff. We try to let them know they’re loved no matter what, but we also try to get them to do things right.



Still and all, they are our heart walking around outside our bodies. No matter what age they are, they are our babies. Our son walked in this afternoon for a quick hello and my heart melted all over again, just like it did the first time I laid eyes on him. Our middle daughter texted an I love you tonight and my heart skipped a beat. I texted I love you to our oldest daughter and got the same in return. Gave me great peace.



Our family is like most families. We get bent out of shape, we don’t always see eye to eye, but in the end, when it’s all said and done, we love one another.



Last night I quoted the plaque. I just don’t have the words to express our complete and inescapable sorrow over such dear, dear friends losing their 35 year old daughter in a car accident. We hold our children’s hands so tightly, even the grown ones. We get accused of clinging and more, but it’s that fragility of life that keeps us parents catching our breath over and over again.



I know you will understand won’t you that today is a good day to forgive everyone everything. I know this because God forgave me and I am the most imperfect person ever known. I didn’t deserve grace, I didn’t merit it or pass any tests for it. But God in His infinite, perfect love, reached down and gave it to me. So I just pass it on to others, especially my children.



Oh beloved, let God love you! Let God forgive you! And then, let God lead you to forgive everyone everything. It really doesn’t matter does it in the long run what it was because God has buried all our sins in the deepest sea – as far as the east is from the west – never to be counted against us again. God knows the struggles you have, He knows the hurts you carry and He knows the burdens that seem oh so heavy. But He’s made a way to help you when you’re low, relieve you of your load and bless you with good days and opportunities to love and forgive. He is trustworthy even when all looks hopeless. He really does love you, He really does hear your prayers, He really does want to walk with you and guide you all the days of your life and that’s all that really matters.



I John 4:10 This is real love--not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.



Mark 11:25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.



Psalm 18:6 But in my distress I cried out to the LORD; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears.

Need Some Light in your Darkness?

My parents loved to travel in the wee hours of the morning. They’d set out for their destination at 3:00 o’clock in the morning. There were no all night stores at the time, so they’d have to make sure they had a thermos of coffee and a full tank of gas. By daylight they would be able to fill up and use the bathroom. Except on Sundays hardly anything was open.

There are stores that stay open around the clock nowadays. You can usually find a gas station or a fast food joint open somewhere. Even the huge discount centers stay open all night most places. You’d think they would meet all the needs a person could have because of their availability. But even the discount centers aren’t completely open. You can’t get a prescription in the night, you can’t buy glasses or have your glasses fixed. While you might be able to drop off your roll of film, you can’t get your picture taken in the photo shop.  And the banks or fast food restaurants located within the stores are closed to business in the night.  There may be exceptions somewhere but in our part of the world this is the way it is.

Even though we have an instant access world for the most part there are just some things that aren’t available in the middle of the night. If you run into a real emergency you’re just going to have to wait until morning.  

While many of our physical needs must wait for regular hours, we have a God who is available to us 24/7. In the night, on the hospital floor, at the bedside, in sickness, under duress, during sleepless times and during sorrow, God is available. He never leaves us, He never sleeps, He never posts a closed sign and He always comes to our assistance. We never have to worry if God will hear us when we cry out, no matter when it is, for He promises to hear the contrite heart, the repentant heart, as well as those who sorrow, gasp in fear or those who have no hope.

You can rest assured that no matter what you seem to be in need of, God fills every single one of them. And you can call on Him, no matter what the hour, for He’s an always available God.  You don’t have to wait till Sunday to speak with Him or to hear from Him. God knows your every need and He’s fulfilled them already through His Word. He owns the earth, the seas and the skies and all that is seen and unseen. He is accessible, ready and willing to care for every need, no matter what, no matter when.

Oh beloved, run to the One Who is the only One who can meet all your needs! He knows you and He’s well acquainted with your hurts, your fears, your hopes and your desires. He sees your situation and He’s no mere distant figurehead – He’s available! He’s with you before you call, His door is always open and everything  - absolutely everything – you need is met in Him! You may feel alone, unloved, or hungry and thirsty for relief. God is there, God is here with you always! He turns your hopeless situation into peace. He turns your darkest night into light.  He will give you peace and assurance no matter what the problem is, so that you can rest in the middle of the darkness.

Call on Him, He will answer! Pick up His Word and read for His Word is alive! Instant access is always there, because He loves you! You don’t have to wonder if He has time for you, if you are worthy or if He will accept your call. God is for you and because He’s for you, He’s available always! Forever and a day and then some! What an awesome and wonderful God!

Psalm 18:6 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.   He heard me from His sanctuary; my cry to Him reached His ears.

Psalm 62:8 O my people, trust in Him at all times. Pour out your heart to Him, for God is our refuge.

2 Samuel 22:29 O Lord, You are my lamp. The Lord lights up my darkness.

Romans 10:11 The Scripture says, No one who believes in Him [who adheres to, relies on, and trusts in Him] will [ever] be put to shame or be disappointed. (Amplified Bible)

Deuteronomy 4:7 For what great nation has a god as near to them as the LORD our God is near to us whenever we call on Him?

God Always Leads to New Horizons!

Social media changes often, have you noticed? From facebook to pinterest to twitter, they do the unthinkable – move things around! Just as we figure out what we’re doing, we have to learn some new way to do it!

Life is a lot like that.  We do things the way we always did them. We found a plan, figured our path and went by the letter. We follow this route for years and then one day our route comes to an end. We wonder how this could happen!

We rehearse all the right things - we rehearse the route, we rehearse our faithfulness and our accuracy. Then we look to see why it no longer works. We think to ourselves, “I was a good parent” (wife, employee, church member, friend, etc.) or we say, “I liked it the way it was”. Yet the road has changed. If we’re not careful we will find ourselves bitter and frustrated to the point of abandoning the way entirely. It’s not worth it so we convince ourselves to quit.

Do you think God might have a plan in changing our plans? Do you think He might shake our world to help us focus on the “real” world of faith? Is it possible that God could let us keep going by the letter, but He might love us enough to keep us having to focus on Him and learn new nuances about the walk of faith He has planned for us?

Change is hard, but not changing is much harder in the long run. Without change, we can’t grow, learn or progress. If we’re not willing to let God change our direction or allow ourselves to be changed by Him we’ll find ourselves simply going through the motions. If we give ourselves entirely to Him and let Him be the programmer of our media, then we will find that change is not only possible it’s good!

Do you like life in the status quo? Do you want things to stay safe and familiar? Try as you might, things in your life have been shaken up, pressed down and sifted again. You may feel that you’ve lost your way because you’ve lost a friend, a loved one, a spouse.  God understands your heart – for He left the splendor of heaven for the insecurity, instability and faithlessness of life on earth. He experienced it all so that your life will remain secure until He comes again.

Oh beloved, rush to the mercy and grace of His direction! Don’t hesitate, for surely His ways are better than anything else! If He has whispered something new into your heart it’s for your good and His glory! If He’s asking for you to turn loose of things you hold much too close, it’s for the best! Let Him rearrange your life and as He does you’ll see new horizons, make new friends, learn new nuances of His grace! And when it’s all said and done you will always remember that God loves you and He’s always been for you and that’s all that really mattered anyway!

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

Isaiah 30:21 Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a Voice will say, "This is the way you should go," whether to the right or to the left.

Isaiah 29:24 Then the wayward will gain understanding, and complainers will accept instruction.

Psalm 37:4-5 Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.  Commit everything you do to the Lord.  Trust Him, and He will help you.

Psalm 31:13 For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me.

Are You a Treasure Detective?

We watched Treasure Detectives the other night. This show showcases items from the world of arts, antiques and collectibles. A team of investigators verify the authenticity of collectibles, artwork and antiquities using innovative technology and street smarts. Is it a worthless fake or is it worth a fortune?

The show’s host goes to great lengths to discover the truth. It’s quite different from Antiques Roadshow. On that program, by the time they’re on air the discovery has already been made and we just get the results, but on this show we see the amazing ways they use to find the true worth of an item.

We’ve all had experience with treasures. From toys we loved as children to collectibles we hold dear as adults, they were indeed treasures to us. As I get older I realize that treasures are less about the world’s idea of worth and more about my personal value of them.  

Things are wonderful and it’s great to see that an old painting that had hung in a barn is actually worth millions, but it’s just stuff any way you slice it. But there are true treasures that hold their value forever.

God’s Word is the greatest treasure ever known. Its creator is the Lord of Heaven and Earth. It has been proved and tried and re-discovered. It’s the real deal. No myths, no touch ups, no cover ups. Pure treasure. It is unquenchable, unstoppable, pure gold. It was here before antiquity began, it will stand for eternity. No test can destroy it, no fake can replace it, no person can disprove it.

Have you been looking at worldly treasures to meet your needs? Have you tried to make people, places or things be your all in all? Have you been disappointed when they failed the test of time? If things are your focus, eventually they will lose their gleam, but when God is your focus, His Word becomes more and more treasured in your heart. Other things then find their rightful place. It makes things easier when we put His Word first in our life for that is where we find not only the Word’s worth, but our true worth as well.

Oh beloved, the Lord is your greatest treasure! His Word is His proof of worth. He never lies, He will remain faithful, His care is eternal, He never disappoints and His love will never fail! He knows that you’ve been disappointed. You may have been cast aside as worthless, but He says to you, My Beloved, you are worth more to Me than My own life – for I gave My Son as ransom for you. I love you forever, I treasure you eternally and I will remain your God forever. Look to Me for your true worth and let Me share with you all the treasures of My kingdom.

Every treasure of God’s Word is yours beloved – reach out to receive your inheritance and bask in the love, the care and the faithfulness of God. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters.

Psalm 119:111 Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.

Psalm 119:162 I rejoice in Your word like one who discovers a great treasure.

Isaiah 33:6 In that day He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the Lord will be your treasure.

Malachi 3:16-17 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child.

Luke 12:7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure.

Looking for a Palce to Rest Your Weary Heart?

I remember the first summer we moved back to Arkansas. It was 1970 and I had just completed the 8^th grade in Tyler Texas. The move to a small town called Blevins was both sorrowful and exhilarating. I left behind good friends, but I was going to renew friendships with others and make new friends that I still cherish to this day.

Although it was June, that summer started out quite chilly. We had to use blankets at night! On June 3^rd of that year it dipped into the low 50’s in many parts of Arkansas. By July, it was back to record heat at 104 degrees! To say that Arkansas weather pattern is full of extremes is to put it mildly.

Again we see that crazy Arkansas weather working here. Tuesday night we had to turn on the a/c because it was plain hot and very humid (another Arkansas delight).  But last night we were scurrying for heavy blankets as it was in the low 40’s. Tonight’s call is for 30’s! Storms and rain abound as well.

You may have discovered that life is full of extremes as well. One moment it’s perfect weather and all is well. Not a problem in sight. No dark clouds of sorrow, no suppressing heat of trials, no chill of melancholy. You go to sleep comfortable and rested. But by morning all may change. The phone call, the news program, the envelope in the mailbox carrying news you never wanted to hear. The ups and downs in life can take their toll on the spirit and the body. If we’re not careful, the oppression will give way to depression and we’ll be unable to rest, no matter what.

Are you sweltering in the heat of hardships? Do you find no place to rest your weary heart? Are you thinking if only things would cool down you could relax? Maybe it’s chilly because you’ve been left to go it alone. The one who was with you has departed and you have no one to lean on. It’s hard to gather warmth when you’re alone.

Oh beloved, it’s time to settle in with the Lord  - the One Who made heaven and earth, the seasons and the changes. For He is your light in the night, your refreshing in the heat and your warmth in the chill. Life is hard and He knows that at times you have been to the point of despair, but He says to you again and again, “Never will I leave you or forsake you.”  And again He says, “I am your refuge and your fortress, your God in whom you can always trust”.  If you listen quietly you will hear His voice speaking sweet love words to you. All of His promises are yours, all of His qualities are for your very existence, all His Truth is your bastion of hope, your citadel of protection, your comforter in days that nothing else will do. Let Him hold you in His loving arms as He places His banner over your life. He knows, beloved, that it is hard, but He has promised that a new day will dawn and a better way will come. And, one day, He will come to get you and you will be hid in the depths of His love and His delight forever!

Isaiah 63:1 A psalm of David, regarding a time when David was in the wilderness of Judah. 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 31:7-8 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.  You have not handed me over to my enemies but have set me in a safe place.

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.

Psalm 107:43 Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.

Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

Love Overlooks and Forgives and Remains

I found Daddy’s old suitcase and it was full of more mementos. Among the stuff there were a few love letters written between him and my mother. Daddy worked off shore when I was little, so he would be gone for a couple of months at a time. They wrote to each other – about their love, about their days, about me, about life where they were. Always it came back to each other – pledging love, agreeing that the loneliness would subside when they were together again.  It comforted my heart to know that my mother and daddy loved one another. I knew it, but it was really cool to see it in writing.

Love is an overused word and an underappreciated virtue. People pledge it and forsake it. They swear by it and then they swear at it. Neither of my parents was perfect. Both of them had endured hard lives, been raised in dysfunctional families and thought they had found love and lost it. But for their 28 years together, they found something worth hanging onto, some intrinsic value in each other that might not be detected by others. They loved each other and because of that they were able to forgive a lot and overlook each other’s weaknesses.

Everyone looks for this kind of love, but often people think that the only way to find this love is to be perfect. Then when imperfection surfaces, as it surely will, they are despondent and often times give up. They walk away and find themselves searching again for that one perfect love that will see them through. I think my parents proved to me real love – they didn’t care about things or possessions, they just cared about one another. They were able to shut out the world’s noise and concentrate on their life together and they did it for love.

I don’t care who you are, I don’t care what you’ve done. More importantly God doesn’t care about those things. He only cares about you. When he talked with the woman at the well, He already knew all about her.  He already knows all about you. But He is willing and able to take your imperfections and through His love, make you perfect in Him.

Oh beloved, maybe you’ve struggled with self-esteem or people’s opinions. You tried to live up to others’ expectations and found yourself falling short of being perfect. God says to you this morning, I love you…and because I love you, I am betrothing Myself to you forever. From before the world was created I thought of you. I searched for you and found you and brought you to Myself. If you will only trust Me, I will make our love story one of the great messages of Calvary. You are My prized possession, you are My greatest joy and My reason for making a home in heaven.

There is nothing, absolutely nothing that will ever separate you from God’s love. Not your mistakes, not your regrets, not your failings or your lack, for beloved, He meets all those needs and more.  Trust Him today for He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters, both here and in eternity.

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

Romans 8:38 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.

I John 4:10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Jeremiah 31:3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love.     With unfailing love I have drawn you to Myself.

Psalm 103:1-4 Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me.  He forgives all my sins   and heals all my diseases.  He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

Mistaking Troubles for Absence?

West Texas views go on forever. At night you can see more than 40 miles as the lights of other towns flicker and dance in the distance. The sun appears to shine in the horizon long after it should, and the sun rises much later. Aunt Eddie’s room was on the west side of the hospital, so it was dark out the 7th floor window till well after 7am.


Eventually I saw faint symbols of the sunrise. Trees took on a red hue, shadows emerged below in the parking lots and empty areas near the hospital. Eventually I saw the brightness of the sun casting the long shadow of the building on the ground and I knew the sun was rising and it was only a matter of time before it was completely sunlit where we were.

There are times in our lives when we feel such darkness surrounding us that we have a hard time believing the sun will ever shine again. We stand vigil in prayer, hoping for a change in the scenery and all we see is misery. From what we see with our own eyes, we feel misery as well. If we’re not careful, our eyes will deceive us – we’ll begin to believe there’s no hope to ever see daylight. On the dark side of our problems, there’s sure to be a chill in the air.

Oh beloved, are you wondering if God is real? Are you mistaking troubles for absence? God’s Word is your guide in the darkest of nights. While the view may be shadowed, you can see His truth and rest in His promises regardless of the circumstances. Even though the light of His Word is all you may see right now, you can trust God and believe Him completely. And, beloved, when daylight comes you can shout a triumphant praise to the One Who has seen you through! God loves you and He’s for you and His Word is forever faithful no matter what.


Psalm 12:6 The LORD's promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.



Psalm 119:140 Your promises have been thoroughly tested; that is why I love them so much.



Psalm 33:4 For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything He does.



Psalm 1:2 But they delight in the law of the LORD, meditating on it day and night.



Psalm 130:6 I long for the Lord more than sentries long for the dawn, yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.



Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Instructions for the Truth - Do Not Dilute

Most everything we use for cleaning supplies is now only available in concentrated versions.  Sometimes it seems so thick that I get to thinking it must be too strong. The consistency just seems that it will be too harsh or that it needs a little thinning. Concentrated detergent requires me to use just a little bit, when back in the day we’d use a full cup of it to clean a tub full of laundry. 

Other times when I’m almost out of shampoo, I may add a little water to get the most use out of the bottle.  It still lathers up, maybe even better, but it’s diluted.  

While I am tempted to dilute the consistency of these products, I have to ask myself if it cleans as well.  It may go further, it may cost less, but when it comes down to it, I am shortchanging myself because it just doesn’t clean as well. It won’t do its job the way it’s supposed to if I dilute it.  No money saved at all if I have to wash twice to get the desired effect.

The consistency of the Word of God is important as well.  Dilute it down and you will lose the true meaning and intent.  If you add anything to the Word, which is the Truth, you will get poor results. Add man’s thinking and you get half truths. They sound good, they look great, but they don’t achieve the right results. It is the undiluted Word of God that makes for salvation, righteousness, sanctification and glorification, without these ingredients you cannot see God.

Have you been tempted to dilute God’s Word in order to make friends, influence people or keep the peace?  You’ve heard people say that the Bible is too strict, narrow-minded and old fashioned.  So you’ve tried thinning it down, making it more palatable to see if more people might be interested. It could be that your grown children, who were raised in the nurture and admonition of the Lord are now saying you’re too strict, too biased, only for old people.  It may be that even those who say they belong to God are wanting to have the Word delivered to them their way  - a way that won’t require them to quit compromising and living like the world.

Oh beloved, you are blessed beyond measure! Not only has God given you salvation, He has given you His Word so that you will be able to live in its light. You don’t have to wander around in the dark, wondering what to do, where to go or how to live.  Every Word of God is your way to profit, your path to success and your reason for living. Every precept is the way for you to find strength for today and hope for tomorrow. Run to His Word this morning and thank Him for the sincere milk of the Word.  His blessings are on you as you take His Word in and live it out.  Take it in beloved, live it out and thank the Lord for His magnificent gift. He loves you and He’s for you so He’s given you His wonderful Word. Believe it and watch as His will unfolds for you!

 

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Psalm 119:37  Turn my eyes from worthless things, and give me life through Your word.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by 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 19:8 The commandments of the LORD are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are clear, giving insight for living.

Psalm 119:89 Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven.

Need Help? Jesus Will Always Answer Your Call.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

God's Route Guidance is Out of This World!

As we were traveling the 500 miles or so yesterday to get home, I noticed that there were a couple of vehicles that kept passing us over and over. I remember my dad talking about that when I was a kid. He explained that, even though they were driving faster, it took more stops because they were using more fuel at their higher rates of speed.  Other cars would come along and dart dangerously in and out of traffic.  I don’t know if the fuel consumption was the answer, but it sure looks like there’s a lot of speeding up and slowing down.

We’re all in a hurry and it often feels like we don’t have much time. The focus becomes getting from point A to point B and everyone better get out of the way. However, the steady pace of a consistent driver will get you where you want to go in plenty of time.

It sure looks like some folks are getting way ahead. They’ve moved on out in front and everything is going their way. It’s clear for them it seems, while most of us are stuck in the traffic of life. We’re dodging road hazards and having to stop often for rest. If we’re not careful we’ll become jealous of others’ apparent “get ahead” attitude and start trying that for ourselves.   Pretty soon we find ourselves racing ahead and falling behind.  It’s a treadmill and nobody enjoys the ride – they just try to arrive at their destination as quick as possible.

Have you been comparing your life travel to that of others? Does it look like you’re getting left behind? Do you keep getting passed by the same folks and wonder what you did to lose speed?  Are you envious of those who have gone ahead, thinking that they are past you and that you’ll never arrive quick enough?

Oh beloved, it’s time to get out your Road Manual and read! God’s Word says that when you let Him do the driving, He will get you to your destination right on time. He has a wonderful plan for your life and it’s the best way you can travel.  He knows the desires of your heart and He wants you to rest in His promises often, even if that means it looks like you’re getting passed. Without the right fuel sooner or later you will have trouble and find yourself on the roadside. Let God be your Trip Meter for He has the most wonderful route laid out just for you! He loves you, so when others seem to go faster or leave you behind, remember that the Lord is adjusting your speed, picking your route and giving you wonderful scenery along the way. He’s for you, so you can trust that even when the route looks rocky or bumpy or full of construction, He’s going to get you where you need to go and you’ll never be late!

Praise Him for His perfect advice, for it will keep your eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Finisher of your faith, your life and your destination!

 

Isaiah 49:4 I replied, But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust God for my reward.

Psalm 125:1 Those who trust in the Lord are as secure as Mount Zion; they will not be defeated but will endure forever.

Proverbs 4:11 I will teach you wisdom’s ways and lead you in straight paths.

Psalm 19:7 The instructions of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

God Speaks and You Can Count On Him!

I find life lessons in the most interesting places. Kind of like looking for a pair of glasses or your favorite jeans. You know you had them, but you just are amazed at where you finally find them!


When looking at the first dealership, we test drove a car on a Saturday and then let them give us a price. We had really only meant to look. I am not an impulse buyer of big things!

 As we sat at the desk with the salesman telling us our bottom price after telling us what he’d give us for our old car, I asked if we could have the paperwork to look over on the week-end. I explained that we just don’t make any final decisions without praying about it and we would let them know what we were going to do on Monday.

He stepped away for a moment and in came another man – the sales manager I believe. He began “encouraging” us to buy now. We shared our faith and said we’d have to pray. The price of our trade in went up $1,000! We shook our heads. Up another thousand! Red faced by now, he mentioned something about “If Jesus was giving me a good deal, I’d take it!” Another thousand was put on the table for our OLD car. Did I mention it was an OLD car with right at 200K miles on it? We’re up to $4,000 as a trade in!

No one but me knew, but there’s a headphone in my ear. I hear my beloved Speaker saying, ever so softly, “Are you going to let that buy your prayer time?” I am standing here with my precious husband, who wants to get me in a newer car, between two salesmen, one who is just plain angry by now and my Lord speaks to me. I felt that I was in a casino! The bets were being laid down – how high would they go? When would I be bought?

I also felt a chill in my spirit and the impulse to run! As we repeated that we’d have to take the deal and pray about it, red faced man told us if we left that day the deal was off. He went on to tell us that 85% of the people who walk out never return. We told them we weren’t like anyone they’d ever met.

I’m not saying that every time you buy a car or go to the store or stop in traffic that God is going to give you an object lesson, but He might. There are times that, regardless of the deal, we have to make a choice. For you see, beloved, God loves you. And because He loves you He will guide you through all the hard times and even through the good things, so that you will be blessed and He will be glorified.

Oh beloved, have you ever made a stand for God and been met with a thousand reasons not to remain standing? Maybe you’re going through this right now. You were thinking of giving in, going on or letting go and this morning you’re here reading about God speaking. He does speak to His people – maybe not an audible voice, but He could. Maybe not directly, but He can. He speaks through His Word and you can be sure that you should follow the Scriptures in everything you do. Every day is a choice we make whether to live in the light of His Word or live by our own wits. Rejoice today that you can let God lead you from a good deal to the best because He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters!

1 Corinthians 10:13 The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so that you can endure.

Psalm 32:8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.”

Job 33:14-15 For God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night, when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in their beds.

1 Corinthians 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, “He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.”

Psalm 130:5 I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on Him. I have put my hope in His word.

Matthew 4:4 But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Freedom to Live for Christ!

A new car now sits in our driveway and I can tell you it was an amazing process. Unfortunately not everything that amazed us was good stuff! We basically dealt with two dealerships. One was high pressure to the max. The other was laid back yet treated us like we were the best folks ever to walk in their door.  Guess which dealership we bought from? When it finally came down to it mere dollars separated the price. But the way we were treated made all the difference.

There was also a way to look up internet pricing in the area of the kind of vehicle we wanted. I didn’t know when I went online that we would get contacted personally, I just thought we’d see the prices.  When the 1-800 calls and the emails started rolling in I knew I had made a big mistake. I ignored the calls and responded to the emails asking to be taken off their list. I am still getting emails from the same folks I asked to be removed from.  Although we have made a decision and gone on with our car buying life, they want to keep us hooked.

In the Christian life there is the immediate blessing of being born again. As humans, we all look for significance, love and acceptance. In Christ we have that as newborn children of God! We don’t have to look back to the past, look around to the mistakes or look forward to future problems. It would be great if the enemy of our soul would just go on and leave us alone! But life is still tough at times and satan still tries to hook us back with him. Not only that, while our hearts are new and we’re born again, our flesh cries out for more self-centered things. 

Unlike high pressure salesmen, we have the Holy Spirit who, through prayer and study of God’s Word, can remove us from temptation and put us on the do not call list! We’ve been removed from the law of sin and death and we’re moving on. Don’t let one call or one message take you back to your former ways.  Move on with the new – for it is surely a new day with the Lord!

Oh beloved, you may have been signed up, chained up and fed up with your old life. But in Christ you have a new mode of transportation! The life of Christ is meant to be lived with gusto and blessings! Regardless of bad conditions, bad times or bad decisions back in the old days, your life is hid in Christ!  You don’t have to answer the phone or return the emails anymore! God says to you today, rise up and live in ME! I AM your new life, I AM your new ways and I AM your everything! I give you a new life, I give you a lifetime warranty and I give you roadside assistance all the days of your life! You are now Mine and you will never need another Savior or Comforter! I love you and I AM for you and that’s all that really matters.

1 Peter 1:23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.

Isaiah 26:4 Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 3:17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Christ is Essential to a Fragrant Life

Essential oils are the rage right now. I love them! Interest in essential oils has revived in recent decades with the popularity of aromatherapy. Oils are diluted in a carrier oil and used in massage, diffused in the air by a nebulizer, heated over a candle flame, or burned as incense. Some essential oils are valued for their fragrance, others for supposed health value. I don’t really know about the health issues, but I do know that the aroma from essential oils is lovely!

The word essential denotes needed, critical, necessary, indispensable, vital or necessary. I don’t know about you, but I do love the smells that permeate my home when I am using one of the fragrances. I have discovered that, like candles, why have them if you don’t use them? I can remember getting candles for gifts and for years just keeping them “for something special”. Now I burn the candles, heat the oils and enjoy them both! I use them up freely and with joy.

While we can live without essential oils in our lives, we cannot live without the Lord! He is essential to a fragrant meaningful life. He is not only essential, the things He provides are essential to our life. His atoning sacrifice on the cross is essential for every human being – without that one step no one will be saved from the penalty of sin. His resurrected life is essential for our walk with Him – without that one step there is no hope for a new life. When the Word of God permeates our lives we give off the sweetness of the knowledge of Him in our lives.

Oh beloved, how precious you are to God! How beloved you are and loved! When He sees you, He rejoices in the Truth that is in you! When He hears your prayers He rejoices that you pray His Word and ask according to His will. Everything you do In Christ is a sacrifice of honor to Him. Everything you do in love is a sweet fragrance to His throne! God delights in His love for you and will make all things beautiful in His time. The aroma of a life that is lived in the light of His love is precious to God. Walk in His truth, be the light of Christ to those around you. Rest in His promises and do not worry – for He has provided all the things that are essential to life in Christ. He will calm your fears, wipe your tears, answer your prayers and bless your life. What does this life have to offer that is more essential than the Lord Himself? Run to Him this morning and let Him be your everything, so that everything else in your life is set in order. Oh what a Savior! Oh what a God! Who visits you with His blessings and gives you life in Christ forever!

I Timothy 2:6 He gave His life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

Hebrews 2:17 So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) and faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people’s sins. (Amplified)

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. (NAS)

Ephesians 5:2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

 

 

God Loves You and You are Blessed!

Yesterday morning about mid-day I got a text from my husband.  Actually I got two.  The first one was “Love you. Have a good day.”  It always brightens my day to hear from him. We both lead very busy lives and even though he’s “retired” he still works part time. So, when I get a note from him it means a lot! The second message was even more encouraging! He told me I was “the best wife in the world!” Can’t tell you what that does to my heart! To know that he thinks that highly of me and to see it in print…I am so fortunate to get that kind of message and I know it.

You know it’s true in life – loved ones often take one another for granted. Those of us who have someone to love and be loved by…it just seems a part of life. You get busy, you assume they know it, they assume you know it and there you go.  One thing leads to another and the fires of love grow colder as you work the hardest on other things.

Some of you are reading this and thinking, “Why don’t I have someone to say nice things to me?” Maybe you’re married, but it’s rocky.  Maybe you’re in a relationship but you feel you are on shaky ground.  Maybe it’s all over and you’re left with the sorrow and the bills and the wonder, “will I ever be loved again?”  You thought you were appreciated, adored, cared about and then suddenly the focus of your hopes and dreams is gone. Maybe you’ve “lost that loving feeling” and you’re just enduring, thinking to yourself that something better might come along.

Oh beloved, God knows your feelings! He knows your heart! And because God knows you better than anyone else on earth, He can relate to your hurts and concerns. You can rejoice, even in the midst of the hard struggles, you can rejoice, even when love wanes and hearts grow cold. He says to you this morning, I love you! You are my beloved! You mean the world to ME and I will always desire to give you My blessings! I gave my life up for you and will be with you all the days of your life. I AM a God of my word! I will never lie to you, I will never cheat on you and I will stay focused on your spiritual growth and care forever!

Trust Him today beloved! Follow Him first! Other things, other people, may not be trustworthy, but God always is! He’s your Maker, your Husband, your Redeemer and your Lord! Now that’s worth singing love songs to Him!

Ephesians 1:3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.

Psalm 5:12 For You bless the godly, O LORD; You surround them with Your shield of love.

Psalm 68:19 Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!  For each day He carries us in His arms.

Isaiah 46:40 I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.

 

Photograph courtesy MSH Photography (Matthew Howard on flickr)

Time to Move out of The Museum!

 

 

We’ve lived at our present address for 20 years. During that time we’ve managed to fill up the shop and load up the garage. Even the downstairs storage area is full. Danny decided Saturday it was time to clean out the shop and it was a chore! He called me out there once and asked me to look in a box he found. As I peered into the contents I found it was a box of my dad’s mementoes. There were a couple of AA coins, a 1949 quarter, a 1960 penny, several Father’s Day ornaments and a copy of our wedding announcement from the paper in 1973.  What a step back in time. Next Danny showed me a bag of clothes. Inside that bag were little dresses my mother had made our oldest daughter over 35 years ago. As I held one of them up, more memories flooded my heart. I could see our daughter in that dress!

I found that I no longer wanted to clean out the shop! Lots of the “junk” in there had special memories from some part of our lives.  From old dolls to old papers, it was amazing.

You can’t keep everything. If you do, you’ll end up with a mess on your hands. Although lots of these things were treasures, they are old, broken, tattered and useless. Do I want to hold onto them? Yes. Do I need to? No. While the special things reminded us of precious memories, we cannot live in our memories. If we were to be gone, most of the stuff would be quickly discarded because no one else has our memories. We agreed to keep the most important things and were very selective, but the rest just has to go.  We’ll have no room for new things, space to work or even a garage for the car if we don’t clean out.

Precious memories are wonderful and mementoes of happy times can be great to look at. But we cannot live in the past.  We need to move on and make new memories. We want room for our lives to be productive and precious, but we can’t if we keep looking at the past and living there. While we cherish many things about our history, if we only live in the past it’s like living in a museum. Great to look at but untouchable.

Are you wishing for the former days? Do you wish you could go back and live in happier times? Are you content to live in the past? Are you longing for the mementoes of your older days to be your present times? God loves your wonderful memories but He’s ready to move you on to a new day. He’s ready for you to clean out your heart and mind for new experiences and to help you be able to live in the present.

Oh beloved, God has wonderful plans for your life! Even now, when you may be hurting over lost treasures or not wanting to let go. He doesn’t ask you to forget your past, but He’s asking you to move on. To move on with Him is to find more treasures, the kind that moths and dust don’t ruin.  If you will trust God, He will take you by the hand and go with you into new things. For He always has fresh anointing for the new things He wants to do in your life! Keep the old memories, for they are silver to your life. But let God take you on to blessings and ministry, so that your life will remain useful and pliant and so that others will benefit from your walk with the Lord.

God loves you so much that He woos you out of the past and into the future. And He cares about you so much that He’s not willing for you to remain in the cobwebs and junk of past days. What a blessing it is to know He wants to take you out of the museum and into the new life He wants to build just for you!

2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

Isaiah 43:19  For I am about to do something new.  See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.

Mathew 6:19-20 Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.