Where Have You Been Shopping?

 

Since it’s just the two of us, Danny and I don’t need a lot of groceries. We have the usual staples and could whip up a small meal of just about anything. But when a holiday is coming or company is going to arrive, I need to go to the store and buy some extra things. 

I find that shopping takes effort and a good plan. If we’re hungry we have to be really careful. Otherwise we might come home with candy, chips, cokes and snacks. If we’re thirsty we’ll have lots of juice and bottled water. It’s best to go armed with what we really need so we don’t shop with our eyes because there is much to be purchased and lots of it is pretty useless for nourishment strength and health.

Have you been shopping lately? Are you walking through the aisles of your mind and feasting on your troubles, feeding your fears and stocking up on your mistakes and regrets?

What are you buying? Have you stepped into the world’s store? Are you buying the lie that you can’t be forgiven? Are you buying the story that it’s hopeless for you? Maybe you stopped by the craft department and you put some signs in your basket: worthless, useless, unloved.  Do you stop by the video section? Are you replaying things others said about you? Are you recording the false and leaving no room for the truth? Maybe you’re watching past mistakes and future fears. Nothing that’s fit for your eyes in Christ.

It’s time to empty the cart that the enemy and the world have helped you fill! Get a new cart and put the Word of God in it! Find your favorite Scriptures, walk the aisles of God’s love and fill up completely on Him. His Word is your necessary nourishment, for without it you will remain weak, discouraged, unhealthy and unfed. But as you feast on the word of God you will grow in grace, grow in wisdom, grow in knowledge!

While you may have spent your life’s savings on things that do not satisfy, God’s Word is free – all you have to do is take it in and live it out! Spend as much time as you need and go back fulfilled, satisfied, and strong. God wants to build you up and give you strength for the days you are going through now and the days ahead. His Word is like dainty morsels. His Word is like a huge roast. His Word is healthy as vegetables and fruit. His Word is all you need! 

Oh beloved, you are blessed beyond measure to have access to everything you need. God loves you and He’s for you and He’s welcoming you into His storehouse with no reservations so that you can live victorious all the days of your life.  

Jeremiah 15:16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God of Heaven's Armies.

Psalm 119:103 How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey.

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Psalm 107:9 For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 36:8-9 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.

 

Let's Learn to "Sow"

My mother was a real seamstress. I know I’ve talked about that before. But this morning as she came to my mind I thought about her life and how she really did do a lot of sewing.  In her early years she used feed sacks to make dresses. She cut out old dresses and made new dresses from them. She would go to yard sales and find material or old quilts and make gifts and crafts of them. She didn’t sit around and lament that she couldn’t buy the finest cloth. She didn’t think “someday I will sew, when the conditions are right and I have lots of money or time or more ability”.  No, she just sewed wherever she went and whatever conditions she found herself in. Whether she had the best or not, she made something of it. She sewed.

Wouldn’t you know it? As much as my mother loved to sew, in her early 60’s she found herself working in a department store’s cloth department! Row upon row, shelf upon shelf of it. She could buy all kinds of the loveliest material at huge discounts. She had opportunity to visit with other people who loved to sew. She could buy patterns and make more things for her children and grandchildren.  God blessed her by letting her reap from the bountiful blessings of what He had stored up for her all those years.

Oh beloved, this is your day to begin sowing! You don’t have to wait another day. You don’t have to wait until conditions improve – sow right from your lack.  God blesses what we sow. He is working behind the scenes, fine tuning the machinery of your life, oiling the bearings, threading the needle and working the pedal. All you have to do is step out in faith and sow!  He has given you absolutely everything you need to sow for today, so don’t procrastinate, don’t hesitate and don’t whine about your shortage. If all you have is a smile – sow it into someone else’s life.  If all you have is a kind word, sow it! If all you have is a Scripture from childhood – sow it. Sow what you have!  And don’t forget to sow forgiveness, peace, joy, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, blessings, honor, and more. The more you sow, the more you will have.  Don’t hold back, don’t save the best for yourself, and don’t be miserly. Sow liberally and watch as you reap a harvest of blessings in return.

Today is the best day to learn to sow. You don’t need anything but the Word of God and His Holy Spirit guidance. If you begin today, in the conditions you are presently in, one day you will reap a magnificent harvest! The harvest will come at just the right time, with all the right bells and whistles and provide blessings beyond blessings for you.  Reap what God blesses you with today and He will bless you more!

God always supplies the things you need. God always gives you something you can sow into another’s life. Even in the midst of your pain, agony, troubles, rejections, trials or present need – God will provide. For that which He promises He will do. He loves you so He provides for you. He’s for you so He multiplies what you sow.  Rejoice as you and He make beautiful memories together that will reap a bountiful harvest of more of His great love and care!

Ecclesiastes 11:4 He who watches the wind will not sow and he who looks at the clouds will not reap.

Psalm 126:6 They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest.

Galatians 6:9 Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

1 Peter 3:9 not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.

Flames of Faith Overtake the Chill

It’s cold outside this morning. I mean really cold. This is the coldest day of the season so far. When I arrived home yesterday evening I was chilled to the bone. Just this small cold snap reminds me that I don’t like winter’s temps. I wondered if I’d ever feel warm again. But I’m warm inside my house. My hubby built a nice roaring fire in the fireplace yesterday afternoon and it is still full of embers that are still keeping the house warm.  I may have to go out in the cold momentarily but I know that when I return it will still be warm inside.

There are times in our lives when it’s just cold. The chill of adversity has us shivering. The plummeting temperatures of trails, hurts and pain has us wondering if we’ll ever be warm again.  Will we ever feel the warmth of true friendship when others seem to walk away so easily? Will we know the flame of true love when we can’t seem to hang onto it? Will adversity keep battering away its high winds on the walls of our hearts and minds? People may try to warm us, make us feel better or console us, but we must find our way out of the chill in our hearts ourselves, so that we can stay warm and secure no matter what.

Oh beloved, rejoice!  God has kept the home fires burning! He is the fire of your warmth for days and nights like this. He is beckoning you to come in out of the elements and warm up to His love and His truth. Regardless of the conditions that surround you, He is your shelter in the storm. You don’t have to remain at the mercy of the howling winds of circumstances, for you are covered by His loving care.   You are never alone, never left out in the cold and never forced to remain distant from the Lord. No matter what, God is with you. No matter what, He will take you in. No matter what, He will cause spring to come again to your heart and the chill of today’s trials will melt in the light of His glory and grace.

Quit rehearsing the problems and begin to rehearse God’s Word over your problems. The flames of faith will overtake the chill and you will find that, even in the midst of it all, God’s love will warm you, God’s word will cover you and His peace will blanket you all the days of your life.

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

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.

Isaiah 12:2 See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.

Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 84:10a A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!

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.

Don't Take That Problem to Bed With You

Kids love to take their toys to bed with them. Between special pillows, action figures and trucks, cars and dolls, the bed is full. We even see it in the movies. The scene from A Christmas Story where Randy hugs his new blimp replica while Ralphie sleeps with his beloved bb gun reminds us that kids find comfort in their toys.

I used to take a teddy bear to bed with me when I was a little girl. “Teddles” is still in my cedar chest, though he is worn through and almost furless. There are even old photos of Teddles and me saying our prayers and having tea parties.

We grown-ups don’t take our stuffed animals to bed with us anymore. No, we’re far too sophisticated for that. Instead we take our problems, our resentments, our decisions, our worries, our day’s events to bed with us. We lay there and roll it all over in our minds. We replay them, we regret them, we try to rethink decisions and figure out how to get out of the problems. We cuddle our anger, our resentment, our fear and more as though it were a close trusted toy.

You can take that problem to bed with you, nurse it, cuddle it, look it over, remember it but that problem will never comfort you or bless you.

Or you can give that problem to the Lord. It’s hard to give up something you’ve cherished, like that resentment or that unforgiveness. You’ve held it a long time but it hasn’t brought any liberation. Replay after replay and still no relief. The fear you experience during the day never lessens in the dark of night.

When we give our problems, our worries, our fears, our emotions to the Lord, He will take them. Not only does He take them, He replaces them! Instead of fear, He hands us faith. Instead of emotions, He hands us Truth, instead of problems He hands us praise. Instead of unforgiveness He hands us a cross. He has a replacement for everything we’ve been holding tightly to our hearts. He will not just replace them either. He will give us rest for our weary hearts, peace for our worrying minds and contentment for our spirits.

Oh beloved, you don’t have to wait till bedtime to give your precious held troubles worries and resentments to the Lord. He is standing at the door of your heart right now asking you to give it to Him. Give it all to Him. He will take care of the problems that you have encountered and He will repair the feelings and emotions you’ve nurtured. He is speaking to your heart right now. He knows that nothing you’ve held onto so tightly has helped you in any way. But He knows that He can help you in every way. You can’t change a thing about the past, the mistakes, the missteps or the misguidance from others. But you can change your attitude as you hand each one off to Him.

God loves you and He’s for you and that’s why He delights in replacing everything that’s hurtful for all things that are helpful in His Word, through His Spirit and because of His Resurrection and life. Praise Him for His wonderful new and better gifts!

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Ephesians 4:32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

2 Corinthians 10:5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Let God Take the Lead

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

No Panic in Heaven Even When You Feel Stuck

Our youngest granddaughter Stella does not like her car seat.  She’s a bit of a Houdini and can wriggle herself out of anything less than a fully buckled in contraption.  Given a long enough ride in the car and she will begin to maneuver to get loose. “I stuck!” she will declare quite loudly. Lots of noise is made as well. Grunting, groaning and more declarations of her situation. It’s cute to us but she’s serious in that once she’s had enough we all know she’s had enough. She has no problem expressing herself, especially when she’s “stuck”.  Same thing happens when she’s trying to dislodge a toy from the toy box. “Stuck!” she loudly proclaims until she manages to pull the right toy loose from the pile inside the box.  Relief comes when Stella is freed from being “stuck”. Sometimes the situation gets so desperate for her that you can hear panic rising in her voice. “S T U C K!” Someone generally tries to come to her aide in those situations, either by calming her down or by helping her get the toy released. If you know anything about Stella’s story you know she has plenty of help – nobody lets her fret for long!

I think about times in my own life when I have felt “stuck”.  You know the times.  When we feel bound by life’s situations and circumstances we are like Stella – we begin to lament, often loudly, “I’m stuck!” We’re strapped in and feel like we’re in the longest, roughest ride of our lives. It’s hard to feel anything but the pressure of the straps of life. We can’t do the driving, we can’t choose the road, we can’t take a deep breath. We cannot get relief and we don’t know if relief will ever come. Are we destined to live stuck? Are we never going to get out of the situation and walk away?

Other times we are trying to get hold of things we want. They don’t seem to want to dislodge so we can take possession of them. We groan and struggle and huff and puff. Still that thing we think we must have is stuck. We continue to work and plan and beg and plead – just because we want it. Maybe we’ve been told we could have it so we’re trying to make it happen. Frustration, consternation, impatience and fury come to our assistance but they are no help at all.  Will we ever take hold of it? Will that prize ever come from beneath the pile holding it down so we can possess it? We find ourselves in a panic and that just makes things worse.

God speaks to my heart: My precious child. There is no panic in heaven. When you are stuck in the situation you don’t like and you are fretting and pleading and trying to force your way out, I am there. Nothing that comes into your life causes panic in the Kingdom. While you may be surprised at the sudden trap of trouble, trial or testing, I cannot be caught by surprise. While you are in a panic I am fulfilling My purpose in you. It is a teachable moment for you as you learn to let panic go and allow My peace to enter in.  In due time I will loosen the hold of the momentary light afflictions you are going through and you will feel free again. Don’t try to make things happen on your own – you’ll just stay frustrated. Relax your hold on even those things that are promises you have received. In due season you will reap everything I have for you. In time, the thing that seems so elusive, the promise that hasn’t come forth will be released to you.  You can trust Me in the meantime and relax for it is peace that will guard your heart and your mind so that you can quit being frustrated. I AM that I AM. No panic, just peace. No fuming, just faith. Look to Me when you feel you can’t go another moment and I will carry you through to the better day. I am loosening the hold life has on you little by little. Although it’s imperceptible to you, one day you will see just how truly free you really are in Me.

Oh beloved, replace that frown with praise! God is with you in your situation. God is working it all out for your good and His glory. God is changing things for you so that you will learn to walk free in Him, no matter what happens.  He loves you and He’s for you so you can rest in His promises for the rest of your life, free as a believer in Christ! Ultimately His goal is that you become more and more like Him. Relax, rejoice and remain – abide in Him and watch as He turns things around just for you.

I Peter 1:6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials.

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

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

What Storm Are you Going Through?

Our hearts are grieving for the people who live in the Philippines. One of our friends has a daughter and family who have built an orphanage there. Fortunately their area was virtually untouched by the typhoon. That in itself was a miracle. 

But photos are coming in and the devastation is great. The winds were marked at what may prove to be highest recorded in the history of record keeping. The ferocity of the winds can be told in the damage that is left now that the storm has passed. Homes are wrecked. Neighborhoods are gone. Even the loss of life is extreme and the count is expected to increase.

When a storm of this magnitude comes ashore there’s not a thing one can do to prevent it from doing its damage. The best thing that anyone can do is leave for higher ground and safer areas. In the United States coastal residents do well to leave for inland towns. But on islands in the ocean it’s hard to find a safe haven to remain until the storm passes by.

We pray for the people of the Philippines as they attempt to overcome the devastation and look for their property and their loved ones. And we pray for the rescuers and charity workers who go into the country to help in any way they can. We ask God to help for He is a help in time of need. 

There are all kinds of storms that threaten the believer.   For us, we’d like to prepare ahead and avoid the storms entirely. But we don’t know what’s beyond the horizon. Today may be calm and sunny. Tomorrow we might wake up with heartache and pain. We who are born again are not mysteriously immune to troubles, trials, sorrow, or agony. When we are in the throes of the storm we know it. Our hearts can feel crushed, our lives can seem insignificant, our whole lives can seem to be storm tossed and under the power of the winds and waves of destruction. We feel isolated, humiliated, barricaded and open to the elements. If we’re not careful we will let the storm itself become our mantra and let anger, resentment, sorrow, misery and cynicism take over our lives. We can feel powerless, defeated, depressed and paralyzed in our hurts and fears. Whether we brought the storm on by our own mess ups or we had it thrown at us by another, the pain is the same. We are destined to be the victim unless someone steps in to help.

When devastation threatens your heart, where do you find port in the storm? How do you survive? Where do you go? How do you live again after the storms, after the winds and after the floods? Is there anything you can do to survive? Is there anywhere you can go to live after the wreckage is surveyed and the storm is passed?

God speaks to my heart: My precious child. When you are in a storm, the storm of your life, I AM there. Not only am I there, I am in charge. Even when your mind feels disoriented and your heart feels like it will never beat again, I AM. I cannot promise you that storms will never come, but I do promise that I will be with you. I cannot keep you free of the weather patterns of life but I will show you how to live in spite of the storm. I am the one who will give you hope and victory even when all about you looks lost. You can trust Me because I love you. And because I love you I will see you through every storm that ever enters your life. When others come against you, I will be your bulwark. When the winds of adversity weaken the strength of your resolve, I AM your strength. When you feel alone and abandoned, I am your Ever Present Savior.  My Word is My bond. Before the storms you may feel my presence but after the storm you will know Me better, for I AM that I AM. No other God made of wood, metal or stone can keep you safe in the storms of life, but I AM the God who saves you, the God who watches over you the God who renews, refreshes and redeems you. I will keep you in all your ways as you hold onto Me.  

Oh beloved, I know it’s hard for some of you right now. The storm has been raging for so long that some of you are barely hanging on. I would never tell you that the storms of life are easy, for I have weathered storms myself. I know they hurt and they are so very hard to weather. But I know the Lord and He is able. What you are experiencing now will not last forever. Hold on to His unchangeable nature. Hold on to His unquenchable love. Hold on to His wonderful promises. For in due time the storm will pass. We are not victims, but victors. We are not overwhelmed but overcomers. Trust Him now, while the storm is raging, trust Him now while the darkness floods your heart. Trust Him now when you have nothing to hold onto. He is faithful and He will see you through. Some things in your life might be counted as loss, but you will never lose your faith and God will never let you go.

God always loves you and He’s always for you and that, beloved, will get you through and give you hope and cause you to stand on the Rock no matter what.

Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the Lord, And there is no savior besides Me.

Isaiah 25:4 For You have been a defense for the helpless, A defense for the needy in his distress, A refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat; For the breath of the ruthless Is like a rain storm against a wall.

Matthew 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

Psalm 20:1 May the Lord answer you in the day of trouble! May the name of the God of Jacob set you securely on high!

Romans 8:37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

The Warmth of God's Truth Warms the Winter Seasons

Seasons come and seasons go. I love early fall the best. It’s the chilly warmth and the brilliant colors that just send me. I wouldn’t mind having a 6 month fall. Maybe add a few months of spring in there for the newness it brings, but skip winter and summer. However if I was in charge of the seasons we’d all be in trouble. No spring means no planting season. No summer means no growing season. No ...winter means no dormant season. And without the other three seasons fall would probably become monotonously long. Imagine having to rake leaves for 6 months!

We have to plan ahead for changing seasons, because they will come whether we greet them or not. Not formulating a plan for each season doesn’t change a thing, but it will leave us feeling unprepared, helpless and forlorn. Winter probably needs the most preparation for it is stark and uninviting and oh so cold.

Just as the natural seasons of the world around us come and go, so do seasons of life. When we are born again we find ourselves tiptoeing through the easy season. It’s spring in our hearts because everything is brand new! Relationships, stories, books, movies, the Bible, church – all take on a new meaning because we have been made new. We see Christ in everything and we’re loving it! Then summer comes and the heat of everyday causes us to learn to drink in the cool refreshment of His Word more and more. We begin to rely on His sustenance and refreshing more. With the advent of fall, we find that thankfulness is the way to bring out the color of life around us. It’s a season of thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest of God’s provision for the year. We are warmed on the crisp cool evenings of change by His absolute faithfulness.

Then winter arrives. We danced through spring, we refreshed ourselves through summer and we learned thankfulness in the fall. But now, winter has arrived and all is stark. Where did the beauty and color and fun go? Winters of life have nothing to do with age, for winter comes to all. We can’t decide when a winter season will come into our lives but we can prepare for it. And if we’ve been gleaning from His word during the growing season and giving thanks during the bountiful season then when winter comes we are more prepared to let God’s sustaining presence get us through. He will wrap us in His blanket of love, warm us with His Word of Truth, carry us through the deep snows that surely come to everyone’s life – sorrow, mourning, depression, rejection, division, ridicule, scorn, and more.

God speaks to my heart: Oh precious child. It’s difficult for you to see the merit in the changing seasons of life, but I AM here. I AM with you through every season. I am especially close in the winters of life. When you see no growth, no warmth, no purpose, no sun – I am with you. I am your prayer partner, your fellow believer, your hope for the hopelessness and your warmth for the long nights of oppression, uncertainty and dread. I am that I am. Without winter you would have a wonderful life but it is in the winters of your days that you realize the depth of my love, my care and my guidance the most. Winters, when you are stuck inside with the problems, the pain and the trials, those are the days you learn to abide in Me. As you rest in My promises, held most dear in the dreary times of life, I will show you the hidden springtime of the heart that gives you refreshment. I will give you the hidden forage of the Word to sustain you when nothing else will give you nourishment. I will remind you that even though you must walk through this winter, you don’t have to walk alone. When spring returns, and it will, you’ll have new knowledge of My unshakable presence all the days of your life. And having endured the winter season you will be stronger, more prepared and ready to share more about Me with others.

Oh beloved, run to His Word and let God meet your needs in Christ! Sow the Word now, harvest the Truth and pack it away for winter. You can pull out the plentiful yield every time you need it. You don’t have to go hungry when the hurts are huge and the nights are long. Every promise is for you. Every verse is preparation for the season you are going through. Every chapter is written with you in mind.

He loves you and He’s for you and that’s what will get you through all the seasons of life and make you stronger for the days ahead.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Jeremiah 15:16 When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear Your name, O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies.

Psalm 4:7 You have put gladness in my heart, More than when their grain and new wine abound.

Psalm 119:50 Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.

Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Watch That Trap - Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

We’ve traveled the same road for over 30 years heading to one of our favorite getaways. We know that highway like the back of our hands. Sometimes we see a new house that wasn’t there on the last trip. Depending on the time of year we might see beautiful fall leaves or tractors mowing pastures. But most everything we see is about the same.

The last time we were on that road I saw a sign I’ve never seen anywhere ever. It was a bright yellow sign that read “Warning: Large Traps in Area” attached to a gate leading into a wooded area.  It also read trapper license for this season has been issued. I don’t know about you but that’s enough warning to keep me from taking a nice walk through those woods!

As we drove on past, I wondered: Wouldn’t it be nice if there were signs prominently displayed for believers so that we could avoid the traps of the enemy? If we could know that there was extreme danger ahead, signified by a sign, we’d surely avoid those areas altogether. Wouldn’t we?

God speaks to my heart: My precious child. I am your Protector. I walk ahead of you and I cover your back. I direct your steps so that you can avoid the traps of the enemy. I take care of your going and your coming and you are free to live a life of purpose, joy and blessings. I will keep you safe and guard your heart and your mind. My Word is full of warning signs regarding life in Christ and if you heed My warnings you will remain safe in My care. It is when you step out of My will and My precepts that you can get trapped in situations you were never meant to be in. There are times when I speak to your heart and you ignore the intuition and proceed headlong into dangerous areas. You can’t see the danger ahead but I can. Let Me guide you to safety, let Me walk you through the valleys, let Me keep you from the harmful ways that can injure your spirit, mind and body. Because I am your shepherd you can trust Me to guide you into green pastures and away from deadly traps. My plans for you are good and godly and blessed. Don’t follow your own instincts but follow My Word intently. Together we will navigate the things that would trap you and cause you pain and you can walk free to live in the Light of My Word.

Oh beloved, rejoice! God is on your side, watching over you, guiding you, directing your every step so that you can walk free!  The enemy has many, many traps set for you. But the Lord will help you navigate through the situations you are in so that you don’t get trapped in the enemy’s snare. The enemy will never stop trying to set traps, but as long as you remain close to God and walk in His wisdom you will remain free. You can rejoice too that even when the trap is sprung and you find yourself unable to get yourself free from the tyranny of the enemy, God will come to your aid. He’s only a prayer away and He’s able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all  you could ever ask or think. Call out to Jesus today. Ask Him to guide you. Ask Him to release you. Ask Him to heal the broken places the trap has caused and set you free to enjoy His loving care again.

Lord, help us. We are so prone to wander into enemy territory. Even when signs are present we often ignore them. We acknowledge to You today that we can’t make it through the wilderness without You. We give over our wanderings and our waywardness to You and ask that You renew Your vows to be our Shepherd, our Lord and our Savior. We have no one who can set us free or keep us free but You. Thank you Lord that You love us and You are for us so that we can walk in safety and freedom all the days of our lives.

Psalm 91:2-3 I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”  For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper….

Psalm 118:5 In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered me and set me free.

Psalm 5:8 Lead me in the right path, O Lord, or my enemies will conquer me. Make Your way plain for me to follow.

Psalm 25:15 My eyes are always on the Lord, for He rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

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

Psalm 119:98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide.

Psalm 119:45 I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to Your commandments.

Is It Foggy Right Now?

It’s been foggy and rainy a lot lately. It’s just that kind of fall weather when staying inside seems the best choice. The leaves falling and the overcast skies hide the true colors of the leaves that are so brilliant in the sunshine.

The fog is so deceptive. It too hides things that are road hazards in your path. You get disoriented and it’s easy to miss the turns and bends in the road ahead. Try turning on your bright lights, which usually gives you a better view, and you find that the path is even more obscured.

Left to my own preference I’d just stay home until the dampness receded and the fog lifted. I prefer sunny days, especially in the fall. I don’t like to have to feel my way through the roads and hope that no deer suddenly appear in front of me.

We can’t choose the weather. We can’t tell the fog to burn off. We can’t make things happen just the way we want to. So we trust the weather and the effects of it to the One Who knows exactly what’s going on. We can’t see ahead many times for we are trapped in the heaviness of our situations. But we can trust that the One Who knows what is going on is also going to go before us and make the way passable.

Life often changes just like the weather. Sunny skies turn to darkened nights. This change makes us feel as though we are in a fog. We’re used to sailing through familiar pathways on to our comfortable lives. Then the fog rolls in. We’re caught without sight much further than right in front of us. It’s scary, it’s unnerving and we’re not sure if we’ll make it through. We’re not sure which way to turn so we have to slow down and proceed with caution.

God speaks to my heart: You don’t have to live in the fog. You just have to go through it. And you don’t have to go through this foggy season alone. I AM the light in the darkest night. I AM the beacon shining through the fog. You can’t trust the situation, you can’t trust people to help you, you can’t trust your own senses at times like this. But you can trust Me. This is the time you can grow in Me. Slow down and listen to My voice. I will direct you, I will counsel you, I will guide you through. While you see the foggy times as impossible situations, I will use them as times to teach you to trust Me more. I AM never going to leave you or forsake you. I will not allow this to be a time of destruction but of instruction. My love and power and mercy will get you through. Proceed with caution so that you can hear Me clearly for I AM always speaking protection, direction and care over you.  You may think the situation is so hurtful, wrong and unfair but when the fog lifts you will see that all things, even this, work together for your good.

Oh beloved, is it foggy where you are living right now?  Run to the Beacon of Love! Open your heart in prayer and your mind in trust! He’s not going to let you wreck, He’s not going to let you fall, He’s not going to let you live in the present situation. Don’t despair and don’t trust your senses. Trust God and sink your heart fully in His Word! At just the right time – His timing – He will bring you through the fog and into the sun again. It will lift and the beauty of a new day will be your reward. You will be stronger, more sure of your faith and ready to meet the road ahead with fresh determination. For what you learn in the foggy season, will be your message to others who need to know God’s abiding care.

God loves you and He’s for you so that you can proceed with Him through any weather as you let Him watch over you, guide you and keep you safe all the days of your life.

 2 Peter 1:19 So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.

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

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You.

Have You Opened Your Inheritance?

The heirs of a man who recently passed away had gone through all his belongings and were discarding old, unimportant things. One item they gave to a scrap metal collector was an old concrete-lined safe. The man, who was planning to sell the safe for scrap, was curious to find out if anything was inside and so took it to a local lock shop to see if it could be opened.

It was a laborious job that, according to the lock shop owner, took over 20 hours of work. But he finally got the old safe open. He and the man who had taken the old safe for scrap were shocked to find that the contents of the old discarded safe held a treasure trove of gold and silver coins estimated to be worth at least 2 million dollars.  

What would it be like to find a treasure inside an old safe? How would you like to be the heir of someone who had been saving such valuable items all those years?  What if, like the heirs of this man, you discarded something that had incredible value you didn’t even know?

But we are far too much like that family of heirs aren’t we? We have the most valuable item in the world and it often sits unopened on a shelf, gathering dust, mostly left as just an old book, discarded and unused. Then one day God opens our heart, changes our minds and we begin to read from that book. We find that all the treasures of God are contained inside! We begin to mine for the valuable truths contained inside. We are rich! We are heirs! And all of us get all the treasure held inside!

God speaks to my heart:  My precious child, you are a joint heir with Jesus. All My riches are yours for the taking.  When you open My Word you will find that it is alive and full of the riches of My entire realm. I have given this great and wonderful Book of Truth to you as a gift. It is full of blessings and honor and its value is beyond counting! And you are valuable to me as well, so valuable that I not only redeemed you from sin’s penalty, I have given you the riches of My kingdom to read, to study and to live out. You may think you are a pauper living in the midst of your troubles, your woes, your fears, your lack. But you have everything you need for living a godly life full of the greatest wealth. If you will open My Word daily and take in its riches, you will begin to live a rich life beyond your wildest dreams.

Oh beloved! What riches await those who take the time to open the vault of God’s Word! You are blessed beyond measure to have God’s Truth at your fingertips. Run to the vault this morning and read. Find what you need for your situation. No one who searches out God’s Truth is ever left poverty stricken. And as you read His Word, God will enlighten the eyes of your understanding and you will grow in wealth. You are an heir to all the promises of God! He knows your problems, your situation, your position and your worries. He sees where you are and what you think about yourself. But His Word will change your thinking, and then change your position and your outlook as well.  Life may have taken things from you that you didn’t want to give up, but God will fill all the gaps with His riches, so that you can be more than a conqueror, totally victorious and overcome everything that’s been thrown at you.

God loves you and He’s for you and He’s given you the riches of His Kingdom so that you can live a life of abundance. Now that’s worth living in the light of His Word!

Ephesians 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

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.

Colossians 2:3 In Him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Psalm 119:14 I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches.

Acts 20:32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

 

Look Beyond the View of Now to the New

With the time change and with my habit of getting up early, I found myself wide awake and full of energy quite early yesterday morning. My husband was sleeping in, so I decided to get in the car and go for a sunrise drive. I didn’t go far but I meandered around the nearby country roads to see what I could see. The deer were out here and there. The fog that settled across meadows and ponds was lifting and the sun began to creep over the horizon. As the sun got higher the leaves became more brilliant in their fall colors. It was a gorgeous morning. I drove past a couple of places I’ve always thought would be beautiful for a home site.

As I looked at one of my favorite places to build a home, I noticed that the view went on forever. Since it was on a small hill the trees acres away framed the blue sky perfectly. One of those places where someone always says “I could sit on the porch and just take in the view forever”.

But I also thought that unless you own the view as well, with all those beautiful trees, you can’t be sure that it will stay the same. Whoever owns the adjoining pastures and woodlands is in charge of that so it’s subject to change.

Change comes. You put down roots, you work heartily as unto the Lord, you live life well and you enjoy the view. Things are good and you are satisfied. In fact you are quite content. Why would anyone ever change their venue, go somewhere else or sell out?

God speaks to my heart: My precious child. Unless you own all you can see, what you are doing, where you are going, you can’t be assured that it will remain the same. I own it all – the earth is mine and everything in it – including you. I spoke and the beauty of the world came into existence. I spoke and you came into existence. I knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb. I knew the views you would enjoy, the places you would feel comfortable and the joys you would feel while looking at My creation. You cannot own it all, and you cannot make it stay the same forever, no matter how much you enjoy it. So you will have to trust Me to make each step of the life of your faith beautiful in its own way. Don’t be so attached to people, places, views and things. For I am going to take you beyond your comfort zone, out of your favorite view and into My realm of service. You will have to learn to enjoy the now, and be prepared for the new. But I promise, each and every step will be wonderful as you learn to trust Me more and more. You once lived in the valley and now I am taking you to greater heights. Don’t fear the road upward, for new heights are just what you need to thrive in the Holy Spirit. Don’t wish for the old view in the valley, don’t desire to go back. I am not a God who was, I AM that I AM. Each day with me holds a new view of beauty and life and purpose. Together, as you hold onto Me and let Me choose the path, you will grow in the grace and knowledge of Me. The splendor of letting Me choose your new view is something you could never experience in your own flesh.  Even if you must go through hard places to get to the summit, I am with you and I will teach you and show you and take you beyond yourself.

Oh beloved, hang on! You thought change was coming, in fact you’ve experienced quite a few changes. Everything in your life is transient as you turn your focus from the view to the View Maker. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth letting Him choose the changes as you follow Him with all of your heart.

Psalm 100:3 Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture

Psalm 24:1 The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.

Psalm 31:15 …my times are in Your hands…

Luke 9:23 And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Eclipsed by Life? Look to the Lord for Your Light!

 

Today in parts of the world there will be a full view of a total solar eclipse. In America we might be able to see part of it. An eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between the Sun and Earth, and the Moon fully or partially blocks the Sun. An eclipse is a natural occurrence but it can be frightening to people who don’t know about its astronomical explanation, as the Sun seems to disappear during the day and the sky darkens in a matter of minutes. They often consider it a bad omen or the sign of a catastrophe.

There are times in our lives when life goes suddenly dark. We weren’t expecting it and we had no plans to observe it, but darkness hits us square where we live anyway. We might consider our problems as bad omens indeed. We were living for Jesus weren’t we? Why did He let this happen? Why am I in the dark? We wonder what we did, where we went wrong or why God left us. Will we have to live in this situation forever, caught between condemnation and explanation? When will the sun ever shine again?

We want things to change, we want to fix it all and keep going. God wants us to wait on Him.  We want to work it out quickly while He wants us to rest in Him for as long as He needs us to.

God speaks to our hearts:  My precious child. In the times when you feel you are in the dark, walking alone, fearful of your circumstances, you can know that I am with you. I have not left you to observe the situation alone. Although the problem appears to darken the view of Me, I assure you that I am with you always. There is much you can learn while you feel you are in the dark.  I will strengthen your faith and teach you to walk only by My Spirit, not by your flesh. I can be trusted even when everything else seems lost, in order to replace your fears, your worries, your disappointments, your mourning, your dark times with total and unshakable faith in Me. You can continue to watch the eclipse or you can turn your face to Me. When you keep watching the shadows in your life, you will be blinded to My presence. But if you will trust Me, and look to Me, I will take this momentary hard situation and give you fresh faith, greater wisdom, and firmer resolve to walk with Me.

Oh beloved, run to God’s Word for your needs – every single one of them. His Word is alive and it will illuminate your dark times and it will illuminate who God is.  The Lord wants us to know Him so intimately and so completely that we won't be moved away from Him when difficulties arise in our lives. When the light seems obscured and the hard places are bearing down on us, we may feel that we will be crushed and blinded forever, but God is with us! Not only is He with us, He wants to be all we need!  We can rejoice that when the sun does shine again, we will know that we have been with Him and that we are even surer of His presence no matter what comes our way.

If you are in a dark place and your joy seems obscured remember that God loves you and He’s for you. You are never walking through the problem alone! You will see the light of day again and come through the entire time as knowing Him better and thus trusting Him more. And that’s all that really matters.

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

Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

Psalm 91:1-2 Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.

Job 42:5 I had heard of You [only] by the hearing of the ear, but now my [spiritual] eye sees You. (AMP)

Hosea 6:3 Oh, that we might know the Lord! Let us press on to know Him. He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring.

God Hears Every Prayer You Ever Speak

Forty-one years ago I was a typical teenager having fun with my friends. I didn’t have a steady boyfriend and I didn’t have a car. I did have a job at the local burger joint in the evenings. One of my best friends and I dreamed of boyfriends, wedding dresses and things girls our age usually dreamed about. I had no idea that in less than 30 days I would meet the love of my life. I could not see into the future no matter how much I daydreamed, planned or wished. Even if I prayed (and I may have) I still had no idea what was around the corner.

We spend a lot of time lamenting what’s wrong in our lives. We wish for more, hope for better, and daydream about plans. We get up each day and go through the motions. Although we may even pray, often we just pray and go on, not really knowing if God will answer. Sometimes prayer comes as a release valve, just to make us feel better. Do we really think God hears? Do we really think God cares about us? Is He really involved in our day to day problems, hopes, desires?

I can tell you for my part, there are things I have been praying about for years. I am standing on the Word of God for the answer. But I see no answer. I am the same woman as the teenager girl who could not look into the future to know the answer to my dreams was less than 30 days away. I don’t know when God will answer. It might be today. It might be 30 days. I cannot see the answer in the flesh, but I can see what God tells me, so I wait, patiently sometimes. Other times I am not so patient.

God speaks to my heart:  Precious child. I am the God who meets all your needs according to my richest in glory.  Everything you personally need is found in Me. But I am more than a God who distantly meets your needs. I am actively involved in your life. Just as you could not see that one answer to your prayers, one gift of your life was less than 30 days away, you cannot see the answers to today’s problems, hopes, dreams and prayers. But you can know that I am going to take care of you. That loved one you are praying for? They’re my loved one too. I love them with an everlasting love. I have a plan for their life and it is good. Trust Me.  You can trust Me because you know I’ve been with you. You can trust Me because your hope is in Me. You can trust Me because although you cannot see into the future, I can. I know, I care and I listen. Keep speaking, keep seeking, keep trusting.

That job? That marriage? That cash crunch? That sickness? That need? That fear? Whatever it is you are thinking about, praying about, hoping for.  Don’t give up. Keep going to God with all your needs.  Don’t worry, fret, or wonder. Pray about everything. Who else in all the universe can come boldly before the throne of Grace and speak to the King of Kings? No escort needed, no bodyguards to pass, no ticket to buy, no ransom to pay. Because we are His, we have instant access. In fact, because of the Holy Spirit, who keeps us sealed for the day of redemption, we have God’s presence with us!

Everything you hope for is found in Him. Every answer to every prayer is held in His hands. Don’t try to peer into the future, but keep talking to God about all of it. Don’t give up, don’t give in, don’t get weary, don’t quit.  

Oh beloved, nestle into the Father’s Arms this morning. Praise Him for the wonderful gift of His presence. Worship Him for Who He is. Adore Him for who you are In Him. Open up His magnificent book of Truth and take in the wonders of God Himself. Learn about Him. Seek His face. Pray, intercede and keep waiting in His presence. You can thank Him for the answers and thank Him for His perfect will.  You can trust Him because He is trustworthy, faithful and True.

God loves you, He hears every prayer you ever speak, He is for you and He’s going to work everything out for His glory and your good. He loves your loved ones too and He’s for them, so keep taking them to the throne of grace. Keep giving Him your needs, your hopes, and your drams.  He sees, He knows and He answers.  What a Savior! What a King! What an Abba Father!

Psalm 17:6 I am praying to You because I know You will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.

Psalm 33:22 Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord, for our hope is in You alone.

Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

Psalm 118:28 You are my God, and I will praise You! You are my God, and I will exalt You!

Colossians 4:2 Be earnest and unwearied and steadfast in your prayer [life], being [both] alert and intent in [your praying] with thanksgiving. (AMP)

Isaiah 65:24 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!

Let the Master Architect do His Magnfiicent Work!

We’re still working on some home remodeling and repair projects. It’s been going slow. We have wall to wall carpet, so when Danny took the wall down between the den/kitchen and the living room we now have a gap in the carpet. That gap will remain until we have time to put the new flooring down. We also have to figure out which flooring we want before we can put it down!  

Remodeling takes a lot of time and effort. Sometimes you find other things, hidden problems, along the way.  I have also discovered that, as one project is finished I can see another project I’d like us to do. 

Because we have a vision for what we’d like the house to look like inside and because we know what we want the downstairs to be for us, we can see through the construction issues. We can see the finished product because we have a plan. Someone else might come in and think “what a mess” but we know the end from the now.

God speaks to my heart: We who have been born again are under construction. Our lives at times can look like chaotic messes. We’re going from death to life, from under penalty destined for demolition to bought with a price and oh how we need “fixing up”.  As God begins the remodel process in our hearts, others might see the mess only. We too might keep looking at the mess we still are. Can God really fix us? Are we worth redeeming? What if more problems are found while He’s working on us? What if He reveals things that we have to let Him totally remove? Can we live without the walls that we have built?

And for those who watch the process, God has a wonderful plan! It does not yet appear what we will be, but He has a perfect plan for each construction process, for each redemptive action, for each renewal and regeneration. Often we feel condemned by the process because we falter in our walk, we forget God’s plan, we make our own changes and then we’re in a mess again.

Maybe you feel that your life is set for the wrecking crew. You don’t deserve to be remade. You may see no redeeming value in your situation, in your heart or in your mind. Maybe someone has tried to tear you down, demolish your life or tell you that you’re worthless and only good for the scrap pile. People will walk away, put the condemned sign on your life and leave you with gaping holes in your heart.

But God – But God!  He is the Master Architect of our lives. He has a plan and it is oh so very good! He is going to take you – take me – take us – and make us into something we could never imagine in our wildest dreams!  His plan will be fleshed out in our hearts and then after it is all done He will display us for the world to see as His!

As the song goes, “I am not who I was, I am being remade, I am new!” It’s so true! We are born again, but the process of sanctification – being remade – takes a lifetime! And even when it looks like we’re stuck in a de-struction, we are actually being perfected. One day, when Christ appears, we will be absolutely perfect!

Oh beloved, rejoice! You are being built for the King’s domain! You are loved so unconditionally and God’s plan for you is lavish and better than anything you could plan for yourself.  Let Him do the work, don’t slow Him down, don’t beg for Him to quit, for it will be all good as you let Him live His life through you!

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

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

2 Timothy 1:9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time--to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.

Colossians 2:7-8 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.