Life in Christ is Sweet and Useful!

As we sat eating at a little restaurant perched on the side of the cliff, we noticed there was a hummingbird feeder every 2 feet along the windows that framed the view of the valley and mountains. We also noted the rather large gathering of humming birds.  Each feeder received company almost constantly. Flitting in for a drink and flitting back out again. Constant visitation was happening. The hummingbirds kept coming back for more. The feeders were running low with their red sweet concoction but none of them had run completely out. It’s probably a daily thing that the feeders would get filled, get used and get refilled. 

What would happen if the feeder was full of beautiful red vinegar water? It would look the same but there would not be a single hummingbird drinking from the base.  They would still look so pretty with the ruby colored water sitting in them. But no one would enjoy the beautiful little birds coming in for a taste and getting filled. The feeders wouldn’t be used either.  Oh they’d sit there and look the part, but nothing would really be happening.

We were just sitting at another table on another morning laughing and talking about our someday trip to Alaska. No great spiritual revelations but we were full of joy and enjoying our conversation. A young woman came over to our table and said she didn’t mean to interrupt but she heard us talking about Alaska. She pulled up a chair and before long we were giving out the sweet concoction of the Word of God and she was drinking freely of the blessings. Next thing you know her daughter and granddaughter flitted in for a taste. Finally, her sister came and sat to receive nourishment.  Others at nearby tables were listening too – tasting of the sweet fellowship we were having. After over an hour it was time to go. God had done something – He had brought two precious ladies who were drawn to the sweet sweet Holy Spirit and to taste of His Word.

What if we’d been sitting there griping, complaining and grumbling about the day’s heat, the long ride or the bad food? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. But because God Himself came in and brought the sweet fellowship to our table, others were drawn to Him.

It’s not about us – but it is all about what Jesus Himself will do if we just let Him. He will fill us, He will use us and He will refill us again.  He will draw others to Himself and let them receive as well. It’s just simple Gospel living. 

Have you filled your feeders lately? Have you sat with the Lord and let Him fill you with His sweet sweet Spirit and His precious Word? It will give you joy unspeakable and full of glory, it will make your fellowship sweeter and it will draw others to Him.  

Oh beloved, God knows the problems you’re having finding time to be filled but He says to you, If you will let Me have time alone with you, I will fill you, I will use you and I will refill you again and again. You will never run out of the love, joy and peace in My Word even if you get used up. For I will fill you again and again. My love never fails even if you pour yourself out for Me every day.  I will even take what has turned bitter in your life and sweeten it all. I AM the One Who will clean out the vinegar of sorrow, animosity and unforgiveness. I am the One Who will take your life and make it oh so sweet. There is nothing I cannot change, reflavor and redeem in your life. Then I will use you for Kingdom purpose if you let me pour into you and if you freely pour out for others. Our life together will be constant filling, refilling and using and others will be drawn to Me through you.

Let God make your life oh so sweet and watch as He uses you to sweeten the lives of others. He loves you and He’s for you and that’s all that really matters in the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 3:19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

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

Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the mind and healing to the body.

Psalm31:7 I will be glad and rejoice in Your unfailing love, for You have seen my troubles, and You care about the anguish of my soul.

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

Psalm 96:2 Sing to the Lord; praise His name. Each day proclaim the good news that He saves.

Psalm 40:16 But may all who search for You be filled with joy and gladness in You. May those who love Your salvation repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”

John 7:38 He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water. (AMP)

You Can Trust God Always!

When you ride on the back of a motorcycle you’re dependent upon the driver for everything.  For me, since I cannot and do not ride my own bike, I’m really dependent on Danny.  I depend on him for many things, from bathroom breaks to steep hills and curves breaks! I literally put my life in his hands every time we climb on the goldwing.  I admit when I first climbed on behind him in the 70’s I wasn’t so sure about His abilities! But I loved Him and so I went with him with my whole heart. 

Over the years he’s proved himself to be a top notch driver. We’ve been through sleet, snow, rain, fierce heat and winds. We’ve had blow outs, alternator trouble, battery issues, gas filter clogs and more. Every single time I’ve found myself in what I’d think was a tight spot, Danny has come through with ingenuity that I certainly did not have. There have been times I’ve been very afraid of the road but I’ve never been afraid of him.  I’ve laughed and cried and prayed and held my breath on the back of the motorcycle, but he’s always gotten me through it all. In all my life I’ve never trusted myself to another. I’ve never ridden on the back of a bike with anyone else and I’m glad.  I put my trust in him early on and he’s never let me down.  I believe Danny is the best motorcycle driver and husband there ever has been. 

When I first met the Lord and became a believer, I was not always sure of God’s abilities. But I gave my life to Him completely.   I put myself in His hands and let Him do the driving, the leading, the choosing and the blessing. He’s never once let me down. Oh there have been times that I just knew I wouldn’t live through it – the sorrow, the hurt, the mourning, the trouble – but each and every time He has proved Himself to be the absolutely perfect Savior, Master and Friend. My faith in Him has grown and grown. I find that I put more and more trust in Him and He’s always there for me. Not once has He left me on the roadside of life. Not once has He said He couldn’t get me through a problem. Not once has He let me down.  There is no other Savior like Him.

Oh beloved, today is the day you can trust God completely! He is worthy of your trust, your faith, your prayers and your thanksgiving.  He will not let you down on the highway of life even when others may fail you. He cannot fail you, even when the economy fails. Even when the sky grows dark, He will be your covering for the bad weather. Even when the strong hot winds of adversity blow against your tender skin, He is your shade and shield. Even when you can’t imagine how you will get through it, He is carrying you through it all.  He’s the only Savior worth trusting your life to. He’s the only Friend who loves you enough to guide you all the days of your life. If you will put yourself in His hands and let Him do the driving, leading, choosing and blessing – you will never be disappointed.

The Lord of Heaven and Earth loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth putting your life in His hands forever!

Psalm 33:20 We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation. (AMP)

Psalm 34:19 The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.

Psalm 46:1 God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to temptation], a very present and well-proved help in trouble. (AMP)

Psalm 9:10 And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God’s Word and the right of their necessity]. (AMP)

Proverbs 16:20 He who deals wisely and heeds [God’s] word and counsel shall find good, and whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord—happy, blessed, and fortunate is he. (AMP)

God Will Change What You see Through Eyes of Faith

Our vacation has taken a little detour. We had plans but the circumstances of the plans made for much prayer and consideration. Finally we felt that we should go in another direction.  And we did.  

As we rode I realized something. The mountains we traveled through and the road we traveled on are the same ones we’ve come through many times before. But this time was different. In fact, it was very enjoyable.  I’m just not fond of cliffs or hairpin curves but yesterday was exceptionally wonderful.   We met people, we shared Jesus, we encouraged lives and we laughed together.  We asked for divine guidance and He answered.  I asked for help to make it and He responded.

Sometimes when we’re going through the mountains of difficulty our only prayer is for relief.  Could it be that from time to time God wants us to grow through the trouble rather than be relieved of the difficulty? 

I discovered as I rode behind my husband on the motorcycle through the mountains that there are times when God just helps us get through it. Sometimes He teaches us a better way. Sometimes He allows a detour. Sometimes He changes destinations, outcomes and plans.

We want the circumstances to change.  We don’t like the difficulties, the strain, the stretch, the helplessness we feel when in the hard spot or on the difficult road.  God wants growth.  His desire is not to destroy us or to keep us going through the same path of trouble over and over. But His desire is that we will learn to rely on Him more and more, so that when we’re done with the road we’re on, we find that we know Him better and are able to actually thank Him for the good things that came, even while traveling the hard road.  

One thing I know for sure, regardless of the circumstances of life, just one touch from the Lord changes everything.  Just one touch from the Lord changes me.

We all face troubles. We all go through trials. We all have high places of suffering, difficulty and pain. It’s inevitable.  If we focus on the danger we may make it through but we’ll be miserable. But if we focus on the Lord, not only will He get us through it, He will give us joy in the midst of it all. He will give us a better outlook and purpose in it. We can relax and find blessings in the ride, even when it’s hard. The only way to do that is to let God touch it all. 

Oh beloved, run to the road map of life and read: The Bible is full of God’s promises for your trip.  He has the absolute best plans for you.  You may not understand the road you are on, but God knows every turn and every twist. He has gone ahead of you to prepare for your safety. He is behind you to encourage you to go on through.  He is within you to give you courage, strength and grace beyond your natural abilities.  He says I AM your way, I AM your truth, I AM your life. If you will trust Me, I will change what you see and give you eyes of faith to ride the mountains of difficulty, cruise the valleys of despair and survive the winds of change, the storms of life and the detours you never planned. 

God loves you and He’s with you all the way and that’s worth trusting Him wherever the road of life leads you, knowing it’s His touch that changes everything. 

2 Corinthians 5:7  for we walk by faith, not by sight. (NAS)

Isaiah 43:2 When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. 

Hebrews 11:8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.

Isaiah 42:6 I will lead blind Israel down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way. I will brighten the darkness before them and smooth out the road ahead of them. Yes, I will indeed do these things; I will not forsake them.

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God, my salvation! I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord God is my strength and song; yes, He has become my salvation.

Swim, Dance, Delight in God's Love Today!

“I love you” is probably one of the most used phrases in the world. It’s a greeting, it’s a good-bye and it’s a comforter. Seeing a spouse, our first thoughts are to say it. Leaving family and friends our last thing is to say it. When problems arise in the lives of our friends and family through grief, discouragement or pain, we always want to hug them tight and say “I love you”.

What does it really mean “I love you”? Is it simply a kindness like a pat on the back or a “bless your heart”? Is it something to get you past an awkward moment or get you through a rough patch?

Real love is aggressive. It snatches you from the flame. It grabs you when you want to walk away. It stops and listens. It keeps on keeping on long after the first thrill. It stays the course. It makes the rounds. It is found in the everyday and makes it fabulous. It’s found in the mundane and makes it anointed.

When the Lord says, “I love you” He means it. He’s giving of His very nature for God is love.  Love is so important to God that He gave us loads of Scriptures about it. How to find it. How to receive it. How to have it. How to give it. How to let it take over your heart and mind and soul.  Because of God’s Agape love, we don’t have to settle for less. We can have His perfect love poured into our hearts and we can pour His perfect love into others’ lives. Without God’s love we’ll simply be going through the motions. You know, scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Good ol’ boys. Cliques.  Without His love we won’t really love or be loved at all.

It may be hard for you to believe at times, but God loves you! He marvels at how you are made, He is thrilled at how you are unique and special. He pours His love on you day and night and never turns off the flow. He walks with you in the dark places. He dances with you in the joyful times. He sings to you in the nightmares of life. He prays over you without ceasing. He sees your ending and it is a very happy one. He will never stop loving you, no matter what happens or who walks away.  His love for you never fails. His love for you endures forever.

Oh beloved, rejoice in His love today! Swim in it. Dance in it. Delight in it.  You can’t use it up, mess it up or block it up. He says I love you and I AM for you and together you and I, the Lord, will stay the course all the way to heaven!

I John 4:16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.

Romans 5:8 But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.

Jeremiah 31:3  The Lord appeared to Him from afar, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

Psalm 136:26 Give thanks to the God of heaven. His faithful love endures forever.

God Says You're on the Winning Team!

Remember the days of picking kids to be on teams? We wanted the best to hold the line, throw the ball, jump the rope and more. There were the ones that were always picked last. It was hard because kids wanted to be nice, but they wanted to win. So the struggle between having a good team and having a good heart was there on the playground for the whole world to see.

Sometimes the underdog just got made fun of and left to suffer in his or her own problems. Other times we’d find out that the underdog was actually a shining star with talents none of us knew! It was amazing to see the look on the face of the kid who didn’t fit in as everyone cheered on the victorious home run or breaking through for Red Rover.

Our country is in a bit of a mess. I might say we may be in the last inning. There’s trouble at all the bases and the opposing team appears to be bigger, stronger and “badder”.  We’re the underdogs that’s for sure.  Unless we do something drastic we can’t hope to win. Can we?

You’re probably feeling the heat yourself. Life can be a big a mess as the playing field of life gets littered with all kinds of problems. You know you’re the weaker link, the last to be picked and you may even have been left out of the game altogether.  Unless you do something drastic you won’t win. Will you?

Is there hope for us on the underdog team? Is there hope for you as an underdog yourself? Maybe you’re thinking about throwing in the towel and making yourself fit in with the other team. You’re tired of having a good heart, full of good intentions and being lonely and outcast and unappreciated, undervalued and discarded like a bad penny.

Oh beloved, I encourage you today to get out the Play Book of Life and read:  The underdogs win! It may look rough, the sky may be growing dark, the winds of change are blowing in and the devil himself is howling at your door. But God says you are on the A Team! God says you’re a Winner! God says you are victorious not a victim! He says you are beautiful, perfect and redeemed. He says you are able and content and valiant! He says greater is He who is in you than He who is in the world!

It may be the last inning and you may be struggling, but God says I love you and I AM for you and that’s all that matters in the playing field of life!

Psalm 112:6-8 Such people will not be overcome by evil.  Those who are righteous will be long remembered.  They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them.  They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.

1 John 5:5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

I John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.

I Corinthians 1:8-9 He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.  God will do this, for He is faithful to do what He says, and He has invited you into partnership with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 8:31 What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

Drop Every Restraint and Take Every Chance with God!

Our 3 year old grandson, Caleb loves to play on my phone. When I enter the room he walks up to me with the sweetest face and says, “I want to pay you pone”. Sometimes I let him. Other times the battery is too low. Occasionally I will try to get something from him in exchange. “Okay, if you give me a kiss!” Rarely do I get one of those. But sometimes when I say, “Okay, give me a hug” he’s willing to make the exchange.  Other times he just says “hmph!” folds his arms and walks away. He weighs the give-and-take in the balance and just can’t let go even though he desperately wants to play a game on my phone. We’re both disappointed. Me, because I really wanted that hug or kiss and I so wanted to bless him. Caleb - because he really wanted to receive the blessing of getting to play on my phone.

We’re like that with God sometimes.  He speaks to our heart about moving out or moving on or simply letting Him choose the road we need to take. It’s just a little east of our comfort zone. We look at the request from God, we look at the desires of the heart, we look to Him and we look at ourselves. It’s just too much to give.  We weight it all out and find ourselves walking away after deciding the exchange is too costly.  It’s a huge disappointment for us – for we who are in the household of faith ought to be more willing to let go.  Not sure if it’s a disappointment to God, for He knows all about us and He already knows what we’ll choose. But He has to wonder why His children don’t just give the hug and receive the blessing!

Unlike Caleb, who is simply thinking with his mind, we are able to pray about our decisions and look at them from a spiritual aspect. If we let ourselves see with the eyes of the Lord, then we’ll say sure to God and move with Him!

Caleb will outgrow his toddler thinking. He will grow out of being so shy and unsure of the consequences of letting someone have a hug or a kiss. As children of the Lord, I hope we outgrow our restraint with God.

Oh beloved, I pray for you today! I pray that you will see the Lord and run to Him willingly and give Him your whole heart! I pray that you will not hold back one piece of yourself from Him. I pray that as you give yourself entirely to Him you will see all the amazing blessings that come from a willing heart. I pray that you will measure carefully what God is asking of you and do it with all your might!  I pray that as He speaks to you, you will listen with the ears of faith and see with the eyes of trust and hold out your whole life with the hands of service. I pray that you will feel the hug of His amazing love and hear the joy in His heart as you give it all to Him.

I want to encourage you to drop every fear, worry, concern and control and take every chance that God presents to you. I know in your heart you want to receive every blessing, every mission, and every plan from God. You’ll have to drop your guard in order to receive completely from the Lord. But I’ll let you in on a little secret – it’s more than worth it!  Why? Because God loves you and He’s for you and that’s where the real blessings are received.

 

2 Samuel 7:28 For You are God, O Sovereign Lord. Your words are truth, and You have promised these good things to Your servant.

Psalm 119:32 I will [not merely walk, but] run the way of Your commandments, when You give me a heart that is willing. (Amplified)

2 Chronicles 25:2 He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.

Psalm 26:2 Examine me, O Lord, and try me; Test my mind and my heart.

1 Chronicles 29:9 Then the people rejoiced because they had offered so willingly, for they made their offering to the Lord with a whole heart, and King David also rejoiced greatly.

 

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

How's the Garden of Your Heart This Morning?

This is the time of year we see a lot of plant problems in our office. People bring in their sickly items and one of our agriculture agents will attempt to diagnose the problem. Sometimes we have to send off the plant sample to the disease lab. They are specialists at diagnosing problems including diseases and insects.

Today we had a tomato sample, a worm identification, two grass samples and a tree sample. The roots of grass from one home’s lawn were completely rotted away. The grass was turning yellow and the entire yard was dying. It had started out in small patches, but over the course of several weeks it had overtaken all the grass.

Insects eat away at healthy tissue until there’s nothing left. If they nibble at the fruit of a plant, the fruit becomes inedible – unusable. If the roots of the grass or other plant are affected by disease, then no nutrients can enter into the green leaves. Without proper nutrition everything dies.

Our faith is a like a plant. Unless our roots are strong and healthy, they cannot extend deep into the soil. If they don’t extend deep enough, then shallow living is what you have. And shallow living makes for problems.

Problems and trials are a lot like worms in the garden. If left unattended we lose the fruit of our lives and faith is eaten away. Once our faith is compromised, we have little hope of producing for the Kingdom.

As believers we must spend time tending the garden of our faith. At the first sign of trouble it’s imperative that we seek the wisdom of the Lord. The quicker we bring our problems to Him, the easier they are to diagnose and repair. If we let it go, the diseases of this world will overtake us. We must also make sure to pick the worms that constantly want to eat away at our faith. Those pests are persistent, so we must always be on watch and always seek God’s help with our weaknesses. 

In this walk of faith, we often want to be so strong that we can handle it all, including the fruit pests and root problems everyone has. But real life in Christ doesn’t ignore our own weaknesses. It admits our need and lets God’s strength be ours. Without the Lord, we cannot hope to be cured and find strength to grow fresh and healthy fruit for the Kingdom.

Oh beloved, how’s the garden of your heart this morning? Are you weakening under the load of pests – the hurts, the sorrows, the fear? Is the fruit of the spirit being eaten away because you’re unable to handle all the problems yourself?  Run to the Lord this morning and let Him have your problems. He knows your weaknesses and He’s more than able to be strength for you! He knows your root problems and He’s able to cure them by His Holy Spirit. God will always be there to help you and never leave you to languish and die no matter what. Let Him dig deep to find the real problems and watch as your healing comes and your fruit returns in greater quantity and quality than you’ve ever dreamed!

God loves you so much that He’s made a way to give you everything you need for a fruitful, faithful life and He’s for you so that even when you get overtaken by pests, He’s there to remove the damages and restore the joy!

Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Colossians 1:10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Ephesians 3:16 I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit.

2 Peter 1:8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 92:12-14 But the godly will flourish like palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Lebanon.  For they are transplanted to the Lord’s own house. They flourish in the courts of our God.  Even in old age they will still produce fruit; they will remain vital and green.

"Call Me Back, God!"

One of my daughter’s friends shared this cute story about her youngest son. While they were eating out, very seriously on his play phone, holding one ear to 'hear better' he says: "Hello? I need help to get out of this place. In your name, Amen." He promptly hangs up. Then he hesitates, picks his phone back up and quickly says: "call me back!"

It’s a cute anecdote. But it makes me think of my own prayer life. How many times have I quickly shot off a request to God as though ordering from a menu. Life is busy and I want God to “call me back”. But how will I hear if I’m too busy to stop and listen?

We can talk to God anytime, anywhere, even in the middle of our busy lives. But is that enough time with God? And is He a fast food Savior in a pass through? We spout our order out to Him and as an afterthought we may say, “Oh yeah, Lord, You want to reply?”

God’s ear is open to our hearts 24/7. No closing time and special orders don’t upset Him. The only thing is we can’t have it our way. And the only way to have it His way is to spend some quality time with Him. If our prayer life is simply a quick phone call to heaven and asking for a response tersely, will that suffice? Will we be fed manna from heaven, will we know the Lord of heaven and earth intimately? Will we really get what we want? And is the only reason we pray to get what we want?

God knows your schedule. He knows your time constraints and your busy days ahead. He knows you have things to do, people to see and places to go. He understands your problems, oversees your deepest needs and cares about every single thing that you care about. He also knows you’re often frazzled, tired, frustrated, depressed, anxious, fearful and busy. 

Oh beloved, why don’t you step away from life’s menu for a few moments this morning and taste and see that the Lord is good! Take time to talk with Him about everything. And then let Him have time to speak His truth into your life, for that’s where the real slaking of your thirsty soul is found.

Maybe it’s worth the time to put down the phone and pick up the heavenly line of love, joy and peace. Escape from the crowd and take time to hear, really hear from Him. He is the I AM in your I’m not situation. He’s the bearer of Good Tidings of Great Joy in your bad news message. He’s the One and only One who knows you perfectly and loves you completely.

I promise, on the authority of God’s Word, that He loves you and He’s for you and that’s worth slowing down for a real conversation with your Savior every day.

Matthew 6:6 But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open.

John 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

Psalm 5:3 In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation.

Psalm 27:4 The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in His Temple.

Psalm 105:4 Search for the Lord and for His strength; continually seek Him.

Isaiah 55:6 Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while He is near.

Jeremiah 33:3'Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'