Today I’m going to take the opportunity to tell you about a friend of mine. I will try to describe her to you and how she has influenced me. I share this with hopes and a desire that if God hasn’t already given you a friend like her, He would.

This friend is quite a bit older than me so she’s always known me. Since she was a friend of the family, I had opportunities to hear lots of stories about her, and I learned to know her through our visits. It wasn’t until I was 15 that we “clicked” and I really started to get to know her as my friend.

The first thing I have to say is that, I am incredibly blessed to know her! She knows who she is, and when she reads this, please know how much I love and appreciate you. I wouldn’t be who I am today, if it weren’t for you!

Now to describe her. She is the most pleasant, gracious, and humble person I have ever met. She’s also beautiful! She has this way of brightening up my day, no matter how dark it seems, even if it’s simply the thought of her. I often wonder what she would do if she were in my place and then try to do that. She’s just so sincere and… peaceful. That describes her. Like, she always does the right thing at the right time, and says things in the right way. I believe it’s because she’s so considerate and her heart is so full of mercy.

I love being with her because when I’m with her I’m inspired to be more like her. I ask her lots of questions and learn from her. She rubs off on me which is a good thing for everyone around me because she’s full of life, and the life she lives truly bears good deeds and good fruit. And how often have I benefited from her graciousness!? I don’t think I’ll ever fully comprehend how rich my life is because of her.

I wonder if you’ve met her. Since I know a lot of you, you might know her too. I pray so.

Proverbs 3
13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.
15She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

James 3
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. 17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.

Proverbs 1
20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares;
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech: 22 "How long will you simple ones love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
23 If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.

My beautiful friend is Wisdom. She calls out to you to embrace her as your friend. She’s willing, more than that – eager - to share her heart with you and give you sound advice. I guess it’s a matter of letting her speak into your life and listening to what she thinks is best for you. And not just listening but following. I’m learning more and more to submit to her ideas when I have other thoughts or desires. I'm realizing that she only holds out what is best!

#66730

What do you see when you look at this number... what sort of meaning does it have?  Could it be life or death?  It was for a woman living in Holland during World War II.  She and her family risked their lives to save Jewish people from being murdered and tortured.  They were hidden in a secret room in their home.  Her father owned a watch repair shop. They lived above it. There was no age limit as to who they would try to save or protect... mothers, babies, children, fathers...  some too old to care for themselves..

What compels a person to risk her life to save someone else?  Oh, I know there are times when you hear a hero story and think...  Wow!!! Could I ever do something like that?  Number# 66730 was from an ordinary family who loved the Lord.  Daily Bible reading was an anticipated time of joy in the bleakness of war; prayer was vital... Yet, it had it's risks...

Now, in a concentration camp herself for helping others... many months have passed.  With it, the passing of her sister and father who had endured countless times of torture and cruelty. For more than three hours each morning... she is forced to stand in the bitter cold with just a paper thin dress on. Hidden beneath her dress, in a small bag attached to a string around her neck, is the Bible that has given her strength.  The Bible that angels guarded... the Bible that she read to the other prisoners... the Bible that she risked her life to keep. She stands among tens of thousands of women who do not know their fate... Will today be the day that she is to die?  

Her number as well as her name is called and she is asked to step aside... she stands beside a young girl who has been in the concentration camp for two years.  She asks the young girl why they are standing there... Barely able to speak, the girl said two words.. "Death sentence."  

Corrie Ten Boom knew this would probably be her last chance to witness to anyone about the Lord.  For three hours... she shared of God's love.  The young woman had never read the Bible.  She believed that God existed but did not know Him.  She wanted to know more about Him.  As they stood in the freezing cold... awaiting death,  this precious young woman gave her heart to Christ... The other prisoners standing around them had been listening too.

Corrie Ten Boom...#66730 was called forward... she asked God for a quick death... As she walked through the gates to what she thought would take her to her eternal glory with Christ, she was handed her release papers... 

Most of us will never suffer in the way that Corrie Ten Boom suffered... The young woman she lead to the Lord while awaiting her fate... died shortly thereafter.  Corrie was 52 years old when she left the concentration camp and she told others about the Lord until her death on her 91st birthday.  She wrote numerous books and produced several films  including "The Hiding Place." God has given each of us His story to tell to those around us... to those who need hope... to those who need to feel His love.  I have been inspired to be bolder... 

Let us pray for intersections in our lives.  Pray for divine appointments... for unexpected connections...

"Praise the Lord, all you nations;

     extol Him, all you peoples.

 For great is His love towards us,

     and the faithfulness of the Lord

          endures forever."

                   Psalm 117

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us

     but to Your name be the glory,

     because of Your love and

          faithfulness."

                  Psalm 115:1

"Praise the Lord

  Praise the Lord, O my soul.

     I will praise the Lord all my life

     I will sing praise to my God as 

          long as I live.

 Do not put your trust in princes,

     in mortal men who cannot save.

 When their spirit departs, they

     return to the ground;

  On that very day their plans come to nothing.

  

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,

     whose hope is in the Lord his God,

  the Maker of heaven and earth,

     the sea, and everything in them...

 the Lord who remains faithful forever.

He upholds the  cause of the oppressed

     and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free,

     the Lord gives sight to the blind,

 the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,

     the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the alien

     and sustains the fatherless and the widow,

     but He frustrates the ways of the wicked.

The Lord reigns forever,

     your God, O Zion, for all generations.

 Praise the Lord."

                  Psalm 146

Fear

I have fears.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress. I will never be shaken. Psalm 62:1-2

As a child....I'm sure I had my share of fears, but I felt braver then sometimes. My parents encouraged me and I believed I could do anything. By the time I was five, I was rock climbing, rapelling, back packing and white water canoeing with my Dad. Today...not so much...I get nervous driving my son to youth on a dark rainy night.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7

The ESV writes it this way: for God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7

The evil one knows that when we are focused on our fears...our eyes are not in focus on our Saviour. Our fears can either motivate us to run into the strong arms of our Heavenly Father or they can imobilize us so that we are held captive by them.

When we are focused on our fears....we can see nothing else.

I have struggled with so many forms of fear....fear of failure, fear of success, fear of loss, fear of rejection, fear of inadequacy, fear of pain, fear of the unknown....the list goes on....

I am beginning to recognize it now, I believe, for what it is....an attack on my mind....to take my eyes off of Jesus. It starts as a small dark feeling of dread, worry and what ifs....and grows like a shadow.

But the truth is this.....found in 1 John 1:5......God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.

Look to the Light.

I often think of David when I think of my fears....You can read about him in 1 Samuel 17. If David had focused his mind on Goliath....he never would have defeated him. But no...David's mind was focused on his God...David says..."You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied...." he goes on...you've heard and read this story as a child...read it again.

Let your heart and mind meditate on this...I think David knew from experience what he was talking about when he wrote this in Psalms 62:5-6...he phrases it a second time, slightly different...

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

In Numbers 4:17-20, God is assigning the duties of the Levites for taking care of the tabernacle - how to move it, etc. The Kohathites were to be the ones to carry the most holy things after Aaron and his sons covered them and prepared them for travel.

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, "Let not the tribe of the clans of the Kohathites be destroyed from among the Levites, but deal thus with them, that they may live and not die when they come near to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his task and to his burden, but they shall not go in to look on the holy things even for a moment, lest they die."

Holy things. We don't really get it. To us, things are just things. We have a hard time understanding why someone would die just by looking at something. A cup is just a cup. A bowl is just a bowl.

And they are just cups and bowls... until God says otherwise. The only reason these particular cups and bowls are holy is because Gods says they are. And when God says something is holy, it's holy. Who's going to be the first one to take a peak?

And the holiness of the thing changes it and its relation to the world around it.
The holy thing has a decisive effect on its world.

Once a thing is just a thing. Then God declares it to be holy. God imparts holiness to it. It is no longer the same.

Why? These are God's things. He is holy. A reminder to the Israelites. God is holy. They are not. Don't mess with holiness.

Now what -in these New Covenant days, the age of grace that we live in? Things are just things, but...

Once a person is just a person. Yes, created in the image of God, but just like every other person. Then God declares that she is holy through his Son who gave his life for her. God imparts his holiness to her. She is not the same.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him... Colossians 1:21-22

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness and patience... Colossians 3:12

And the holiness of the woman changes her and her relation to the world around her.
The holy woman has a decisive effect on her world.

A sheep can have a tendency to stray away from the flock. When this happens, the shepherd will look for his missing sheep and when he finds it will break it's leg and carry it on his shoulders until the sheep learns dependence on the shepherd. This is to make the sheep learn to rely on the shepherd and not stray from the flock again.

God does this in our life too where he we will "break" us to bring us back to Him. We can easily stray from God and He will never leave us and will pursue us. It's not easy to be "broken" and learn dependency on Christ once again. Sometimes it's a very difficult journey that takes us back to God's embrace.

I've been thinking alot about Psalm 23 and how God says He's our shepherd and gives us everything we need. This illustration of the sheep being carried on the shepherd's shoulders makes me think of the famous Psalm 23....

"yea though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me...."

God doesn't say we'll fly above the valley or go around it, but says we'll go through it.... the valley could be anything in our life like depression, divorce, financial struggles, death of a family member, etc. We need to walk through it for us understand dependence once again.... just like the sheep is carried on the shepherd's shoulders until he is healed.... only then it learns dependence.

I saved this rendition of Psalm 23 in my files and believe it was copied from "Girlfriends in God" devotion on Crosswalk. I wish I had written it down where it was from to give the author credit.

My Psalm 23

Lord, You are my Shepherd (You are my Identity)
I shall not want (You are my Provision)
You make me lie down in green pastures (You are my Rest)
You lead me beside the still waters (You are my Replenishment)
You restore my soul (You are my Healing)
You lead me in the paths of righteousness (You are my Guide)
For Your name's sake (You are my Purpose)
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death (You are my Strength)
I will fear no evil (You are my Security)
For You are with me (You are my Peace)
Your rod and your staff they comfort me. (You are my Deliverer)
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (You are my Hope)
You anoint my head with oil (You are my Blessing)
My cup runs over (You are my Abundance)
Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life (You are my Promise)
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord (You are my Destiny)
Forever You are my All in All!

How has God "broken" you to bring you back to him? Is there anything in your life that you're going through right now where you feel God next to you... walking through the valley?

Let God be all that he promises.... your security, hope, deliverer, healer, your peace, your guide, your resting place..... and YOUR SHEPHERD!

Grace and Peace

My heart is overwhelmed today as it has been these last few weeks. Do you know why? It is because I am amazed by God’s grace.

I have been reading the letters of Paul, who was the apostle to the Gentiles (non Jews) – who probably most of us also are. In each of the letters from Romans to Philemon, Paul greets the believers in Jesus Christ - or saints as he also calls them - with these words:
Grace and peace to you from God the Father
and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

After reading each of the letters my heart is literally pounding with the thrill of knowing this to be true! Because of the lavish grace God has extended to us through Jesus Christ - through his death, resurrection and ascension - we have peace with God and peace in our hearts. Wow!

Let the following verses thrill your hearts and give you assurance and peace. Catch how it's all about the grace of God and not about us! Catch what is ours through Jesus Christ!

Romans 3:21-25a
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

1 Corinthians 1:30
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.

Ephesians 1:3-14
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory

Philippians 3:8-9
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.

1 Thessalonians 1:10
…and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Now...
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 3:16-17

Life is a mist...

Sometimes I feel that God gives us a glimpse of what heaven is like.  Yesterday, I heard the angels sing, well... that is what is it seemed like to me.   It was really just my brother's voice, but he shouldn't have been able to sing at all.  He struggles to breathe.  He is dying with lung cancer.  I thought I would encourage him by playing the guitar and singing some songs he loves. But, when he started singing, almost in a whisper and then at full voice... we, that were gathered around him could not stop the tears that flowed from our eyes.  He always had a beautiful voice but it was more beautiful just realizing that the Holy Spirit was singing through him.   He struggles with constant pain, but he lives each day holding on to the next.  

He does not complain.  He is grateful for the sun, for the rain, for his little dogs that gather around his feet and the one that jumps up on his lap and licks his face.  He is thankful for his brother who comes daily and cares for him.  He is grateful for the tiny amount of food that he can eat.  He is always concerned about others.  He does not blame God... He is Job.

On the other hand, I am pilgrim.  I struggle with this part of my journey.  My tears are coming more easily now...  He is not gone, but I am grieving... I am losing a friend, one that makes me laugh.  I am reminded of our childhood years; chasing each other around the yard... climbing trees, comforting each other in the face of tragedy... I am also reminded that our lives are just a  breath... a whisper in the wind... 

I am so glad that God has so much more to offer than this world... We will laugh again. 

The book of James tells us to be patient in suffering...

"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, 

take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  As you

know, we consider blessed those who have persevered.  You

have heard  of Job's perseverance and have seen what the 

Lord finally brought about.  The Lord is full of compassion

and mercy."   James 5:10-11

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because

when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of

life that God has promised to those who love Him."

                       James 1:12

..."What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little

while and then vanishes."

                     James 4:14

Oh, but the hope we have in Jesus!  This world will always have it's pain and struggle but the Word of the Lord... His love,  His faithfulness, remains forever...

                    

Words

Blessings...Curses...we should tremble at the power of words. I have used words to bless and encourage and build up those I love and even strangers. I have also used words to curse, slander, gossip and tear down those I love...and yes, even strangers...just probably not to their face.

I am reminded of the first time I remember God showing me the power of my words. I had just finished "flipping out"...(yelling, fussing, ranting, etc.....all in the name of 'correction') at my young three year old son. His tender heart broken....from the carelessness, tone and volume of my words. The Lord rebuked me. I saw my lack of self-control and the power of my words to break down, manipulate, and control. On my knees....I asked for help and forgiveness.

God has much to say in the bible about 'words'.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Proverbs 16:24

I have found that my actions and what comes out of my mouth are usually the overflow of what is in my mind and heart. Scary. How much more do we need to fill our mind with God's truth, His words, and peace!

Thank you Jesus for your grace! And I second what Satisfied said yesterday....we are in progress. So no guilt here....just acknowledgement and a desire to grow and change to be more like Jesus.

The Lord reveals our sin so that we can change. He shows us in his word the power of His words!

...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:16-17

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. Psalm 119:15-16

Thank you Jesus for being our Word in the flesh....God's way of communicating His great love for us.....Thank you for giving us your word so that we can live.....and live abundantly!

Potential

I've been thinking about potential lately. The dictionary defines it as (adj) Capable of being but not yet in existence; latent (n) Capacity for growth, development, or coming into being. We all have potential in that we all have capacity for growth and development, and that's a good and positive thing, and very biblical, which gives us hope. By realizing we have potential, we can be inspired. Knowing things could be better can motivate us to not settle for negative aspects our of lives that can be brought into alignment with the way God says they shoud be. Praise God that we don't have to settle for the way things are!

However, so many times we think of potential according to the first definition - capable of a way of being, but not in existence yet. And as we apply this definition to ourselves, the enemy quite often turns it into an indictment against our character and abilities. And we begin to think that what we are right now isn't good enough. And what we're doing right now is insignificant. And the possible growth and improvement becomes in our minds something that should be happening, but isn't. Something that could be taking place, but doesn't. We become discontent, unsatisfied with our current circumstances or even worse, feeling inadequate and that there is always a need to improve or better ourselves or do something more valuable, worthwhile or significant.

I don't believe our God wants us to live under that kind of thinking. I think that we women can go there quite readily and frequently. What does the word of God say?

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

God knows what you are capable of. He created you with a purpose in mind and has prepared good things for you to do.

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

God is the one who gets you to do them.

And there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:6

God is the one who empowers you to do what he has prepared for you to do.

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

It is the grace of God that makes you who you are - and it is NOT in vain. Who you are right now is good, pleasing to him and useful for what he wants you to do.

Take heart! Who we are, what we know, what we are able to do right now is what it's supposed to be. And if it isn't, our God will change it. Let's keep offering ourselves to him and ask him to give us joy in what exists currently.

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." ~ James 4:1-3 (NIV)

One thing I struggle with is looking around at others and seeing what they have and where they get to go for trips and then coming home and trying to be content with what I have. I have a roof over my head.... it's ours though that we bought on our own.... We go on vacation every year and create our own memories with our children.... it's not Mexico or Hawaii, Disneyland or camp each year for my children but our own place we go to each year to spend time with our kids. I struggle with inadequacy and jealous feelings that I cannot do the expensive trips with my kids and buy them all the things I see other people buying for their children. Sometimes I am tempted to just go for it and do what others do, and say who cares to taking a line of credit out so that I can do these things for my children.

Sometimes my children complain that their friends all get to go to Disneyland and how come we can't. Our friends get a new bike when they need it and we can't. Why do we have to buy a used bike? Why can't my bedroom be like my friends' bedroom and why can't I paint it and have all matching furniture? Why can't I get whatever I want? Why can't we go out for dinner more often? Why? Why? Why?..... the list goes on.

One thing as a parent I'm thankful for is that even though my children don't understand money and the struggles of raising a family in today's society, they have just what they need. I may hear them complain when they look at others around them but we have each other and I know when they're adults that they'll appreciate the way they were brought up. We don't have debt hanging over our heads. We are responsible with our finances and buy what we need. Our motto at home is "is it a need or a want?" There are many times that my children need to remind me of the same thing when I see something on sale that would be nice. We hold each other accountable.
James 4 says "we will kill and covet but we cannot have what we want." The Message says "you want what isn't yours and risk violence to get your hands on it." To me this can be speaking about gossip and slander and how easy it is to judge someone for the decisions they make in regards to their life. I know I can do that where I see where someone is taking their family for a trip or purchases something outrageous for their child or family and it's easy for me to slander or gossip about that other person because it makes me feel good about where I'm at. That is wrong and sin.

God wants me to remain humble and have a thankful heart. In everything! I may not be the richest financially but I can be thankful that I'm the richest person spiritually because I have Jesus! When I take my eyes off Jesus and align them with the world I see things in the worldy way, not Jesus's way. The world wants us to take our eyes off Jesus and look around at us and be discontent with what we have. God gives us what we need and sees our heart. Ask..... with the wright motives. James says we ask but don't receive because we ask with wrong motives, that we can spend what we get on our own pleasures.

Align your heart with God's. Keep your eyes to Jesus and not with the world. Be thankful for what you have. It's my daily prayer for myself.

Behold...Look! I am coming soon!

I am coming soon! Prepare yourselves. I have already clothed you in white and you are pure before me. My question is this: are you waiting for me? Are you anticipating my coming like a bride anticipates her wedding day? I want this to be what you look forward to. I want this to be what you think about and anticipate with desire.

Do you know that I am eagerly anticipating the day when I come to bring you to Myself? Do you know that I want you to be with me where I am, and for you to see my glory? All of history is the story of Me choosing my bride and calling her…preparing her and dressing her… and on that glorious day I will take my bride – my beloved one – to Myself.

Do not think that I am delaying my coming. I am coming soon. I will come quickly, and I will gather you to Myself. I’ve already told you my plan so you can anticipate My coming. We will meet in the clouds… Ah... but you have no idea how glorious it actually will be!

Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. Revelation 22:20

Sometimes...

I awoke in the night with a sudden fear that left me in a cold sweat.  Several situations grasped my mind... As I mentally went over the list, I decided God wanted me to pray.  All of the situations were beyond my control.  It was impossible for me to help in any way.  As I lay there, looking into the dark, I wanted to cry out to the Lord that these issues were of utmost importance and could He do something right away.... tonight... perform a miracle.  You've probably been there.  You don't want to wait another day.  You could sleep so much better if you knew the outcome... or would you?

Sometimes...  God answers right away, but more often, we have to wait and trust.  We have to let go of the fear and believe that God loves us enough to do what is best.  Sometimes... it takes longer than we want it to, but God is always there and He is always aware.  He knows our anxious thoughts and prayers.  Sometimes... all we need to know... is that He is with us...

Psalms  33: 20-22

"We wait in hope for the Lord;

     He is our help and our shield.

   In Him our hearts rejoice,

     for we trust in His holy name.

   May Your unfailing love rest upon us,

     O Lord, 

    even as we put our hope in You.

Psalms 40: 1

"I waited patiently for the Lord;

   He turned to me and heard my cry.

Philippians 3:6-7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by

  prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your 

  requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends

  all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds

  in Christ Jesus.

A little Romance

Jesus woke me up this morning with a thought that I already know to be true. I love it when He wakes me up because...I think I've said it a few times...I'm not really a morning person...I wake up slow and it takes my mind and body a little while to focus and wake up for the day. But when Jesus wakes me up....I always wake up before the alarm, my eyes and body are instantly awake and there is always a truth from the Bible...a verse or a thought that He wants to talk with me about. I crawl out of bed anxious to meet with Him. It's intimate. The house is quiet. It's just Him and me.

In a way, it reminds me of the young man pursuing the young woman when he goes to her house and throws pebbles at the window to get her attention or wake her up. He's standing out on the lawn and she's leaning out the window and they talk in hushed voices as not to wake the rest of the house. There's anticipation, a little bit of nervous excitement....It's romance.

Does Jesus the God of the universe romance my heart when He wakes me up to spend time with Him? Absolutely. I feel treasured. I search the scriptures...I hang on every word. I soak it in.
How can I not be moved in my spirit when I try to grasp hold of his deep, unchanging, steadfast, love? His love satisfies the deepest longings of my heart and fills me with a peace that can only be from heaven.

His thought for me this morning....."My relationship with you is not based on works"

Jesus, I know that. But I hear it again.
"My relationship with you is not based on works"

There's nothing we can do or not do that makes Him love us. He pursues a relationship with you and with me regardless. He's not banging at the door demanding to be let in to your life....He's throwing pebbles at the window of your heart. He is intimate, compassionate, full of grace and mercy and forgiveness. He is truth. He is freedom. He is life and He is romance. He pursues your heart as He pursues mine.

For He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things.
Psalm 107:9

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Psalm 86:5

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust.
Psalm 143:8

Oh....and although there are hundreds of verses proclaiming God's love for us...here is one of my favorites....

By day the Lord commands his steadfast love, and at night his song is with me...
Psalm42:8

Talk about romancing the heart....

I want to romance His Heart...I want Him to know how in love I am with Him and all He has done for me....let's tell Him....let's praise Him....let's thank Him....

Join me.

I would like to say Amen! to what Amity wrote last Friday, and I will join her in prayer that "we would grasp that truth – that God would open our eyes to understand the grace that He lavishly pours out on us through Jesus Christ." Go and read her entry if you haven't already.

We have to believe that the newness of who we are now is real. Christ's death and resurrection personally received and applied to our lives changes who we are. And it's more than a new lense through which God sees us. He didn't need new glasses, we needed new life. New. Not there before. The inner being, the nature, the heart - it's all new. It's not that now God doesn't see the faults and blemishes. They are not there.

I can just hear some of you. But what about the things I do wrong, my bad attitude, my less than kind behaviour, etc.

These come as a result of wrong thinking - not as a result of a sinful, wicked heart. Our behaviour will be a result of what we think, what we believe. If I believe my heart is wicked and sinful, then I have no hope for living an abundant, joyful life. I will either live out the wickedness of my heart, or I will be defeated, because I can never do anything right. We must believe what God says is true - truth is good news and gives life and joy. Unfortunately, we find it way easier to believe bad news and our negative experiences, and so we go with what's easy. Sometimes correction in our behaviour is necessary, but it is a matter of exchanging the truth for a lie, since our behaviour will reflect what we believe. God desires that our attitudes and actions come from believing the truth.

Dear Sisters (and Brothers) it is crucial for you to know the truth and to believe it. Read your Bible, read your Bible, read your Bible, and ask God to help you understand it and believe what he says is true. Ask him to make it personal. He may not use chickens for you, but he knows what you need from him to make it your own.

Every day my kids beg me to tell them a story of when I was younger or they want to know the story of the book I’m reading. We were cuddled up and they had a barrage of questions for me and one of them involved 9/11 because I was reading a book about it. I took them to the computer and showed them YouTube videos of the plane hitting the Twin Towers and the collapse of the towers and told them about the other 2 planes, one being the plane that crashed into the field in Pennsylvania. They were awestruck by the fact that all those people on that plane chose to risk their own lives and died so that others would live. They saved the plane from hitting the Pentagon. We got into an amazing discussion about this and how as Christians we can relate this to Christ laying down His life for us.

This lead to the story of a train bridge operator I once heard and impacted me. He had a call that a passenger train was coming and he needed to get the bridge down so the train could cross the river. The man lived on the property with his family so he could be ready to lift the bridge up or move it down at a moment’s notice for either the boats to get across or the train to go over the river. He hit the botton for the bridge to go down. It was evening and things were starting to get dark. He knew exactly the time it took for the bridge to lift up and down and that his timing would need to be perfect for the passenger train to come across. As the bridge was lowering, he looked out and saw something on the tracks. Suddenly he realized it was his son playing on the bridge…

....he knew that if he reversed the bridge to go back up that the passenger train would plummet into the river, killing hundreds and that his son would live. If he allowed the bridge to continue downward so the passenger train could cross over, that hundreds of lives would be saved and that the life of his son would be lost. He had to make a choice and a tough one that would be…

… he chose to save the passenger train.

As a mother the thought torments me of what this gentleman needed to wrestle with. How many of us would give our own lives for the life of our children. I know that when my children are sick I would take their place in a heart beat. When they’re hurting or sad, I feel the same thing. The love we have for our own flesh and blood runs so deep.

What an illustration of how deep the Father’s love is for us. God chose to send His one and only son to die for us that we could have eternal life. Many of us know this verse very well:

John 3:16 (NIV) "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Here it is in other translations to help understand the verse:

The Message says "This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life."

The Amplified Bible says “For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life."

God loves us so much yet he sent his Son to die for us that we may live. God loved his son too and it must have been agonizing for him knowing what Jesus had to suffer for us. He did that so we may live. Christ died for you and me so we may be free. What an amazing sacrifice!

Chickens and Grace

Just after Easter one year I got 12 chicks to raise for eggs. My adventure of being a wannabe farmer began with these chicks. Not all of those chicks were hens as I had hoped they’d be, so as time unfolded I had to roll up my sleeves and do some of the nasty business of good old-fashioned farming. What hilarious adventures we had! And what profound lessons God provided through my chickens.

Chickens are very curious and observant creatures. They notice the tiniest of details. They noticed when I had new nail polish, and when they notice something, they check it out by pecking at whatever they are curious about. Therefore I always had to wear shoes or boots in the coop and pen. That might sound like a no-brainer to some of you true farmers, but my city roots showed through when I thought I’d just quickly duck into the coop and check for eggs while wearing my flip-flops. For a while they were pecking at the freckles on my legs so I couldn’t even wear shorts. My fingernail that refused to grow back after a fungal infection became the main attraction of my fault-finding chickens. They didn’t just notice my imperfections; they’d also peck at each other and continue to peck until some of my poor chickens had no feathers left on their back side. Sad looking creatures, they were!

One day as I sat quietly before the Lord with a listening heart, I asked Him if there was anything He wanted to share with me in our time together. In my mind’s eye, I saw a big chicken head coming closer and closer and closer. The head became bigger and bigger and bigger and came so close to me that I began to feel invaded and somewhat afraid. “Why is this chicken coming at me? Why do even I see a chicken?” I asked. As I continued to watch and interact with the Lord, I wondered if this chicken was symbolizing God. “Are you coming close to inspect me - are you wanting to point out something in my life that needs to be addressed?” I’m aware that God brings correction to me at times, but this intriguing picture didn’t seem to hold that message for me.
I noticed that although the chicken was so close with its eye inspecting every part of me, it wasn’t pecking me. It wasn’t finding fault with anything it saw. The chicken continued to look at me so thoroughly, but still, no pecking occurred.

I began to understand the message that God was so uniquely and personally sharing with me. God’s objective – although He sees everything and knows everything about me – isn’t to find fault with me. His character isn’t like my fault-finding chickens. Nor is it like mine which too often resembles that of my chickens. Rather, God sees me through grace. He sees me through Christ’s righteousness.

Oh, I pray that we would grasp that truth – that God would open our eyes to understand the grace that He lavishly pours out on us through Jesus Christ.

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view (or "according to the flesh" ESV). Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 NIV

I’m convinced that when we have this truth rooted and growing in our hearts, we will more readily reflect God’s character than the character of fault-finding chickens!

Tumbleweeds....

Occasionally our travels have taken us through Texas, New Mexico and the deserts of Arizona. On such occasions, while driving we will see signs that say "Caution, strong wind gusts." Sometimes the wind is so strong it feels like it is going to lift your car right off the ground.  If you are driving through the the desert, you can see tumbleweeds rolling across the barren fields.  Sometimes they will be rolling beside the car.  Several times they have rolled across the field right into the path of our car.  

I have read that tumbleweeds can carry up to 250,000 seeds that reproduce themselves as they drop upon the ground.  Isn't that crazy? As I understand it, they are a round bushy plant that grows to about 3 feet tall and in some places 4 feet.  As they mature, they break away from the plant and because they are round, roll aimlessly, where ever the wind blows.  They have no direction, and no purpose.

We can become like a tumbleweed... dry and brittle with thorns poking us and rolling us with the wind; rolling and rolling until we  bump into something that stops us.  Tumbleweed seeds remind me of the brokenness of this world... the cares that rob us of direction; of a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.

We can get that way when we lose direction in God's Word.  Some people flip through the Bible hoping that a particular verse will jump out at them and get them through the day.  Some close their eyes, open the Bible, put their finger on a verse and believe that is God's Word for them for that day... but, I need more than that.  I have to have consistency in my relationship with God.  I do not want to be like one of those 250,000 seeds that hit the barren, dusty ground.... destined to a life of aimlessness. I do not want to be like a tumbleweed.  I would much rather be like branches on a grapevine that produce good fruit, even if at times some of the branches have to be pruned.

John 15: 1-9  is a strong encouragement to us...

"I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.  You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into  the fire and burned.  If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.  This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.  Now remain in my love."

The secret is abiding... the secret is staying attached... the secret is knowing that you can do nothing without Him... 

The Worried Heart

What's wrong with a little worry...after all...I'm a woman...it's what we do.

I worry every single time my children get in the car with someone else. I worry about their health...their education...their self esteem...their hearts and their relationship with God.

I worry about my husband....okay...let's get real...my husband reads this blog so...the truth is...I probably worry about him more than I let on. I worry about the temptations he's faced with...the decisions he has to make...I worry about the worries that he worries about. I'm crazy about him so...I worry about something happening to him...I'd never want to lose him.

I worry about my parents and siblings...Oh, they read this blog too...I worry about their health, their hearts and yes...I've even worried about their worries too.

I worry about change and this crazy world that seems to get crazier. I worry about society and increasing violence and that ever present feeling that we are so close to the end times.

So, what's a worried woman to do?

Be Free I say. God has had me on a journey of freedom for some time now and it's just one more reason why I love Him so. It's not easy letting go of our tight fisted worries and putting them in the hands of Jesus. I know that. But our worries and our fears keep us from trusting Him. They keep us burdened down and our thoughts consumed. Worries cause stress, headaches and ulcers....and I bet they cause premature wrinkles...seriously....worries are nastier than you think!

The evil one doesn't want you to believe this....but...God is big enough.
Hear me now. He is big enough for whatever is going on in your life and in your heart and in the lives of the ones you love.

2 Timothy 1:7
...for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

As I daily...and yes, I even mean today...take my worries and put them in the hands of Jesus...trusting Him and thanking Him and sharing my hearts desires with Him...I pray that you will do the same.

Let's be free together.

I love the left hand of the Lord. We don't read much about it in the Bible, but it is definitely there. And I love it, (Have I said that already?) and I'll tell you why. But first, you need to know about his right hand.

Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. Exodus 15:6

Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things! The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!" Psalm 118:15-16

The Lord's right hand is mighty, powerful and "lifted high" against my enemies. His right hand is at work on my behalf.

Then see what happens:

For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, "Fear not, I am the one who helps you." Isaiah 41:13

The way I see it, if he is working and warring with his right hand, he must be holding my right hand in his left. We are walking side by side, his left hand holding my right. And he is doing the holding, "I... hold your right hand," and says to me, "Don't be afraid, I AM the one who helps you." (my paraphrase and capitalization)

I have a dear memory that God used as a precurser to this picture of truth. When my husband and I were dating, we loved to go on walks. He would always have me walk on his left side so that he could protect me with his right arm, should I need protecting. (I love it that he actually thought of that!) If we were holding hands, then his right hand was free. One day we went for a walk in the woods. It was in the fall when there were many spider webs (with really big spiders in them) in the bushes and trees of the forest. As we walked hand in hand along the trail, he carried a stick in his right hand with which to knock down the spider webs that were across our path. He held my hand, and he did all the work and saved me from the spiders.

Do you see it? When God is holding my right hand, my strong arm (since I am right handed) is not able to do anything. It is being held tightly and rendered powerless by his left hand, while his powerful, strong, mighty, victorious right hand is doing all the work. And I am able to rest and be comforted. Amazing God.

Is your world feeling unstable? Are you tired of working so hard? Give him your hand and declare with me:

I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Psalm 16:8

Last week I read Karen Kingsbury’s booked called Sunset. It is the last of the series and I had to push myself to finish the book so I could say I completed all the series about the Baxter family. I read this quote and it made me reflect on my marriage and the journey God has brought me on:

“A marriage isn’t something you lose. It’s something you work to keep or it’s something you willingly let go.” (Quote taken from Karen Kingsbury’s book “Sunset.”)

I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the experiences I’ve had in my marriage. Already my first year of marriage was rough. It was a big adjustment for me learning how to share my space and have someone around 24/7 who didn’t do things the same way as I did. My husband has all these little quirks that just drove me crazy. I think I had more for him to deal with and that drove him even crazier. We went into years 2-3 and during that time had so many fights that we separated a couple times and were ready to call it quits. At one point in this process I had an appointment with a divorce lawyer so that I could end this marriage. I didn’t want to work at it any more.

God had other plans for me. One day I was driving along the road and I was so angry with my husband for something that obviously really bothered me and upset me. Shows how important it was as I cannot remember what we had fought about. A speaker was on the radio talking about marriage and that it is a lifetime commitment and that when couples reach the point in their marriage where it gets worse, they give up instead of remembering their promise they made on their wedding day: “ for better or for worse, in sickness in health…” What was the significance of the wedding band being in a circular shape? A circle has no end just as our commitment to marriage shouldn’t either. I heard what he said about making love a choice… choose to love your spouse… choose to be committed and don’t give up. Those were the last words I wanted to hear yet God knew in that moment I needed to hear them.

Those words were a turning point for me. I couldn’t drive because my eyes were flooded with tears so I had to pull over. There on the side of the road God met me in my brokenness and changed my heart. From that point on I saw that love was a choice and that I had to love my husband above myself and put his needs before mine. I never understood that part until this moment and when I had to walk in God’s truth. The change started in me. I tried to change my husband but God needed to change my heart.

My marriage is not perfect. It is a daily work in progress but God has restored our marriage to the way He designed marriage to be. He chose my husband for me and knew he was the best person for me. My marriage definitely is something that I have to work to keep and I see how willing I was to let it go.

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” ~ Romans 12:9

What I went through in my marriage was real. I experienced real anger... real disappointment…. real frustration. The fights we had were real. I had to go through our separations and counseling to be the woman I am today… Would I trade them? Walking through each of the experiences was painful and still is today as I reflect on them. Did they help me grow? Most definitely…. I can honestly say I’ve grown from them and I’m thankful for what I went through. God doesn’t take us around the valley but through them. He has plans for me and for that I’m thankful.

How has God brought you healing?
Where are you at in your marriage?
What does submission look like for you?
Perhaps you might be walking in a lonely time in your marriage and can’t see a way out.
What do you have to praise God for today?

We'd love to hear from you.
God bless!