Spend It Wisely!

     When our children were growing up, my dear husband worked hard to impress on them the importance of saving money for a "rainy day".  We did our best to warn them to put aside funds for the unexpected events like a car breakdown or appliance failure.  We all know what happens if you do not plan out your expenditures.  However, one area we all overlook is how we spend our time.  This is especially true at the holidays.  From Thanksgiving until New Year's can be like a mad dash with little enjoyment in between unless we learn to slow down and spend our moments wisely.
     Don't get me wrong.  I love the gatherings, choir programs, and church services, but it seems we go overboard often resulting in holiday "burnout", sickness and fatigue.  I hear people often say that they cannot wait till the holidays are over so they can reclaim their energy.  In my humble opinion, this is no different than not saving some money for that unexpected expense.  Our reserves are down to the "nubs", and we lose the meaning of Christmas in the midst of the rush.
     Psalm 90 verse 12 tells us:  " So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom."
Life is short.  We live 70 or 80 years on average and some even longer if God allows.  During this time, we must learn to spend ourselves in such a way as to glorify God.  This is our purpose for being here.  After all, we are human beings not human "doings".  Evaluating our activities in light of the Bible, our family and work commitments is as important as balancing our check book and saving for a rainy day.
     Perhaps, my grip on this concept comes from the lessons I learned when I had polio.  Fatigue is one of the after effects of this disease and in 1996, I was diagnosed with Post Polio Syndrome.  One of the doctors told me that each of us has a certain reserve of energy for the day.  We can spend it on what we want to but when we run out, we must take the time to recharge.  If we do not, we will pay the price with pain and more fatigue. Yes, I had to test the theory because I am stubborn.  When I overdo activities physically, it usually takes me several days to get back to normal levels of energy.  Fortunately, many of you have been spared this scenario.  Yet, there is wisdom in learning to pace ourselves with our physical work as well as schedule of activities.
     Think about this.  What good are we when we are exhausted mentally and physically?  We often become "Grinch" like and cynical when our reserves are drained.  This is not glorifying God and enjoying Him forever.  Instead there are some practical steps we can take.
     First, pray about the holiday season before and during this time period.  Seek God's wisdom to know what activities to attend and which to skip.  There is no sanctification gained by being at every event under the sun.  Organizations and churches have more activities than most people could possibly ever attend.  So learn to say "no" without any guilt or shame.  Let the Spirit of God guide you!
     Secondly, remember what this season of the year is all about.  We are taking time to celebrate Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Attend things which will build your faith.  The preaching of the Word, the reading of the Word, the singing of the Word are all helps to building us up.  Make up a calendar that is realistic for you and your family and stick to it!  Remember, accidents happen, illness occurs and other emergencies so we need a cushion to allow for things that are unexpected.
     Finally, take care of yourself by getting adequate sleep and a good diet.  We often take care of ourselves last, but this means we are more vulnerable to colds and exhaustion.  Taking a few minutes here and there to just have quiet moments to read the Bible and pray can do wonders for us.  Don't let your schedule run you!  You must determine and run your schedule!
     Saving money and time for our rainy days are really important to the quality of our walk with Christ.  We honor God and glorify Him best when we use the time He has given us wisely.  During this holiday season, let us learn to be good stewards of our time and energy.  May He grant us all wisdom in doing this!  Selah!

Sprinkles, Sprinkle Everywhere!

     Last week, while our three grandchildren came for a visit, we made a very large batch of frosted Christmas cookies.  This has been a tradition in our household and something I did with my own mother growing up.  I believe we had a total of 69 cookies by the time we finished our work and today while sweeping, I discovered not only did we decorate the cookies, but we also covered a lot of ground throughout our house too.  I found sprinkles on the floor.  I found sprinkles behind a door.  They were in the laundry room, and even, the bathroom.  This is beginning to sound like a Dr. Suess story, but you would be amazed how far those little fellows traveled in my house.  Little did I know we had made such a big mess, but we did have a good time.
 
   While I was vacuuming, the thought occurred to me that those ever spreading sprinkles on my floor are not unlike what happens when we commit a sin.  We think that no one else is affected by what we do in secret.  Yet when we violate God's Law, not only does He see this, but the ripple effect spreads to include those around us.  A good example of this is the sin of adultery.  We know the story of David and Bathsheba.  Their one night stand ultimately led to the scheme of killing Bathsheba's husband in order to free her to marry the King and legitimize her pregnancy.  After all was said and done, the baby died, the King's family was torn with strife from that point on, and David's sin was revealed by the prophet Nathan. This is precisely why God lays out boundaries for us in this life that we might not have to face consequences like this.
     Jesus used the example of leaven which causes bread to rise.  In Luke 12:1-2, He said:  "1Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2“But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known. 3“Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops."  Here Jesus is pointing out that often the Pharisees laid heavy burdens on the people in terms of rules to live by.  However, they did not always keep them in their own lives.  This hypocrisy would be revealed in due time causing others to stumble.  There is no sin that will not be exposed at some point whether it is lying, cheating, stealing or some other offense.  We may think no one will ever find out, but just like the sprinkles on my cookies, it can spread everywhere.
     Even little white lies can lead to big problems.  A friend may ask our opinion of something they just purchased.  Instead of being honest and telling them kindly that it would not be our style, we may lie and say it is lovely not wanting to hurt their feelings.  If they discover our true feelings later on, it may cause them to doubt our opinion in the future.  We have just put a dent into our friendship which did not need to be there.
     In God's eyes, all sin is is unacceptable.  He is perfectly holy and cannot tolerate it.  However, He provided the remedy by giving us His Son to bear our sins on the cross.  What comforts me most is that through Him, we are set free.  We no longer have to live in bondage to messy sin.  We are free to choose holiness by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.  Even when we do sin, we can quickly mend our relationship with God through repentance (1 John 1:9).
     Baking those cookies was fun and decorating them made them all the more delicious.  Our intent was to keep all the sprinkles on the cookies, but in reality, they ended up in every nook and cranny.  Sin is just as messy and can permeate every area of our lives.  Yet we have an advocate in Jesus Christ who carried our penalty to the cross.  If we trust in Him, He will clean us up and make us new inside.  Let us take time to think before we act...to look before we leap...and consider if our actions will bring glory to God or serve to hurt others by our sin.  May we consider this carefully.  Selah!

Looking At Life Through Redeemed Eyes

     When my husband and I married 48 years ago, he was a student of optometry at The Ohio State University and I had a new position working in public relations for the Ohio Optometric Association.   He picked up extra work along with having  scholarship help so we could make ends meet in those early years.  His study of the eye, its diseases, treatments and solutions for vision problems was a fascinating one for which he felt called by God.  Side by side, we shared a plan to help others through  his work.
     In the year before we wed, both of us had another experience that made a big change in the way in which we viewed life as a whole.  We had been introduced to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior through the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as Cru).  This not only changed our relationship to God, but it radically opened our spiritual "eyes" to a new worldview.  In the light of God's Word, we could see things we had missed before.  Life came into focus much like a child who could not physically see well until he/she put on a pair of glasses.  It was amazing!
     Perhaps some of you have never witnessed the expression on the face of a person who has only seen life through fuzzy vision until they are given a pair of corrective lenses.  Their world goes from blurry to clear in an instant and takes their breath away.  This is how it was for both of us before we made our covenant with God in marriage.
     Looking through redeemed eyes means we can truly see life and sin as it really is.  There is no fuzzy or blurry perspective.  Sometimes that is hard for us to see all at one time, so God graciously leads us in our growth and sanctification revealing how horrible sin really is and how great is His salvation.  I am happy He doesn't show it to us all at once lest it be overwhelming.
     Daily, as we bathe our minds in the Word of God, more becomes clear to us that was perhaps obscured in years past.  For example, I was thinking of my parents today and the many choices they made which I never understood till now.  My rebellious attitude and actions did not make their job easy, and for that, I heartily repent.  Laying these past actions at the cross has set me free from the guilt of the past.  This is what new vision in Christ accomplishes for us.
     A great example of an "eye opening" change was in the life of John Newton, "The African Blasphemer" as he called himself.  He was raised by a Puritan mother who taught him the Reformed catechisms until her death when he was six years old.  His father was a sea captain and took him on many trips.  John was later impressed into the British Navy but was so rebellious he was dismissed.  He fell into the hands of a slave trader and was made a slave himself for a time.
     Eventually, John Newton became a leading captain of slave trade ships which he later described as horrible places of death for many of his human cargo.  During a terrible storm where the ship was nearly lost, John returned to the faith his mother had shared with him when he was small.  In time, he came to be a clergyman and fully repented of his hand in the slave trade along with his other sins.  His most famous contribution was the writing of the poem entitled "Amazing Grace".  After this was set to music, it became one of the most beloved hymns of the Christian faith.
     Through redeemed eyes, John Newton saw what his sin had done to others and to himself.  Until his death in 1807, he lived to make clear the message of Jesus Christ that set men free.  He was a spiritual eye doctor offering sight to the blind in this world.  It is said that in his latter years when he could no longer reason or remember well, he remarked to a friend:  “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”   Of all things, these are the two greatest things to remember.
     While on earth, Jesus healed physical blindness, but opening spiritual eyes to see the truth of God's Word was His greatest mission.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:22:  22“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. 23“But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!"  The redeemed eye can see clearly and fill us with the light of God's understanding.  Just as my husband worked to help people see things clearly in the physical realm, Jesus Christ came to give us spiritual vision that was clear.  As we pour through the pages of the Bible daily and immerse ourselves in prayer to the only One who sees all things plainly can we really begin to put life in proper perspective.  Today, let us thank God for "redeemed eyes" and ask Him to continue to show us the truth that we may bring glory to His name.  Selah!

Only One Thing We Are Told to Hate

     In this season of good will towards man when cheery greetings are exchanged, there still seems to be an atmosphere of hate that pervades our culture, political discussions and sadly, even in families.  We all know that hate is a powerful emotion that destroys everything it touches; yet, the Bible says there is one thing only which we may hate.
     Psalm 97 magnifies the Lord, His sovereignty over all things and His coming judgement of this world.  Verse 10a, though, tells us the one thing we are to hate:  "O you who love the Lord, hate evil!..."  Why are we told to hate evil?  Because, God hates evil.  He is holy, pure, righteous and altogether without sin.  Since He is holy, we, as believers, are called to be holy likewise (I Peter 1:16).  Therefore, we are to hate what God hates and desire to live righteous lives of moral character based on the Bible.
     When I read this verse today, I had to pause and consider what a struggle we are facing in our world today.  It is a conflict between good and evil.  All the mores which once governed conduct have slowly been eroded by time and man's sinfulness.  From the beginning, God laid out His moral standards for godly life in "The Ten Commandments" given to Moses.  Furthermore, these values are expressed in greater detail throughout the Scripture if we take time to read it.  There is no compromise, equivocation, or duplicity with the Lord.  Jesus said in Matthew 24:35:  "Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away."  Still man tries to bend God's Word to suit his own purposes.
     A good example of this comes in the Theory of Evolution.  Many of the supporters of this theory in the early days applauded the idea that life evolved rather than being created by God.  A prime advocate for this approach to life was Aldous Huxley (an essayist and novelist) who famously said:  "For myself, as, no doubt, for my contemporaries, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation.  The liberation we desired was simultaneously liberation from a certain political and economic system and liberation from a certain system of morality.  We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom (Aldous Huxley, Ends and Means, 1938, pgs. 269-270, 273).  What many want is freedom from any constraints on behavior or conduct.  If they do not have to answer to God or even believe that He exists, they are free to indulge in all types of actions without any consequences spoken of in the Bible.  How convenient.
     Over the years, marriage has gone from the God ordained one man and one woman to include two of the same sex.  Many live together and have children without the benefit of marriage thus weakening the family, and even gender identity has been left to question.  Unfortunately, many churches have bought into society's view rather than following God's mandate in His Word.  They seem to stand in judgment of God's Word as being too harsh and not inclusive enough.  Some say, they would rather show "God's love" than any condemnation for alternate lifestyles.  Yet Jesus made it clear that God's Word will remain long after these churches have disappeared.
     If God is immutable (unchanging in any way), then His commands and instructions are without compromise.  God hates evil and what He created at the beginning was good.  After the fall, however,
man began to twist the Word to suit himself and his appetites.  It is only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection power that we are redeemed from this sin nature.  We receive a new heart and a new way to live which includes hating all that is evil.  We are never to hate people.  Our conduct is to reflect the holiness of God through prayer and study of His Word.
     Beloved, of all the people in this world, we must demonstrate our love for others by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ so that others can be liberated from the self destructive bondage of sin.  We only hate evil and can never excuse it away.  If we are to be a light in this world, we must take a stand against all that is contrary to the Word of God in our communities, nation and churches.
     Psalm 97: 10b-11 ends with this:  "He preserves the lives of His saints; He delivers them from the hand of the wicked.  Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart."  Let us learn to love what God loves so  that we can glorify His name and enjoy Him forever!  Selah!

Giving Thanks for the Simple Things

     This is a busy week for most of us as we prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends.  Cleaning, shopping and food preparation is on everyone's mind, and some have already begun their trip to the home where their celebration will be held.  With all this busy activity, we often lose the meaning behind the day we set aside to remember.  For the Pilgrim's and native Americans, it was a time to be thankful for the bountiful harvest God had given as well as the Lord's protection.  We often forget that for these first settlers there was no grocery store nearby in case someone forgot an ingredient nor was there an urgent care around the corner if someone was injured.  Life was very precious back then and nothing was taken for granted.  Unfortunately, today, we often fail to thank God for even the simplest of blessings.
     As I read "The Valley of Vision" today (a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions), I came across a prayer entitled "Evening Praise" (pg. 224-225).  It speaks of the simple things which God provides and we often don't even think to thank Him for.
     " Giver of All,
           Another day is ended, and I take my place beneath my great Redeemer's cross,
      where healing streams continually descend, where balm is poured into every wound,
      where I wash anew in all the cleansing blood, assured that thou sees in me no spots of sin.
      Yet a little while and I shall go to thy home and be no more seen;  Help me to gird

up the loins of
       my mind, to quicken my step, to speed as if each moment were my last, that my life be joy,
       my death glory.  I thank thee for the temporal blessings of this world - the refreshing air,
       the light of the sun, the food that renews strength, the raiment that clothes, the dwelling that
       shelters, the sleep that gives rest, the starry canopy of night, the summer breeze, the flowers'
       sweetness, the music of flowing streams, the happy endearments of family, kindred, friends.
      Things animate, things inanimate, minister to my comfort, My cup runs over.  Suffer me not to be
       insensible to these daily mercies.  Thy hand bestows blessings: they power averts evil.  I bring
       tribute of thanks for spiritual graces, the full warmth of faith, the cheering presence of thy
       Spirit, the strength of thy restraining will, thy spiking of hell's artillery,
       Blessed be my sovereign Lord!"

     Reading these words made me feel ashamed that so often I do not stop to thank God as this pilgrim did for the simple blessings that God so freely gives to His children every day.  There is never a moment or even a breath that we take but what the Lord is not there with us.  We may not see it or feel it, but His Word tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us.  What joy should fill our heart that we are so carefully kept day to day.
     As we approach Thanksgiving, think on this prayer and make a list of all the things God has blessed you with personally or as a family.  We must focus on the many things we have as a result of God's goodness and not on the things we lack.  He meets all our needs according to His riches in glory.  May we make thanksgiving to God a daily practice as we go forward and not just a once a year occasion.  Having a thankful heart changes the way we see life and our relationship to our Savior.  Selah!

The Waiting Game

     Waiting is hard for most of us especially if there is anything urgent that we are concerned about.  Our whole culture has gotten into the habit of acquiring things quickly.  Fast food, high speed internet, instant communication through texting and even forms of high speed transit make us impatient with any delays.  Yet God does not work on our timetable.  We are confined by time, schedules, and 24 hour periods, but God is outside of time.  His purposes, thoughts and ways are often beyond our ability to understand.  The Bible tells us this clearly (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Therefore, we need to be patient and trusting in Him who is our rock.  David knew this about the Lord he served, and we can derive encouragement from the Psalm he wrote.
     Psalm 62:5-8 reads like this:  "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved.  In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.  Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.  Selah "  David is preaching to himself and to us as we read these words.  It is hard to wait for a baby to be born, for medical tests to come back, or even for a prayer to be answered.  We are all familiar with the phrase, "Hurry up and wait."  Nothing happens, however, that does not first pass through the hands of God.  His timing is perfect which is why we are called upon to trust in Him.
     One of the key things we need to do when we are waiting for an answer is to put our expectation on God.  He is the one who made us.  He has a plan for our lives, and His timing is perfect.  David makes it clear that God is our Rock and Salvation.  He is our stability in the midst of a world that teeters and sways with every whim of man.  So how is it that we can remain calm, patient, and peaceful as we wait?
     First, we need to surround ourselves with encouraging, godly friends.  Knowing that others are praying with us as we wait helps to keep us upbeat rather than anxious
.  David said he was waiting silently for God alone.  He was not frantic but calm.  Being able to talk with Christian friends and family helps us keep perspective that we are never alone.
     In addition, David tells us to pour out our hearts to God.  Prayer changes things.  It changes our attitude, it draws us close to our heavenly Father, it allows us to release our emotions, and it brings us inner contentment.  This should be a daily routine for each of us but especially when confronted with waiting.  There is not one detail of our lives that God does not care about.  He wants to know if we feel frightened, hurt, anxious.  He is our rock on which we can depend, but He wants to hear from us.
     Finally, one of the most important resources we have is God's Word.  The Bible contains the truth. Not only does God reveal Himself to us through His Word but He also provides for us His comfort, wisdom and love.  As we store it in our hearts, our trust and confidence in the Lord grows exponentially.  While everything else may pass away in this world, God's Word will remain forever.  Therefore, we need to make certain it is the foundation of our faith day by day.
     With God as our rock, we cannot be moved by life's waiting, circumstances or heartaches.  He is for us when we belong to Him.  This is such comfort when it seems like the answers to our prayers never come or come quickly enough.  We must remember that God operates on a different timetable for our welfare and His glory.  He is not slow...He is right on time.  Therefore, we must find encouragement in other believers, pray daily and read scripture.  Our waiting will be worth it in the end!  Selah!

An Encouraging Word

     Do you need some encouragement?  I know that I do almost every day.  Life can be really difficult and unfair at times.  For the Christian, seeing the wicked prosper while we struggle to get ahead, can be  discouraging.  When will we see justice done?  Will our efforts ever pay off in the end as we seek to serve the Lord?  Certainly, we know that one day we will enter into eternal life with the Lord and find rest for our souls, but in the meantime,  what encouragement can we find?
     As I looked into Psalms today, once again, I found truth that brought me peace.  In Psalm 37, King David tells us:  "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!  For they will fade like the grass and wither like the green herb" (vs. 1-2).  How often do we get upset when we see a person who is breaking all the rules (laws) and yet, they seem to get away with it.  In fact, they are often applauded by the culture.  It is so easy to become embittered.  Nevertheless, we are instructed with a remedy that should bring us great encouragement.  Verses 3-4 read:  "Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.  Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."  Within these verses, we are pointed to the direction that we need.
     Our first focus should be on the Lord and not on this world.  Trust me, it is easy to get wrapped up in what is happening daily all around us.  We see people getting ahead in business by crushing others in their wake or perhaps, we see someone getting promoted who has been cheating on the job.  It does seem unfair.  Yet, we are told to trust God, do good and befriend faithfulness.  To put it another way, continue doing what God has called you to do, and in due season, the blessings will come because God sees your heart.  We must not get wrapped up in what others are doing in this world.  God has not called us to fret over evildoers.  Verse 8-9 tells us:  "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!  Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.  For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land."  My mother used to tell me that getting upset over something we cannot change is a waste of energy and emotion.  She was right and so is God's Word!
     As we meditate on these verses, we can take away some practical words of wisdom.  We must, first, wait on God's timing.  He sees us and all our efforts.  When the moment is right, He will bring the blessings according to His will and plan for us.  Secondly, we need to learn to trust Him.  We know from the Word that He is good, and His love for us is unconditional.  Therefore, we must know that He has our best interests at heart all the time.  Thirdly, we need to continue to do good no matter what everyone else is doing around us.  God has called us to be His servants and ambassadors of the Good News.  Fourth, we are to plant ourselves wherever the Lord has placed us.  Work with a cheerful heart and allow the Lord to bring the harvest in His timing.  Fifth, we need to be faithful in what we are doing.  Don't be concerned about others around us.  Instead, think about how God has been faithful to us.  This will feed an attitude of gratitude!  Finally, we are to delight ourselves in the Lord.  He is our supplier, defender, sustainer and redeemer.  He will grant us the desires of our heart when He is the center of our life.
     Later in this Psalm
that King David wrote during his old age, we read these words that should also bring encouragement to us:  (vs. 35)"I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken."  When it comes to fulfilling His promises to the righteous, God never misses a beat.  While it may look like the wicked are cleaning up in this world, their day is coming when God will bring them to account.  Read the entire Psalm 37 and rejoice for the Lord will bless those who belong to Him.  He sees our situation and has promised to never leave or forsake us!  Selah!

When Its Been One of Those Days

     There are times when things just don't seem to turn out the way we had expected, and it seems that whatever can go wrong does.  This is the way my Monday began.  Actually, I should back up and explain that on Saturday, I opened the freezer door and a pound of frozen bacon came flying off the shelf and hit my big toe.  To say this hurt is putting it very mildly.  All night long the toe throbbed and so I got very little sleep. The same was true for the next evening.  This is probably what led to my not so happy Monday.
     Having a doctor's appointment in another town, I left early enough so I arrived on time.  There were no other patients in the office, and in fact, the doctor came out and chatted with his receptionist for a while and returned to his office.  I waited fifteen more minutes before I had the chance to see him.  This was to be the first of many irritations.
     In addition, our internet had been down since the past week meaning no communication or T.V.  We had a tech scheduled to come but not until Tuesday.  This was irritating but then my cell phone email quit responding as well.  I did not know how to remedy the problem so I went to the providers office in the same town where my appointment was only to find there was a line out the door.  I waited in line, and when I finally got to a customer service agent, she told me I had to call the technical line because they could not help me at all.  Unfortunately, my luck with agents on the technical line was often dismal, but I had no other possibility.
     By the time I reached home, I was in quite a stew about life in general.  Lack of sleep, and the frustrations of life can make problems seem much larger than they really are.  With this in mind, I decided to just sit quietly and do some embroidery, read my Bible passages and allow myself to unwind.  It is far better to be silent than to speak up and say something unkind.  My mother impressed that upon my heart long ago.
     Reading the Word of God brought the most comfort to my heart...it always does.  Why do we not reach for it more often?  One of my favorite verses is found in Psalm 30:5:  "For His anger is but for a moment,  His favor is for life;  Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."  Then, I turned to another favorite verse sound in Psalm 147:3:  "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  What a God of mercy and grace who cares about us and even the little things that cause us frustration.  However, my favorite verse comes from 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  These beautiful words really do soothe the soul like no other Scripture.  To think, we are loved by the God of all comfort.  He personally comforts us like a mother comforts a child who has been injured or is afraid.
     In those moments as I read this, I could feel the loving arms of the Lord around me.  Then, the hymn that was one my father loved to hear came to mind, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus".  Verse 1 goes:  "What a friend we have in Jesus,
               All our sins and griefs to bear!
              What a privilege to carry
               Everything to God in prayer!
              Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
              Oh, what needless pain we bear,
              All because we do not carry
              Everything to God in prayer!"
We do often forfeit our peace when we allow the circumstances of life to dictate our happiness.  Our first thoughts should be to take the everyday situations before the Lord who cares for us.
     Not only did the Scripture bring me comfort, but it also brought me conviction.  I had allowed my
frustration to win the day.  In those moments of silent reflection, I found repentance, peace and the joy of the Lord again.  How sweet to end my day this way.
     Have you had those days too?  Our comfort is never far away or unable to lift us above our circumstances.  All we need to do is call upon the Lord, meditate on His Word and trust in Him.  He is the God of all comfort.  As He has comforted me, I have shared this with you to pass along His comfort as the Word tells us to do.  Be encouraged today and know that when frustration arises, God is only a whispered prayer away.  Selah!

The Dirtmaster Special

Murphy with his favorite toy

     Our family pet is a most beloved Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier named Murphy, a.k.a. The Dirtmaster.  We call him that because he seems to attract sand, sand spurs, clinging seeds and almost anything that can catch on his soft hair.  When he returns from a walk, I can tell that he has explored the weeds and tall grass carefully for all that falls off on my floors.  Seems like I major in sweeping here at our home to get up all the sand almost every day.  Of course, Florida is one big sand dune and even though we have grass, Murphy can find areas in and around bushes that are filled with black sand.  He often comes in with his legs covered in the stuff.  Even though he creates extra work, we would not trade him for the world.
     At times, I wonder if God sees us in much the same way.  We can often wander into the weeds of life and step into a patch of thorns or sand spurs.  Certainly the Apostle Paul spent a good deal of
time warning Christians about all the pitfalls in this world.  We are saved by grace, washed by the blood of Christ, but we still carry about us the old man of the flesh that likes to wallow in the dirt.  As I see it, we have to make a choice every morning to put on the mind of Christ and be renewed in His Spirit even before we begin the day's activities.
     In the letter to the Ephesians, Paul contrasts the ungodly with those who have come to Christ.
Ephesians 4:20-24 tells us what we must do each day:  "But that is not the way you learned Christ! - assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught in Him as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."  We can either allow the old self, with which we are very familiar, to run the show or we can consciously put on the new self in Christ.  We are no longer in bondage to the old man by the blood of Christ.  Before, we had no ability to walk away from sin and evil desires.  Now, by the grace of God, we have the Holy Spirit living in us to empower us to walk in holiness daily.  We don't have to wallow in the dirt any more.  We can wear our robe of righteousness.
     However, there will be those days and times when we allow the old self back in the driver's seat.  This is when we become human dirt masters carrying the grime of sin with us wherever we go.  When this happens, we do have an advocate who pleads for us before the Father in heaven (our Lord Jesus Christ).  I John 1:9 has the remedy:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  We don't have to wait to be made right with God.  He hears us when we call to Him with a repentant heart in the name of Jesus Christ.  Now while the process is easy it can also be messy because sin brings with it consequences.  While God forgives the sinner, there are some things that cannot be "unsaid", "unseen" or "undone".  This is why we should start each day with the prayer that God would renew us in the spirit of our minds that we may be transformed in our thinking.  We must also declare to the Lord that we are putting on the new man and putting off the old.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can walk in the light as He is in the light.  No where is this promised to be an easy walk, but we know that it is a joy filled walk with the Lord by our side.
     If Murphy, our dog, is the dirt master than I am the bath master in charge of keeping him clean, groomed and brushed.  I take care of him because I love him.  I do think God looks at us when we get in the weeds and shakes His head too as we come trudging home with all that dirt.  But like the father who welcomes the prodigal son, God is more than ready to clean us up and set us back on the path if we will confess our sins and humble ourselves before Him.  Let us resolve to put on the new self each day and be renewed in the spirit of our minds so that we may bring glory to His name.  Remember...we are no longer slaves to the old self and sin!  Selah!

Cleansing the Temple of God

     Today, as I was reading John 2
:13-17, I learned something new that I had never thought about before.  The passage deals with Jesus cleansing the Temple at the time of the Passover early in His ministry. According to the John MacArthur Study Bible footnote on John 2:15, Jesus cleansed the Temple twice at the beginning and towards the end of His ministry.  He writes:  "As John recorded this cleansing of the temple at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, the synoptic Gospels record a temple cleansing at the end of Jesus' ministry during the final Passover week before Jesus' crucifixion  The historical circumstances and literary contexts of the two temple cleansings differ so widely that attempts to equate the two are unsuccessful.  Furthermore, that two cleansings occurred is entirely consistent with the overall context of Jesus' ministry, for the Jewish nation as a whole never recognized Jesus' authority as Messiah."  This is the first time I had heard about two cleansings of the Temple taking place, and in relation to our own approach to worship, there are some things we can learn.
     First, Jesus drove out those who were making a profit on selling animals and changing foreign currency because they were cheating the people in the very House of Worship which God had appointed.  These merchants knew that devout Jews from around the known world would come to Jerusalem to sacrifice at the Passover so they took advantage of the situation.  Jesus told these people, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade" (vs. 16).  He was zealous for the holiness and reverence that was due to God the Father.  His Temple was to be a place where worship occurred rather than a common place for trade to take place.  I wonder at times if we approach worship with a holy attitude in our preparation or is it just another place to go on Sunday?
How often do we take time to drive out the extraneous thoughts, worries and attitudes that keep us from entering His presence with praise?  Are we making Him the center of our concentration as we listen to the preached Word and sing our hymns?  If not, perhaps it is time for us to do some self examination before we attend worship service.
     In his letter to the Corinthians (I Cor. 6:19-20), the Apostle Paul reminds believers that we are the Temple of the Holy Spirit:  " 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.…"  These are important words for us to consider as we prepare for worship.  Our blessed Lord lives within us and therefore, we must be careful to keep our Temple clean from sin.  God wants us to be holy even as He is holy.
     Years ago when our children were growing up, it was usually a mad dash to church on Sunday mornings.  Someone could not find a sock, shoe or other apparel.  Then, in the car, there might be a disagreement between siblings or some other distraction.  By the time we arrived, we often felt frazzled to say the least.  So, we tried different avenues to calm the situation like laying clothes out the night before, praying on the way to church or playing praise music as we drove.  It certainly helped and even today, my husband and I often listen to a sermon or hymns before we go to church preparing our spirit to receive from the Lord.
     Cleansing the Temple of our hearts and minds even as Jesus drove out the moneychangers and merchants is essential to upholding reverence for our God in worship.  Adding to or taking away from what God has ordained in church worship can lead us astray from the Lord's best.  Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones made a great observation about worship in an article published in a blog called "Growing in Grace".  I will leave the link here for you to follow (https://growingingrace.blog/2019/09/23/lloyd-jones-on-numbers/ ).  May we seek always to honor the Lord by making certain our temple is cleansed before we come together for worship and as we walk with Him each day.  Selah!

The Whole Truth

     My grandfather was a good criminal attorney, and I remember going to some of his trials and hearing the oath given to witnesses before they entered the stand.  "Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"  The bailiffs question usually was followed by an "I do", but in today's world, we aren't certain that truth means as much as it used to.  What we see and hear in the news can be slanted, misrepresented or totally false.
     For example, today a commentator said that a major news network put out a video of an "alleged" town in Syria being attacked by Turkish troops.  It gave the appearance of a horrible situation.  Come to find out, someone recognized the scenery in the video and did a little research.  As it turns out, the "so-called" village was really a gun range in Kentucky, and the video was shot in 2016.  The story was run to give an impression that was false.  So what can we believe when we watch the news?  What is true and what is truth?
     Jesus put this question to Pontius Pilate when He was brought to stand before him.  John 18:37-38 says:  7Then Pilate said to Jesus, 'So you are a king, are you?' Jesus answered, 'You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.' 38Pilate said to him, 'What is truth?' After saying this, he went back out to the Jews and told them, 'I find no guilt in him'”  For Pilate, there was no absolute truth...only expedient truth.  It was relative depending on the need of the moment.  In Pilate's eyes, Jesus was innocent, but for the Jews, Jesus was guilty.  So, Pilate washed his hands of the matter and let the Jews declare Him guilty.  This kind of approach to the truth is very dangerous.  In reality, it is contradictory.  Without a solid foundation upon which to base our conclusions, we might as well be standing on quick sand.  However, God has laid a sure foundation for truth which is based upon His Word.
     Psalm 19 clearly points this out in verses 7-11:
       "The law of the Lord is perfect,
        reviving the soul;
        the testimony of the Lord is sure,
        making wise the simple;
        the precepts of the Lord are right,
        rejoicing the heart;
       the commandment of the Lord is pure,
        enlightening the eyes;
       the fear of the Lord is clean,
        enduring forever;
       the rules of the Lord are true,
        and righteous altogether.
       More to be desired are they than gold,
       even much fine gold;
       sweeter also than honey
       and drippings of the honeycomb.
      Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
       in keeping them there is great reward.
   
     This clear passage shows us that God's Law is perfect, His testimony is sure, His precepts are right and His commandment is pure.  We can trust them as the bottom line for our life and conduct in this world.  Filling our minds with the Scripture on a daily basis renews our minds and revives our souls.  Our hearts rejoice at truth and our understanding of life in this fallen world is enlightened.  Isn't this what we want and need?  How else can we make sense of our purpose, worth and significance unless we look at who we are in light of what God has said about us?    He is our Creator and knows us more intimately than we know ourselves.  The Psalmist concludes by saying that we are warned by God's Word and when we keep His commands, we will be rewarded.  Without a solid, unchanging foundation, anything goes, and it seems that this is precisely where our world system is today.
     Satan, the Father of lies, is ruler of this fallen world where truth is relative and there are no absolutes.  Yet, Jesus came to bear witness to the truth and forever defeat sin and death by His atoning sacrifice.  When we spend more time in His Word and less time on the nightly news, we will find that God will revive us as we seek His truth.  Don't look for truth in any other place!  Selah!

The Secret of Contentment

     As a young mother, I will never forget a conversation I had with my husband one day.  I wanted the house to be immaculate just like a friend's home.  The thing is she had a maid who worked for her and so her home was always pristine.  I tried to keep things neat and tidy but with a small child and another on the way it was difficult.  When I started complaining about how messy things were, my husband said he had the solution.  He said the answer was to have a home across the street with a tunnel between our real home and this perfectly kept, undisturbed home.  Then, when company came, I could entertain them in the tidy home keeping them from seeing the normal mess that occurs in a home with children.  Somehow, I did not find that an amusing answer, but I knew he was right.  I was demanding perfection, and I was not being content in the circumstances of life.  After all, our home might be messy but it was clean.  Whether it is a spotless home or something else, we all need to learn how to be content.
     In his letter to the Philippians (4:11-13), the Apostle Paul tells the believers, from his own experience, what contentment is really all about.  "Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."  Paul is not patting himself on the back here but giving the credit for his peace of heart to the Lord.  Because Christ lives big in his life, he has found it possible to accept whatever comes his way.  Oh what a victory this is!  How many people suffer an unhappy life simply because they want things they cannot afford or have at this time.
     Look at television commercials.  If we drive a certain car or live in a certain neighborhood, our value is increased by worldly standards. Then, each year, we are tantalized by newer and better cell phones, laptops, tablets or some other gadget that will make our lives easier.  In reality, the advertisers know that each of us has a void inside.  We want to be popular, significant, attractive.  They appeal to this need we have, but once we get the item, we are disappointed because it doesn't deliver what we really need.  Paul addressed this in his letter to young Pastor Timothy.
     I Timothy 6:6-12 reads:  "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses."  In this passage, Paul reminds Timothy that our greatest joy and contentment come from a living relationship with Jesus Christ.  Money and wealth can quickly disappear, and the Apostle reminds Timothy that we come into the world with nothing and will leave the same way.  Striving after all the toys in the world will not give us the fulfillment that only Christ offers.  He is our significance and our worth.  He makes us new inside, and gives us a peace that allows us to face the good times and the bad.  Since our salvation is secure in Christ, we need never fear losing it the way we can lose other things.
     Cell phones can be lost or broken.  Cars get old and need to be replaced or repaired.  Houses need constant attention to stay in good condition, but "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8) .  This is why Paul could be content no matter what happened to him each day.  This is what Paul wants for Timothy and for each believer.  God is our provider, and He knows what we need...not what we "want" but what we need.  Therefore, we have to learn that the secret of contentment is to rest in Christ and know that He has us right where he wants us at this time in life.  Let us learn to be content in all circumstances that we might glorify the Lord in all we do.  Selah!
 

What's On Your Mind?

     Lately, the news has not been very positive in our nation.  It seems that division rather than harmony is the trend, and we hear about it 24/7.  There was a time when national news came to us for about an hour each evening.  Now, however, an entire day can be filled with news and opinion.  Listening to this as a steady diet can be discouraging, disappointing and a waste of time.  So this morning, I was discussing with my dear husband that I needed a break from this evening bombardment.  We would turn off the news/opinion and watch a good movie.  He agreed and quoted a great Scripture that really stuck in my heart.  Then, when I went to read my devotions this morning, the same Scripture was quoted.  God's providence, no doubt!
     In his letter to the Philippians 4:8, the Apostle Paul penned these inspired words:  "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things."  What a contrast this is compared to the daily news outlets filled with grim details of one crime or another!  Yet, we might wonder how do we find all these good things to think about that Paul references in his letter?
     First and foremost, we must look no further than the Bible.  A steady diet of God's Word leads us to truth about God, about us and what He has accomplished for us.  His character is embedded into every page so that we might grow to know Him.  His commandments are laid out before us that we might learn how to live a holy life of obedience by the power of the Holy Spirit.  His promises encourage us to know that we are never alone for He keeps watch over us.  Of course, my most favorite place to look is in the book of Psalms. Here, we find rejoicing, praise, and many promises of God.  We can graze on these thoughts and never tire.  Isn't it better to wake up in the morning with a verse of praise on your mind rather than the dread of what might happen in the national news today?
After all, we are citizens of heaven where we will spend eternity quite unlike this world where we face sorrow, sickness, death and sadness.
     Secondly, what we think about the most influences who we become.  Each day our minds are filled with many thoughts.  We need to discard those thoughts that tear down our faith and meditate on those that increase our faith.  Too much T.V., radio,  podcasts or even social media can weigh our spirit down.  Scripture teaches that we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind and soul (Matthew 22:37).  Therefore we need to bring our thoughts under His Lordship every day.
     Finally, we need to remember that we are in a battle against the Enemy of our soul.  He cannot steal us from the Lord but he can take us out of action by wounding us or causing us to run down
a bunny trail.  The more we grow in the knowledge of the Lord and His Word the stronger we become as we face daily trials.  God gave the commission to share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with those around us.  If our mind is cluttered with "junk", we won't have the right words to say at the right time.  Instead, we will be worried about the "news" of the day or what someone said about us on social media.  So what is our take away from all this?
     Taking Paul's advice is a good start.  Begin our days with God's Word and end it the same way.  Talk to Him in the Morning and in the evening and any time in between.  Think on His promises...not the promises made by politicians who cannot deliver.  Most of all, take a break from electronics for a while.  Focus on the Lord and what He has done for us!  In fact, I believe that if we all walked away from the T.V. for a week we would come back to find much the same headlines like a soap opera.    Only God offers the "Good News" and the truth.  This is what should be on our minds!  Selah!

Reclaiming our Joy

     Years ago, I took one of our sons to his Saturday soccer game in Sebring where it was being held.  After the game, I went to Walmart to do some shopping and came home.  That evening, I laid down on our bed to read the paper and glanced at my engagement ring.  To my absolute horror, the diamond was missing.  Evidently a prong holding the diamond in place was broken.  Of course, I immediately panicked.  I checked the van, looked around the house thoroughly, and even called Walmart to report the missing diamond and see if any good soul had by chance found it and turned it in.  No one had.
     On the next day, I drove up to Sebring to the soccer field and scoured the area where our game had taken place looking carefully in the loose dirt to see if I had lost it there.  Then, I went to Walmart again and asked if anyone had turned it in.  There was no result nor had anyone seen anything.  I was devastated.  Talk about losing my joy!
     Whenever circumstances or unexpected happenings hit us, we are tempted to do just what I did.  Panic!  But the Lord has a remedy for us that reaches above these things to see us through and keep our joy intact.  Psalm 66: 8-12 says:  "Oh, bless our God, you peoples!  And make the voice of His praise to be heard, Who keeps our soul among the living, and does not allow our feet to be moved.  For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined.  You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs.  You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but you brought us out to rich fulfillment."  Sometimes, God allows the suffering or the affliction for our growth in patience and righteousness.  He tests our hearts and refines us like silver that the Psalmist mentioned.

God's beautiful sky!

     This Psalm is similar to Paul's description of what he and the other Apostles faced for the sake of God's people.  It is recorded in 2 Corinthians 4:8-10:  "8we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body."  We know from Scripture that Paul had been stoned and nearly died.  He had been bitten by a poisonous snake from which God spared his life, and he was imprisoned unjustly.  Yet, through all the trials, Paul makes it clear that while he and others endured hardship they were able to maintain their joy in the Lord for the sake of God's glory through Christ.  When we look at his life, what, really, do we have to complain about?
     Of course, Paul and the Psalmist were not the only ones to tell us about how to react to suffering, loss and circumstances.  James wrote the following: (James 1:2-4):  "2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  This is really what God wants to build in us...perseverance that we can become mature as believers.  No one said that the life of a Christian would be easy.  In fact, the Lord said that we would face tribulations in this world.  So how can we regain our joy when trials come our way?
     Perhaps the best way is to begin is by praising the Lord as the Psalmist did in Psalm 66.  We thank the Lord for working in us because we are not yet able to see what He is doing.  His perspective is far different than ours, and His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9).  Then, we should praise Him for all He has done for us.  If we really want to restore our joy, this is the road we need to travel.
     I used to have a sign above our computer that read:  "Joy is not the absence of sorrow but the presence of God."  Joy is far different than being happy.  It is the deep abiding grace that only God can give through Jesus Christ His Son.  We must not let the enemy steal His peace and joy from our hearts.  Praise is the answer!
     Fortunately, for me, our insurance covered the cost of a new diamond to replace the one lost.  I did not need to panic.  God worked out this situation, but even if He had not, my joy, my life are not dependent on things but upon Him.  Let us learn to praise Him in the midst of our trials for He is working for our good and His glory!  Selah!

Holding It All Together

     Long before there was IKEA, Home Depot or Lowe's, there was K-Mart where, on many occasions, I purchased "so-called" simple kits to put together a bookcase, night table, and a student desk.  When you are busy raising four children, you don't go with expensive pieces.  Instead, you go for less expensive, and practical.  So with instructions in hand, I began to work on my projects.  For the most part, things went smoothly until I found a piece missing.  Then, I did what all good people do when something you need is not there....improvise.  As long as the finished product was useable, it did not matter if all the screws were exactly the same size.  I just wanted it to hold together.

Still in one piece even after Hurricane Irma!

     This was also true for the playground fort/swing set that my husband and sons constructed for the grandchildren to play on.  There were a zillion parts which all had to be identified and separated.  The instructions were not a breeze to follow as had been advertised, and when it came to putting it all together, some of the pieces did not fit the way they were supposed to.  So once again, they had to improvise in order to complete the project.  I dare say they did an excellent job because it wasn't even damaged one bit during Hurricane Irma in 2017.   We really weren't certain it would be standing after the storm, but it goes to show that good workmanship pays!
     Though we may not be conscious of it, we are the beneficiaries of a perfect Creator who made all things, and even now, holds them altogether.  In Paul's letter to the Colossians (1:16-17), he writes:
"16For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."  When God made heaven and earth, He spoke it into being.  There were no parts missing and nothing was defective initially.  In fact, after each act of creation, God called it good (Genesis 1 and 2). We know that the crown of His creation was man and woman. They were called to work in the Garden of Eden and care for the living creatures.  It seemed as if everything would be perfect until Satan entered the scene.
     At the moment that Eve ate the forbidden fruit followed by her husband, the perfect world became a fallen one under the curse of God's judgment.  Unlike the scenario of missing screws, misplaced drill holes that both my husband and I had to
improvise for, God already had a plan in place before the world, as we know it, came into being.  That is why Paul could write in verse 17: "And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."  God's plan of redemption was set before creation, and the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ for our sin along with his bodily resurrection was the seal that held all creation together.
     God knew before the foundation of the world what would happen.  He wasn't surprised by anything.  In fact, Paul verifies this in his letter to the Ephesians (1:4-5):  "4For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,…"  What an amazing statement!  He chose us to be His own long before we were even created and knit together in our mother's womb. This should encourage us daily.
     Sometimes, we are fraught with worry over life and circumstances.  We may feel like we are falling apart at the seams.  It's at that moment that we need to remember that God holds all things together.  His plan is perfect and His salvation is certain to all whom He calls.  In light of that hope, how can we avoid rejoicing in Him?  Our problems come as a means of testing us, but all the while, God has a hold of us.  He is the answer because He made the plan as recorded in the Bible.  Christ sealed the plan in His blood.  Today, take encouragement knowing that God holds everything together.  We may not see how things will work out but He does.  Therefore, today, trust in the Lord and lay all your burdens down for He is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called by His name (Romans 8:28).  Selah!

Just What the Doctor Ordered

     Have you ever picked up a book and it seems like every page has been written just for you?  Or what about the Sunday Sermon where it seems as though the pastor has been reading your mail?  Those are not just coincidences in the life of a Christian.  I know without a doubt that it is the providence of the Lord who made us and knows us better than we know ourselves.  For these tender mercies, I will forever praise Him.

     Each of us go through circumstances, heartaches, loss and illness at various times in our lives which tend to strip us of any reserve strength we might have had, and when this happens, it is often hard to read the Bible, pray or even fellowship with others.  I watched my own mother struggle with this in her life.  She loved children and two years after having me she lost a precious little girl named Rebecca
Hess.  She only lived for six hours as there were no special life saving measures at that time.  It sent my mother into a deep depression requiring some hospitalization in order to recover.  When she came home, she took long walks and every night she read the Psalms.  This is what came to bring her healing.  She passed this practice along to me as a means to calm my soul when life got tough.
     Over the years, I, too, have had my struggles with depression/anxiety.  It comes at times quite unbidden where there are no unhappy circumstances that stir it up, though I have had my share of them.  Besides a hereditary factor or chemical imbalance, no one but the Lord knows why this occurs as it does; still His purposes even in the darkest hours, are worked for my good and His glory.  I know that I am not alone either.  Charles Spurgeon, Martin Luther, and even C.S. Lewis suffered from depression.  Thankfully today, we can talk about this more openly and there are many more medications available to assist in recovery.  So when I purchased the book "Psalms for Trials" by Lindsey Tollefson about a year ago, little did I realize how much it would mean for me.
     Within its pages are helpful meditations on praying the Psalms.  This is something I have done for many years thanks to my mother, but the meditations are filled with soothing words of truth that a hurting heart needs to read.  For example, on page 79, she writes:  "Negativity is like an old comfortable shoe.  It is easy to throw it on without even thinking.  We have to engage in an active fight against worry, fear, and any other negative thoughts about the future."  She is simple and direct and then points to the Psalms for the comfort found only in the Lord.  Every day, I tell my husband that she wrote every word for me.
     I am convinced that the fast pace of living, instant news availability (often negative), caregiving a loved one, excessive stress, grief over the loss of a loved one, PTSD as a result of military service or some other trauma all contribute to both depression and anxiety.  It is also a spiritual battle for which the Christian is well equipped with the help of compassionate friends, God's Word and lots of prayer. But make no mistake....it is a battle.  The Enemy of our soul likes to fill our minds with negative thoughts and doubts.  This is when we need to make certain we are wearing the full armor of God that
keeps us from the fiery darts of the wicked one.  He is a Liar and the Father of lies, but our hope is in the truth of God's Word.
      If anyone reading this today needs a lift for their spirit, I would encourage you to buy this book and start praying the Psalms daily.  There are even resources available online for singing the Psalms if this is something more to your liking.  The key is to put on the new man in Christ each day and renew your mind by filling it with the Word.  I always welcome your thoughts and comments. May the God of all encouragement bless each one reading this today and always!  Selah!

The Waiting Game

     "Waiting" for something has never been one of my strong points.  I remember our many car trips to Florida during the Winter months from the time I was eight years old.  There was no in car videos to watch, or electronic games to play much less a super highway to get us to St. Petersburg quickly.  No, the roads were two lane and ran through the mountains of Kentucky and Tennessee.  It was a long drive usually taking us two and a half days to get there.  Naturally, I was bored so I frequently asked the question, "When will we get there?"  My mother was wise and always made traveling more fun by making up games.  For example, we would see many billboards along the way hyping one type of attraction or another such as:  "See Rock City" or "Come and see Dogpatch".  Then, there was my favorite in Kentucky called "Fort Sequoia" where they supposedly sold authentic native American headdresses and items.  So, knowing how I noticed these signs, my mother proposed that I counted how many signs there were until we got to the location or passed it.  This certainly kept me occupied, and helped me play the waiting game.

Boarded up and prepared for the storm

     In much the same way, waiting on a hurricane is about as much fun as traveling in the back seat of a car when you are a little girl full of energy.  Our current weather has been building for a couple of week's now and like most storms, it is a waiting game.  Meteorologists do the best they can to predict where and when a storm will hit, but only God knows its final course.  Meanwhile, we boarded up our windows with the help of a godly man, bought gas for our generator, stocked up on food we might need, made certain we had fuel for our camp stove, and now, we are waiting on a very slow moving storm that the weather people assure us will turn North any time now.
     As I moved through our neighborhood today, I did not see too many houses boarded up since the track has been back and forth so much.  Some might believe we went into overkill, but we have had seven hurricanes pass over our Central Florida location.  The last one did a great deal of damage so we will not take any chances.  
     Thinking about all our preparations reminded me of the ten virgins who trimmed their lamps in preparation for the bridegroom. This was a story about the Kingdom of Heaven.  The parable is found in Matthew 25:1-13 (please read this).  These women in the story were possibly bridesmaids or part of the official wedding party in some capacity.  Jesus said five were wise and five were foolish.  The wise virgins had brought along extra oil for their lamps but the foolish did not.  Since the bridegroom did not come right away, the women fell asleep.  At a later hour, a cry went up that the bridegroom was coming.  The foolish virgins realized they did not have enough oil for their lamps and asked to borrow from the wise.  However, the wise virgins told them to go buy from a seller.  While these foolish women were gone, the bridegroom came and the wise virgins went in to the celebration.  When the foolish virgins returned from getting more oil, they realized they had missed the bridegroom and found themselves shut out of the celebration.  They were not given entrance since they had come late.  In verse 13, Jesus tells his listeners the moral of this parable:  "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour."  Indeed, no one knows when Jesus will return for His church....only the Father knows.  This is why we must be ready like the five wise virgins.
     Keeping our eyes on the Lord is hard to do in these days filled with distractions in our world.  It seems that world events, natural disasters, and politics tend to fill our minds with grave concerns so much so that it is easy to focus on them rather than the renewal of our minds in Christ.  Jesus warned us to keep watch.  If we do not know the Lord, today is the day of salvation because we are not promised tomorrow to make Christ our Lord.  On the other hand, if we are believers, then we need to grow in our faith by reading His Word, prayer and fellowship.  Like the wise virgins, we will be ready when the bridegroom comes.
     Waiting is never easy whether it is a storm or a long car trip, but the reward in the end, is worth every moment of preparation.  One day, the sky will split, the trump will sound and our beloved Bridegroom will return for His people.  Don't miss it!  Selah!

It is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive

       For years, I have heard people tell me that they went to comfort someone in the hospital and instead, they received the greater blessing.  I am totally convinced that this is what happens when we give ourselves away without expecting anything in return.  Whether it is time, finances, or actual labor of some sort, there is a satisfaction that comes from serving others.
       At my daughter-in-law's suggestion, I started volunteering at the elementary school where two of our grandsons attend.  I meet with them both to enjoy lunch and then go assist the teacher in one of their classrooms.  My only purpose is to fellowship with them and be of help to a teacher with the extra paperwork she has in abundance.  Both years have brought joy to my heart.  Having been trained to be a teacher and having taught our own children for 21 years, I was left with

a void for me when the job was done.  Now retired, I have the time to put my education to further use.  Today, for example, the teacher I assist asked if I would lead a group reading session where we would discuss what we had just read.  We laughed at the funny story, talked about why things happened as they did and generally loved the time we spent together.  Seeing a light go on in the eyes of a child makes every moment worth it.
      In the book of Acts, Luke recorded the Apostle Paul's farewell to the elders at the church of Ephesus (Acts 20:34-35):  "…34You yourselves know that these hands of mine have ministered to my own needs and those of my companions. 35In everything, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus Himself: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”  Paul wanted to encourage these believers to pursue the same type of approach in helping one another even as the Lord had said.  Of course, the key is doing things with a pure motive and not with an eye to build favor or acclaim for ourselves.  There are three great reasons  why giving is so much better than receiving.
     First, we can never out give God.  He is our source for the many blessings we have in this life.  Proverbs 11:25 tells us:  "The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself."  When we give out to others from the abundance that we have, God will continue to fill us up.  We may not have a lot of money, but we may have the time to write a note to someone or visit the sick.  If we give of ourselves, God will continue to fill us up so that we can continue to bless others.
     Secondly, God wants us to be an avenue to bless others.  We are the hands and the feet of Jesus to those around us. Being in an elementary classroom for me is a chance to assist a teacher with anything she might need to have done and to encourage children to learn.  I can pass on the love of God by simply serving others.
     Finally, the more we give ourselves away, the more we receive in return.  I am not speaking of money here but of the rich blessings that can only come through God.  After class today,  I received many hugs from the young students that I had a chance to work with.  They thanked me for coming and helping them.  Now that is a paycheck of the heart!  What a joy to see their smiles.  In addition, I overheard the teacher saying she had never had a volunteer in her classroom.  That surprised me because there are so many children with so many different needs.  Being a teacher is a challenge and it blessed me to know I could be an extra pair of hands to help.
       We have been put here on earth to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever according to The Westminster Catechism.  By serving our fellow man out of love, we bring glory to God and have a chance to tell others the Good News of salvation through Christ.  Jesus said it well when he admonished his disciples in Matthew 6:19-21:  "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Think on this and see where the Lord would have you serve others.  There is a greater blessing than you can ever imagine awaiting you.  Selah!
   

Becoming One

     This past weekend, we made a trip to see our Son and his family in order to celebrate his birthday. Trips like this are always a blessing since we spend time with family.  On the way home from having our dinner out, our Grandson Aiden asked everyone to tell a story about an embarrassing event that happened to us.  I started out by relaying an event that took place early in our marriage when my husband and I went on a camping trip to Canada to see his father and two of his friends who went fishing.  We rented a VW camper which was perfect for the two of us.  At the time, we lived in Ohio so the trip was a two day trek.

Our beautiful family

     Being tired when we arrived and getting used to cooking on a tiny stove in the camper was a real challenge for me.  I do not remember what started it, but somehow my husband and I got into a disagreement.  I was upset and attempting to fry a steak at the same time while arguing with my hubby.  When it was done, I put it on a plate and set the plate on a chair so I had room to cook another.  At some point during the argument, I decided to sit down and promptly sat on the steak.  This brought gales of laughter from my dear husband after he saw what I did.  Of course, I burst into tears of embarrassment and when I went to reach for a tissue, a black jumping spider popped up making me cry even harder since it frightened me.  Well, my husband took me in his arms and comforted me, and we both started laughing at the whole incident.  To be honest, I cannot remember a thing about the argument....only the laughter over what I had done.  This was just an early adventure in our learning to become one in Christ.
     Next week, we will celebrate 48 years that we have been married.  It seems like only yesterday that we said our vows to one another.  Four children, 21 years of home educating them and 11 grandchildren later, we have grown together as we have served the Lord, but marriage is not easy.  It takes effort (100% on both sides), commitment, loyalty and faithfulness in order to mirror the love of Christ towards His church.
     Jesus was asked about divorce by the Pharisees.  It was common in his time and even more so in today's world.  In Mark 10:2-9, this discussion took place: " 2And Pharisees came up and in order to test him asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” 3He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” 4They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” 5And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. 6But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ 7‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,a 8and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. 9What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”  Matthew 5:32 expands on this.  "But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."  This was a high standard that the Lord set, but God's standards are much different from ours.  His plan has been to use the family as a means of bringing godly image bearers into this world who will witness for His glory and honor.
     Today, however, we see gender bending, and all sorts of distortions to God's plan according to His Word...the Bible.  This is our authority for living, marriage and raising our children, and Jesus made it plain to the Pharisees.  Is it easy to be married?  Can it last?  I would answer that by asking another question, "Can we do anything in this life and succeed without God?"  Certainly, He has to be at the center of any marriage.  He gives the strength, courage,
and ability to hold two people together.  He, alone, has the wisdom to help us raise children, and if we want them to be fulfilled in life, we must teach them about Christ according to the Bible. We cannot be blown about by every wind of doctrine that the world concocts as acceptable.  There is only one standard by which we can find real peace.
     I remember asking my mother if her love towards my father had changed since they were married.  She wisely answered that yes, it had. She told me it was deeper than ever before.  The thrills and chills stage had passed but the loving, abiding more meaningful love had come.  I believe this is what the Lord desires for us to grow in, but without Christ at the center, it would not be possible.  He is the glue that keeps marriage together.  He helps us when we are up to our ears in dirty diapers and a sink full of dishes all the way to the end of our days here on earth.  Two becoming one is an incredible journey when Christ is in the middle.  Selah!