A Baby Changes Everything

"But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus"- Luke 1:30-31 (NIV).

If there was a heavenly newspaper, I could just imagine the citizens and angels reading the headlines: A Baby Changes Everything! Faith Hill sings a song by that same title. Here's the last stanza: "My whole life has turned around, I was lost, but now I'm found. A baby changes everything, yeah, a baby changes everything." Why would God send His Son? Paul Harvey offered the best "parable" called: The Man and the Birds. Here's the link if you've never heard it:

http://www.everydaychristian.com/blogs/post/christmas_classics_the_man_and_the_birds_by_paul_harvey/

Here is the crescendo of the story of the man trying to save helpless birds, a man with little understanding of why God would send His Son: “If only I could be a bird,” he thought to himself, “and mingle with them and speak their language. Then I could tell them not to be afraid. Then I could show them the way to safe, warm…to the safe warm barn. But I would have to be one of them so they could see, and hear and understand.” And then the church bells rang. That Baby did change everything; He changed our whole lives around; we were lost, but now we're found. We thank God for His indescribable Gift: the birth of His Son, Jesus.

The Right Position

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before"- Daniel 6:10 (NIV).

Would you continue if there was a law forbidding the worship of God? You might, if you felt you were of little consequence and had nothing to lose. What if you were in a position of authority, living in the palace? There's much of life's comforts to give up if you violate the law. Would you continue to give thanks to God when you've been put in a dangerous position? Daniel knew the only "position" he needed to be in was on his knees. We live in a land of religious freedom, yet many find themselves in a "position" that doesn't allow the time. Job, family, health, recreation, even church demands rob you of time on your knees. Each activity could be of noble intent, but they have become the god you worship. Daniel was willing to be thrown into the bone-crushing jaws of a den of lions than to worship King Darius. He saw that as the better option than putting anything before God Almighty. Our "position" reveals our heart and faith. May we be found on our knees.

He's A Good, Good Father

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

The Lord cannot lie. He is holy. "God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23:19). It may seem your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling, or that God is too busy with the problems of this world to hear your solitary prayer; lest you have forgotten: He is all powerful and all knowing. He has heard your prayer and holds your right hand. He will help you. He doesn't say, 'I'll see what I can do.' He can do all things; impossible things become possible. Nothing you could pray about is too trivial for Him; He is your Heavenly Father. "Ask and it will be given to you...which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead...how much more will your Father in heaven give" (Luke 11:9-13). With all these promises, and the knowledge that the Lord cannot lie, we should feel free to talk to God about any and everything and then trust Him for an answer. Honor the Lord in your words and actions; one of which is to trust Him and not be afraid to set your prayers before Him.

Covered and Transformed

"Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow"- Psalm 51:7 (NIV).

It was extremely foggy driving to work this morning. I poked along trying to make out the road and staying on my side when passing oncoming traffic. There was a blessing in it all: The fog covered the deforestation going on at the neighbor's house. Like a blanket of snow, all the ugly was covered, changing the scene entirely. That's what God's forgiveness does for us through the shed blood of Jesus: Our ugly is covered up and we are transformed from ugly to beautiful. You can white-wash a wrecked car, but you can still see the scars. Snow, on the other hand, covers it like a blanket. It fills in the scars, the broken parts, the missing parts, and makes it look the same as the snow-blanketed new car beside it. You can't tell them apart. God in His mercy did this, and it is grace we didn't deserve, nor earn. It is freely given to those who know Jesus as Lord. 

Show Yourself

"If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be My disciples"- John 15:7-8 (NIV).

This made me think of the passing of a dear saint. Her friend’s glowing description was fruit she was still bearing. Wouldn't we all like to hear those same accolades one day? Many times, people think of "fruit" as things we purposely go and do, but it's more than serving food to the shut-ins and money dropped in the bell-ringers' coffer in front of the local store. Fruit is produced throughout every day living: our attitudes, our words, our actions, our motives...how we are perceived by those God has placed around us. The blessings of God are evident in the lives of Jesus' disciples and people want to be around them. They recognize His disciples and want what the fruit bearer has...a deeper relationship with God. Our lives should be magnetic, attracting people to Jesus. A recluse cannot attain this. We have to be "in" the world, like Jesus was, yet "separated" in the way we live our lives. Jesus didn't say we would just bear fruit, He said we would bear "much" fruit. Our fruit glorifies God, so remain in the vine (Jesus) and let His Word enable and enrich the branch (you) (John 15:5). Show yourself to be Jesus' disciple.  

The Gift of Words

"In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"- Acts 20:35 (NIV).

"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms" (1 Peter 4:10). We always think of "giving" as money and/or time, but many times the gift is in our words. Not all "giving" is within our Divinely given gifts, but words, aptly chosen and dispensed, can be healing, inspiring, comforting, encouraging, leading, correcting, instructing, and loving, to mention a few, and is a powerful gift we all possess. People are shaped by the words we speak, for good and for bad. Do you remember a time when words spoken to you made a difference? There are many different gifts, but we all have the gift of words, and Jesus said it is a blessing when we use our gifts appropriately. Gifting our words can be hard work at times: the rebellious child, the friend with the crisis, the awkward or ignored neighbor, the angry loved one...the list goes on. If words were not that important, God wouldn't have had an entire book written about them: James. And when we have moments where we are in need of words, there's no better place to find them than in the Word, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said. 

Spiritual versus Physical Eyesight

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, Who is the Image of God"- 2 Corinthians 4:4 (NIV).

Spiritual eyesight is quite different from physical eyesight. God gave all humans spiritual eyes, but those who don't know, believe, or trust in God are blinded to the truth. They are spiritually blind. Steven Sanchez says, "Tragically, the eyes of many Christians don't see very well either. Often our spiritual vision is blinded by the glare of what our physical eyes see." We start seeing the wealthy, fruitful lives of the sinful, non-believers. We become discouraged and downcast as we see how the world loves them. We are in conflict, because we know this is not the way the world should be. If we allow our physical eyes to blindfold our spiritual eyes, from lack of use, they become desensitized to spiritual realities...blinded by the god of this age. King David lamented all these thoughts in Psalm 73. His conclusion to God was, "Surely You place them on slippery ground; You cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!" (v. 13). Strengthen your spiritual eyes to dominate your physical eyes by focusing on His coming kingdom.

Thankful

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever"- Psalm 107:1 (NIV).

Thursday is often referred to as Thankful Thursday. It's no wonder that Thanksgiving is on a Thursday. Being thankful during our mountain top days is easy, but those valley days can be anorexic in thankfulness. Believe it or not, we have things to be thankful for in the valleys of our lives. It is, after all, the valleys that make us aware of our need for a Savior and our chance to see His power demonstrated and His merciful provision to get us through the trying times. Once we ascend to the mountain top again, we can easily look back and see God's handiwork in getting us there. We won't be able to stay there long; there will be another valley to traverse, but after each victorious trip we become stronger in faith and trust God more. God is truly good; His love never ceases and His mercy is without end. Be thankful for and during your mountain top experiences and for your valley lows. They are the Divine process making you into who you are to become.  

Be Unkillable

"...but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither-whatever they do prospers"- Psalm 1:2-3 (NIV).

Our daughter and son-in-law gifted us with Canna bulbs and told us they had to get into the ground ASAP. My husband and I obediently planted them, then said a little prayer over them, because we've not been very successful with plants lately, even though we've watered faithfully. We Facetimed my brother later that night. He told us you couldn't kill or get rid of Cannas if you tried. He even used a rotter tiller to get his Canna bulbs up, laid out sod grass, and they still came up. They are an unkillable plant. Unlike us, God is the Master Gardener. Not only does He create the plant, but also the soil, the sunshine, the water, the fruit, and the seasons. Christians are an analogy of one of God's well-tended plants. He gives us all the necessary elements to thrive, and thrive we will, if we are obedient. Disobedience brings the leaf and fruit nibblers affecting our spiritual growth; our "leaf" withers and there is no progress in our faith. We should pray to be more of a "Canna" in the spiritual garden: Unkillable. Delighting in God's law is the same as anything else we delight in; we give our time and attention, our resources and strength, to the things we delight in. It should be the same when we're delighting in God.

Good Measure Running Over

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you"- Luke 6:38 (NIV).

My husband has a special job when I'm baking our chocolate pumpkin cake. He measures out the half cup of chocolate pieces. My cooking style is very mechanical; if the recipe calls for a cup of flour, I measure out a level cup and add it to the bowl, as with all the other ingredients. My husband cooks "by the seat of his pants." A handful of this, two shakes of that and throw it in the pan. In other words, his generous half cup of chocolate pieces is running over the sides...but I don't fuss any longer. For some reason the cake tastes better with his "good measure." Scripture says we should be generous, too, giving more "by the seat of our pants," instead of only giving the exact amount. It all boils down to trusting God and His promises. I'll admit that I have begun to copy my husband's "measure" when he's unavailable to perform the task. I'm learning to live "by the seat of my pants" and keep my good measure running over.  

Tip of the Tongue

"The king said to me, "What is it you want?" Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king"- Nehemiah 2:4-5a (NIV). 

Nehemiah had been distressed after hearing the temple was in ruins. He was a man who wore his heart on his sleeve. King Artaxerxes noticed the change in Nehemiah's countenance and asked what was wrong. Before Nehemiah answered the question he prayed about his answer. I'm sure Nehemiah had the answer on the tip of his tongue, but he knew God was in control of all things; and He still is. God wants us to look to Him before we act, before we even speak. He has all the answers and all the best plans (Jeremiah 29:11). The king ended up allowing Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple, gave him the lumber for the building of the temple, gave letters to provide secure passage through other territories, and sent along troops to protect him (vs.7-9). Nehemiah was the king's cupbearer, a servant, a slave...not his son, his relative, or any person deserving notable respect of position. But Nehemiah was God's own and God reacted to Nehemiah's prayer. The next time you are in a position to make a statement, pray before you answer, even if the answer is on the tip of your tongue, and leave the rest to your Heavenly Father. Let us pray as King David did: "Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).  

Onward

"You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand"- Psalm 16:11 (NIV).

What path is that? It's the Path of Righteousness referred to in Psalm 23. The Good Shepherd uses His rod of goodness and staff of mercy to keep the momentum in the right direction, at the right speed. Eternal pleasures await those obedient to His commands. Any area off the path is deadly. Just one glance reveals the depravity of this world, the sins that so easily ensnare, all of which cries out for one more follower, one more victim. Stopping to indulge, either as participant or spectator, is followed by the nudging of the Lord to move on, be patient, eyes front...keep going. Sometimes the journey is tiresome, long and boring, not at all like what sin promises. We have a promise though: "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Look behind you and you will see others who have chosen to join you on the path. Praise God; because, at some point you made the same decision. Did you feel that nudge? Onward then!

Time to Abdicate

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well"- Matthew 6:33 (NIV).

God's kingdom should be on the forefront of our mind. Each word or action should be founded upon bringing God glory, not self-glory. The world's ways have us more self-centered, self-promoting, self-gratifying...self-focused. Life is so competitive; we're born with it. Have you not noticed children at play? They're very competitive. That's how games like "King of the Hill" came into existence. We want to be king in our world and among our fellow human beings. It bleeds over into our adult pursuits, too: jobs, sports, hobbies, belongings, relationships, etc. Yes, relationships. A childhood conversation: "My dad is stronger than your dad." Into adulthood, our relationships compete with other people's relationships. Our kids are better. My spouse makes more money. My team is best. It goes on. There is only one King of the hill and you are not it. "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a(n) [adult], I put the ways of childhood behind me' (1 Corinthians 13:11). We need to abdicate our throne and recognize the only true King: JESUS. To Him be the glory forever. 

Rotten Spot

"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased"- Hebrews 13:16 (NIV).

Four apples were lined up on the table; one for each of us four siblings. I grabbed the biggest apple feeling like it made sense: I was the oldest, I was the biggest, and I was given first choice. Why not choose the biggest and best? That was 10-year old logic at its finest. Even as an adult, I still try to reason why I deserve so much more, and so much better, to feel justified in the choices I make. Lot was given the choice of which land he wanted when he separated from his Uncle Moses. "Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere," basically choosing the better real estate (Genesis 13:10). Like my apple, which turned out to have a rotten spot, Lot had moved to Sodom and Gomorrah, literally on God's list for upcoming destruction. The moral is not, "what seems like the best choice is the worst;" Listen, the point is, we please God when we make decisions on the principles of goodness and sharing....they are sacrifices. The Apostle Paul said, "We are not trying to please people [which includes you and me] but God, who tests our hearts (1 Thessalonians 2:4). Seek to please God and you will not end up with a rotten spot on your heart.

His Eye

""Am I only a God nearby," declares the Lord, "and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord"- Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV).

Does God not see what is happening? To me? To others? Is He distracted by bigger problems than my troubled heart? Michael Quoist is quoted as saying, "We have been in God's thoughts from all eternity, and in His creative love, His attention never leaves us." It's so true. My father and step-mother lost my little sister, age four, at the airport in Seattle, Washington. She was quickly found, but how harrowing were those few moments for both parent and child? They only took their eyes off of her for one moment. That's all it took and she was out of sight. God never takes His eyes off of us. Our Heavenly Father never loses sight of even the least of His children. We can with all certainty sing the song "His Eye Is on the Sparrow" by Civilla Martin, 1905: "Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav'n and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me." God fills all of heaven and earth and He will never, no never, take His eye off of you.

Civic Duty

"Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people"- 1 Peter 2:13-15 (NIV).

If my brother doesn't get called tomorrow, he's made it through the week without having his number pulled for jury duty. Serving on a jury is the civic duty of every citizen. Have you ever served? Every time I've been called I've been dismissed. In the beginning, it was due to being the mother of small children. Later, I was excused for being in education. I would not have minded serving; it's my civic duty, but don't we all just sigh when we get that letter and then hope, and possibly pray, we don't have to serve. We can equate this to the times when the Lord calls us to serve. What does not fit "our" plan is subject to being skirted, refused, or requested to be excused. Moses asked to be excused from his calling to return to Egypt to lead his people out of bondage. Wasn't on his to-do list. We are citizens of this life, but most importantly, citizens of God's realm. Would you refuse Him? The fruit of obedience to God, which includes submitting to human authority, is to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by doing good, by doing our duty; if not, we can be included as one of the foolish people.   

Your Condition

"The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray"- 1 Peter 4:7 (NIV).

I watched my father drink alcohol up until his final years. He loved scotch, whiskey and beer. As a teacher of ancient history, I can tell you there is evidence of alcohol consumption as far back as we can trace mankind. The wrong or right of drinking has long divided marriages, families, friends, and congregations. The most used argument in favor of drinking is Jesus' first miracle, turning water into wine; yet, drinking caused a lot of problems for Noah and Lot. Then there are the arguments over the differences between "old" wine and "new" wine, but the prophet Hosea says, "Old wine and new wine [both] take away their understanding" (4:11). The question should be taken off of the "right" and "wrong" of drinking and personally asking ourselves if our drinking glorifies the Lord, because, in all that we say and do, we either glorify God or we do not. Do we weaken or strengthen others in our drinking? Do we weaken or strengthen the temple God has given our spirit to reside in? Are we spiritually watching, paying attention, when we are drinking? Let your own conscience respond to those questions. Then ask yourself, if the answers are negative, do you have the ability to stop? If you're still getting a negative answer, pray and ask God for help. Jesus says, "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" (Matthew 26:41). What condition do you want to be in when the Lord returns?  

A Time Of Need

"Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need"- Hebrews 4:16 (NIV).

Esther was queen, but she could not approach her husband, the king, with her problem. She was restricted, like everyone else, from approaching the king without being summoned. The violation of that law meant death, unless the king extended his golden scepter, which spared them their life (Esther 4:11). The king, did so and offered grace to Esther for her "time such as this" (v.14). As followers of Christ, we have been granted immeasurable grace, but we did not earn it. In fact, you cannot earn God's grace. You cannot be good enough, give enough, or work hard enough to earn God's grace. Grace is afforded you through faith. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Approaching God's throne is your right as His child once you have come to faith. You do not have to tremble, or wait for an extended golden scepter; you will only find Love waiting for you. God invites you to approach His throne with confidence, at any time, receiving mercy and finding grace to help you in your time of need.

It Is Time

"Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the Lord, until He comes and showers His righteousness on you"- Hosea 10:12 (NIV).

The story goes of two farmers during a drought. Both prayed for rain, but only one got on his tractor, plowed and prepared for the rain. Which of the two has sown righteousness for himself; which of the two will reap the fruit of the harvest, which is God's unfailing love? The answer is, the one who prepared for the rain, breaking up the dry, dusty hard ground. I'm sure, if a true story, he would have been scoffed at by others. This analogy, applied to today's Scripture, is saying it is time to seek the Lord, for He is coming, bringing with Him showers of His righteousness. Waiting is a terrible mistake. Did Noah wait until he saw the first raindrops to begin the ark? Were the ten virgins in Matthew 25, who were waiting for the Groom  to appear, prepared for His arrival? No. We prepare by seeking the Lord and it is time to seek the Lord. Our Heavenly Father says, "I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me find Me" (Proverbs 8:17). But, how do I prepare, you may ask? How do I seek Him? Ask yourself: If I knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow at 3:00, what would I do differently between this very moment until His return? Now go and get on your tractor.

Gloriously Gift-less

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me"- 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV).

Some people are so blessed to have certain gifts: leadership, wealth, entertainment, sports, intellect, beauty, speaking, writing, artistic, and languages. The list could go on and on. If I had any of them, I would use them for the Lord and for His kingdom. However, I'm not endowed with any special gift. Isn't that wonderful! Anything good that comes from me can only go to the glory of the Father. It becomes my own edification, unless I share with others that I don't possess any of the resources to make things happen. It's amazing when God works through me and, oh, so obvious. A gifted person may wonder if it was from his gift or if God worked through him at that moment. Granted, all the gifts come from God, but over time, as the gift is used, you can begin to wonder, was that me or was that God? A gift-less person never wonders about such things. It's all God. All things go to the glory of God, but I'm feeling blessed to be gloriously gift-less today.

Give It Your All

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"- Galatians 6:9 (NIV).

I'm preaching to the choir now. There are people watching us all the time. If we falter, we would lose their attention. The longer we keep it, the better chance of them seeing Jesus in us and coming to faith in the Lord. We become tired at times, known to take naps in the middle of the floor, but we push on toward the calling we've been given. We need to encourage one another, help one another, give to one another, and pray for one another. You probably have a person, or persons, that you know who need to surrender their lives to Jesus. They are currently in your sphere of influence and God is pursuing them through you. That person, or more, is close to making the most important decision of their life: To follow Jesus. Let that be on the forefront of your mind when you feel you've given all you've got. You haven't; only One has given His all. "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Kick weariness to the curb and press on! Souls of the Beloved are at stake.  

Remembering You

"I thank my God every time I remember you"- Philippians 1:3 (NIV).

We all set up memorials. I have memorials in my home. The main hallway has pictures of my ancestors, soon to include my great-great grandfather Jesse Pirtle, whom my mother, Jessie, was named after; yet another kind of memorial for him. My mother bore his name. My newlywed daughter and husband have a memorial of their wedding day, including their cake centerpiece and wedding photos, displayed on a piece of furniture in their living room. What memorials do you have in your life? To Paul, in today's Scripture, his converts were his memorial. Each time he thought of them, he thanked God. Their continued belief in God was a memorial to what God had done through Paul's obedience to share to Gospel of Christ Jesus. I'm sure the church in Philippi thanked God every time they remembered Paul, too. You may feel there are no memorials for you, but look around. Those people, young and old, who you've influenced in their Christian walk are a memorial to you; to what God has done through your obedience. That's the best kind of memorial; one where someone can say, "I thank my God every time I remember you." 

Eclipse of the Son

"He spreads out the northern skies over empty space; He suspends the earth over nothing"- Job 26:7 (NIV).

Have you heard this idiom? "You can't see the forest for the trees." There are moments when the very thing we are looking for is right in front of us, but we can't see it. The 2017 Solar Eclipse occurred directly over our house yesterday. We watched as the sun was completely blacked out by the moon displaying the corona. It struck me this morning, on my drive into work, that I never saw the moon. The moon moved directly between us and the sun. How could the moon, large enough to black out the sun, go unseen? We were looking directly at it. Many times we are looking directly at our problems, anxious that we don't see God intervening on our behalf, then quite unexpectedly, He's there and the problem becomes blacked out. God moves in mysterious ways. "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!" (Romans 11:33). We cannot trace out the path of the moon during a solar eclipse, nor can we trace out the path of God. Trust Him to always be there, my friend, and know that God is on the move.  

Fighting Satan

"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart"- Hebrews 4:12 (NIV).

Fighting Satan requires a certain piece of armor. When Jesus was being tempted by Satan, He used Scripture to combat the tempter. Jesus was hungry. When Satan told Him to turn stones into bread, Jesus responded, "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). That Scripture came from Deuteronomy 8:3. So Satan tried to fight fire with fire and quoted Scripture back in his next temptation to Jesus, tempting Jesus to throw Himself off the highest point of the temple; taunting Jesus to prove God would save Him (Matthew 4:5-6), but, in verse  7, Jesus responded, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test'". Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 6:16. In one last attempt, Satan offered Jesus all things visible, if Jesus would bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:8-9). Oh, the power of Scripture, because Satan fled after Jesus responded with Deuteronomy 6:13: "Fear the Lord your God, serve Him only." Are you memorizing Scripture? It's part of the armor of God, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17). Jesus used the book of Deuteronomy to fight the temptations of the devil. What will you use? 

His Presence

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland"- Isaiah 43:18-19 (NIV).

Most people have collections of memorabilia tucked away or displayed in their homes. Looking back on good memories is like a mini vacation for our hearts; the bad memories, not even close. Our minds tend to flit back to the past at times, but God doesn't want us to "dwell" there. The devil does though. Looking back can cause us to lose our balance and stumble; no, our eyes should be focused on what's in front of us. You may be in a good place right now, but even good places need refreshing at times. A bad place needs a complete overhaul. Thankfully, God is in the business of creating new things that enrich a believer's faith and hope. It's not the "things" that bring the excitement or the renewal; it's the awareness of God's presence that fill us with joy. If you're a parent, you know the joy of watching your child open a gift. Is it really about the gift? No, it's about the one who is giving and the one who is receiving. God is the ultimate Parent and His love for us is eternal (Jeremiah 31:3). Our hearts desire is to be in His presence. For now, delight yourself in the Lord and the desires of your heart will spring up. Do you not perceive it? 

The Name I Bear

"In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy"- Philippians 1:4 (NIV).

As a child, I was always somewhat envious of my sister Joy's name. Mother had the liberty to name her second daughter anything she wanted to after having made me the namesake for her mother. Our pastor preached on the book of Philippians Sunday. He says it was Paul's "joy" epistle. The church at Philippi was the model church and Paul was expressing his joy at having seen their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah and living a life of servitude to the glory of the Lord. Those who stay rooted in Christ Jesus are always filled with joy. My name may not be Joy, but I can choose to be full of joy. That doesn't mean I'm happy all the time, it means my joy is found only in the Lord, not in people or the circumstances of this life. No one, including the Father of Lies, can steal my joy from me. Nor can he steal your joy from you, unless you allow him too. Have you lost your joy? God can restore it (Psalm 51:12). Stay in His Word: "When Your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear Your name, Lord God Almighty" (Jeremiah 15:16). I love the last eight words of that verse. The name I bear is the Lord God Almighty's name. Feast on the Word of God and your joy will be restored and/or enriched.  

Neglected Areas

"Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well"- 3 John 1:2 (NIV).  

God is concerned about both our spiritual and physical health and, since He is, we should be as well. It's a balancing act of taking care of the whole body. Like an under-watered garden, a body deficient in time spent in the Word and prayer, or physical exercise and proper nutrition, will suffer and wither away. My husband and I have soaker-hoses in our garden that are on a timer. Our garden is watered each morning and evening; however, we became a little too dependent upon that system and didn't make regular checks on the garden, until we found one side of the garden wilted and yellowing. There had been a malfunction in the soaker-hose. The same is true for our spirit and body. We need to do regular wellness checks. Is either your spirit or body wilting, not growing or producing a noticeable harvest? The sooner you correct the neglected areas of your spirit and body, the sooner you'll be enjoying good health and your soul getting along well.

Jesus...Saves

"We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done"- Psalm 78:4 (NIV).

We used to play a hide and seek water game in the pool. With one person designated to "search", he/she would shout out the first name and listen; those who needed to be "found" had to respond with the last name, giving the designated searcher an idea of their location. Do you know the name? Marco...Polo! The spoken name was critical to finding the lost. What a wonderful analogy of a Christian's role in seeking the lost. When is the last time "Jesus" came out of your mouth in conversation with another person? For most, "if" it occurred, it occurred in church on Sunday; but, I wonder how many Christians, even our pastors and church secretaries, can count the number of times on one hand...or at all. Oh, the power of Jesus' name. He is the only way, the only truth and the only life. No one can come to the Father except through Jesus (John 14:6). You cannot be obedient to today's Scripture without using the name of Jesus. Continuing with the pool analogy, sharing Jesus with others is like tossing a life preserver to a drowning (aka lost) person. The name of this game is Jesus...Saves. Shout His name!  

The Hope of Glory

"And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the world began"-John 17:5 (NIV).

Imagine giving up your "glory" for a season. That's nigh impossible, so imagine giving up what good you feel in your societal acceptance. Our perceptions by others are very important to us. Remember the pimple on your face that felt like a blinking red beacon? How about the haircut from the stylist who never saw you again after that botched job? Even the smaller issues can be blown out of proportion: spilled liquid on the crotch of your pants, a pantyhose run blazing up the side of your leg, high water pant legs...you get my drift. These things can have us feeling anxious, hiding away where no one can see us, and we would certainly never choose this discomfort. We fear rejection. Jesus gave up His glory for us, sinners, who rejected Him. Why would He do that? Because "God so loved the world," you and me, and now we get to share in Jesus' glory (John 3:16; Romans 8:18). Jesus' prayer, "I have given them the glory that You gave Me, that they may be one as We are One," is one of God's most beautiful gifts (John 17:22). He has shared His glory with us. "To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). 

Searching for the Red Bucket

"Jesus said, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these"- Matthew 19:14 (NIV).

My grandson, Brantley, just turned four-years old, which means he is too old now for the nursery and ready to attend the children's sermon in the sanctuary. The children's sermon is done down front, on the steps leading up to the podium, in full sight of the congregation. I had spoken to the children's minister, Cameron, before church and told him about Brantley and our anxiety over this being his first time. At the appropriate time, I took Brantley down and seated him with the other children. He waved to us moments later, which let us know he knew where we were and he seemed to be content seated with the other children. His mother and I watched holding our breath. Cameron had an activity where four red buckets were hidden throughout the front of the sanctuary. He called on three children to go search for the red buckets and then asked if there was a Brantley in the group. Brantley jumped up and climbed down through the other children to Cameron. My heart almost stopped beating. Brantley looked around, trying to decide where to go, while my mind whirled; but, Cameron's wife got up and took Brantley by the hand, guiding him to a "good" spot to search. He ran back triumphantly to Cameron with the red bucket held high over his head. The sad truth is, if I had known before hand, I probably would have kept Brantley with us, fearful of creating a scene...or causing embarrassment. Cameron and his wife helped lead Brantley, not only to look in a "good" spot for the red bucket, but they began the process of leading him to find Jesus. It makes me wonder how many times I have held myself and others back in an attempt to not make a scene or cause embarrassment. Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). Let's hold our red buckets triumphantly over our heads and run to Jesus. 

Our Constant

"You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light. With Your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall"- 2 Samuel 22:29-30 (NIV).

I noticed the morning light is not present when I open my shutters at 5:50 in the morning now. The earth is rotating and the days are beginning to shorten. It's almost indiscernible, unless you're a type-A person who does the same routine each morning...like opening the shutters once my bed is made. There's good to be found in being observant. Seasons come and go, but the earth keeps turning. It weathers the heat of summer and the chill of winter, but it keeps on turning, just as God created it to do. Metaphorically, we go through seasons, too: fear and courage, sadness and joy, sickness and health, lacking and gain, etc. We must keep "turning," just as God created us to do. He turns our darkness into light, fights alongside us through battles, and gives us strength to overcome obstacles. Those who discern His presence, even through a difficult spot, are filled with the peace only God can give. There can be joy in the darkness, in the battle, and in the difficulties and what's more, a confidence grows with each "turn." God is with you. He is your Constant.  

River Guide

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze"- Isaiah 43:2 (NIV).

My husband and I went on an eight-mile white water rafting trip down the Natahala River Saturday with our daughter and her husband. We had our own raft and a guide named Ben. Ben was very knowledgeable about the river, where the big rocks, rapids and falls were located, he knew the history of the river and the names of the trees and flowers we passed by. He should have, Ben was the lead guide for the company and we felt blessed to have him. We were in very experienced hands. None of us fell out of the raft, but both my son-in-law and I got tossed into the floor of the raft. Our guide had told us to anchor our feet, so we would not fall in the opposite direction, which was "out" of the boat. Let me tell you, you have no control when your body is tossed up into the air, but we were still "in" the boat thanks to Ben. Life has a way of tossing you into the air and you feel like you have no control. Bottom line, our outcome comes from trusting and believing God is with us in our raft as we navigate the rivers of this life. Jesus is our Guide, and just as we had to listen to our earthly river guide telling us what to do, how to do, and when to do, we have to keep spiritual ears open to Jesus' promptings. God's not promised there won't be rocks, rapids and falls ahead, there will be, but Jesus is there guiding us along. He's the Lead Guide and we are in very experienced hands.

Go Up

"Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it""- Numbers 13:30 (NIV).

Doubting God results in missed opportunities and consequences. Caleb and Joshua were the only two saying God would give them victory over the inhabitants of the promised land, while the others who had spied out the land with them spouted their fears they would falter and fall if they went up against such strong opponents. After all, these were fortified cities and the land was full of giants. God sent them back into the desert, on a 40-year wilderness trek, punishment for not trusting Him. Once the 40-years of desert punishment ended, the Israelites were once again standing on the edge of the promised land. Moses told them they were to go into the land courageously and in God's strength. "Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6). Guess who the only two original people were who crossed over into the promised land? Caleb and Joshua. Fear and doubt can be crippling. Thankfully God is a God of second chances. And thirds, fourths, fifths...he will never leave you, nor forsake you. Go up...you can certainly do it.       

The Power of Thought

"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"- 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NIV).

The pen is mightier than the sword. That phrase was coined by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839 indicating that thoughts put into words were more powerful than physical actions. The power was generated by thought. Verse 4 says the weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world; but weapons with divine power to tear down the strongholds within the mind and hearts of people. Not only in others, but also within ourselves. That's why Paul went on to say that we were to take captive every thought and make it obedient. When we don't control our thoughts, because we can, it's like giving a weapon to a child, who doesn't know how to use it. Who is in danger? You are. Joyce Meyers wrote Battlefield of the Mind saying your life won't change until your thinking does. As you think in your heart, so you become (Proverbs 23:7). How can you fight an external war, if you are fighting yourself internally? Do you see how Satan works? Control the power of your thoughts.

Live Like You Believe It

""Am I only a God nearby," declares the Lord, "and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord""- Jeremiah 23:23-24 (NIV).

My mother never said, "Don't do anything you wouldn't do if I were right there with you" when I finally got old enough to go off on my own. Instead, she said, "Don't do anything you wouldn't do if Jesus were right there with you." That had a much more profound impact on my choices as a young person gaining independence from my parents and even now as a senior citizen. It's natural for a child to separate themselves from their parents as they become older; parents are no longer privy to all aspects of their child's life and have to trust that the foundation they provided will lead to a healthy lifestyle for their offspring. The relationship with Jesus, however, doesn't have a line drawn where He is waving good-bye as you drive away. No, He's omnipresent; always with you: from the highest heights, to the lowest depths, from the dawn to the far side of the sea..."even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast" (Psalm 139:8-10). He fills heaven and earth and He fills you. Jesus is right there with you, guiding and holding you fast. May you live like you believe it. 

The End Result

"Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few"- Matthew 9:37 (NIV).

In the 1940's, Little Golden Books published and popularized a Russian folk story called The Little Red Hen. To summarize, a mother hen found a grain of wheat, planted it, harvested the wheat, threshed and milled the wheat, and then baked some lovely warm bread. At each process in the bread's creation she asked other barn animals who was willing to help her, and they each declined with a myriad of excuses, until the last question of who was willing to help her eat the bread. Each barn animal was quick to say they would help, but the little red hen told the lazy barn animals they couldn't enjoy the warm bread because they had not helped her in the process. Though not stated in the book this is Biblical: "The one who is unwilling to work shall not eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10). Moral of the story: Those who do not contribute do not deserve to enjoy the end result. Heaven is our end result. Jesus is asking who is willing to help with His harvest. The harvest is huge, but few workers are showing up and the sad reality is they won't be enjoying the end result. Are you willing?

Holding Loosely

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight"- Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV).

We need to hang on to worldly things loosely. When we cling to anything tightly it becomes an object that fosters pride. Then, when the item is taken from us we form a committee of self-pity and we become its president. Loosely held things slip from our fingers easier and we can say along with Job: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:21). Job trusted in the Lord, not on his own understanding. When we consider that all things belong to the Lord, only temporarily in our hands, we can let go of them when He takes them away without feeling He took away something that belonged to us. God will never leave us, nor forsake us. He does not loosely hold us. We belong to Him. He asks only that we trust in Him...even if we don't understand. Hold loosely to the things of this world and may the name of the Lord be praised.   

Let Them Eat Mud

"How abundant are the good things that You have stored up for those who fear You, that You bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in You"- Psalm 31:19 (NIV).

Psalm 23 says God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies, He anoints our head with oil, our cup overflows (v.5). That's two verses that tell us that God will let the world know who His children are by showing them favor. Then why aren't all His children wealthy, healthy, with good jobs and intact families? True those are measurable blessings, but God has more intended for us, blessings that cannot be measured. There are earthly treasures we seek, but Heavenly treasures await God's children. Was Jesus well off and well to do while He walked among us? He could have been, but nothing on earth enticed Him like the heavenly treasures He was used to and was soon returning to. Earthly treasures held no luster that attracted Him; It would be like us desiring to eat mud after feasting on exotic delicacies. The watching world will one day see the abundance God has planned for His children. Let the world enjoy their mud. There are delicacies awaiting us.

No Records Found

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrong. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres"- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV).

I watched a movie last night, where a man was trying to do the right thing. His old friend wasn't happy about the change in the man's life and reminded him that he had been a thief, a liar and a murder..."you can't get away from that." Yes, he can. We all can. By God's grace we are set free from our former selves (Ephesians 2:8). Today's verse is taken from Chapter 13, also called the "Love Chapter." Love "keeps no record of wrong." I could only imagine the depth and breadth of a book that recorded all the wrongs I've committed in my life. It would be monolithic in size and leave me feeling defeated and hopeless. Praise God there would be no records found in a search of my wrong deeds. I reread the verses above and substituted God in place of the word love. How convicting is it to substitute your name in place of the word love? "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8).       

Wait For It

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay" Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV).

God's promises can be trusted; they are infallible. Time and time again, Scripture tells us to wait on the Lord, but we are impatient people who become anxious if nothing is happening. Many a punishment we give children, for misbehavior, is timeout. They have to sit by themselves with no activity. Children would rather have a spanking than to be put in timeout. However, God is not punishing us. He wants us to rely on Him, trust Him and be still. Be still! Sounds so elementary; anyone can be still, right? Have you ever made a decision without praying about it? Maybe you thought that particular opportunity would never happen again. Or you may devise your own plans, thinking time is running out, and you're moving on. We may be settling for what we think is a good choice, but not the best choice God had in store for us. Stop dancing out in front of God like you know the way. He knows the plan He has for you. Be still: wait for it.  

Qualified to Run

"But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in You"- Psalm 39:7 (NIV).

Romans 8:25 says those who have hope, wait with patience. I've been working on patience for a long time. I watched the movie Secretariat (you should see it if you haven't). Each time the magnificent thoroughbred went into the starting gate, he snorted and pawed the ground, anxious for the gate to swing open and the race to begin. That's how I feel in many situations; I'm anxiously waiting for "whatever" to begin. My husband mentioned my anxiety level being noticeable, waiting for the recent 5K to begin, once we got to the starting line. I was all but running in place as we waited; literally pawing the ground like Secretariat. It's not just a mental thing; it's also physical. You ache to begin. Secretariat's jockey would stroke his mane and neck while they waited in the starting gate. My "Jockey" is the Lord Jesus. When I turn to Him, He "strokes" me as I wait, calming me down. God is my Hope and I wait on Him in this heavenward race. I can't run, nor win, this race without my Jockey, just as Secretariat would have been disqualified without his jockey. With hope and patience, our Jockey will get us across the finish line in perfect timing. Without Him, we're disqualified from the race...and the prize.

Stormy Blessings

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand"- Isaiah 41:10 (NIV).

Some of my closest spiritual experiences have come during periods of turmoil and strife. I know God loves me as I swim along in the currents of life, but it's when I'm fighting an undertow, from an unexpected storm, threatening to drag me under, that I reach out to God more passionately: "God, I can't help myself. Save me!" The praise and worship following His outstretched hand of delivery is different from the day-to-day exhortation I offer to God. It's truly jubilant, unashamed, soul-clutching praise. There isn't a drug in all creation that can give you that kind of high. It's a joy that can only come through a period of darkness and the realization that God is my Help, my Deliverer. He is with me. Enjoy your days of drifting effortlessly along, it's a blessing, but you will be blessed most from your storms.   

Always

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience"- Colossians 3:12 (NIV).

How many pictures of the Queen of England have you ever seen of her wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt? Our physical and mental image of her is always the Queen at her best: regal and stately. Her arraignment is intentional. She clothes herself, or an attendant clothes her, the way she wants to be perceived: as a Queen. How often? Always. We as God's chosen, His children, princes and princesses of His kingdom, have a set of clothing we are asked to wear: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. What physical and mental image do others have of you? We need to consider this: If an earthly royal goes to such extremes to clothe herself so intentionally, shouldn't we as heirs to the kingdom of God try to do likewise? How often? Always. 

Enjoy Your Day

"Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be"- Psalm 139:16 (NIV).

I turned the alarm off this morning and thanked God it was Friday. This has been a long week for me in my job. I was really looking forward to Friday being over, so I could sleep-in Saturday morning. It wasn't long before I realized my calendar error: today is Thursday. I almost missed this day; in fact, I wasn't even aware I was dismissing these next 24-hours. Every single day of our life has been written in God's book, before we were born. Dismissing Thursday would be like skipping pages in the book of my life and I don't want to miss what God has in store for me this day. What will this day hold? I look forward to each page, because the glorious Author is God my Father. "This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). Reflecting on this, I thank God today is Thursday and look forward to this page, each paragraph, each line and each word. I know how the book ends, but don't want to miss the twist and turns of the plot as the story unfolds. Enjoy your day, too.      

Love-Fall

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins"- 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV).

I think of love like a blanket of snow when I think of sins being covered. A nice snowfall makes everything old, dirty, broken, ugly, or ignored into a beautiful work of art. No matter the size or shape, it's all covered. So if snow, like love, covers the landscape, what happens if the snow begins to melt, or the love is removed? The damages soon start reappearing. Sadly human love can melt: I've been known to withhold love when I've been hurt by someone. That's always a terrible mistake and sure to make matters worse. Saint Peter implores us to, above all, love each other deeply. Even those who are hard to love, because that love covers a multitude of sins, both theirs and yours. God's love will never melt away. When God looks on us He sees a beautiful work of art, because Jesus has covered us with His love. So let's keep covering others with our own snowfall...or love-fall.  

Teacher Focused

"I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways"- Psalm 119:15 (ESV).

I may have been an undiagnosed ADH child. ADH wasn't heard of back then. I know I learned to sit in the very front of the class in order to stay focused on the teacher's mouth; learned that later in high school and college. Even now, out of years of practice, I still focus a lot on people's mouths when they are talking, so that I'm not distracted. I've been trying to retrain myself to look into people's eyes, but I catch myself, a lot, looking, once again, at their mouth. Spiritually, I've learned that I have to focus intentionally on God and His word or I will become distracted. I learned that later in life, too. God's been with me all throughout my life, but until I centered my focus on Him, the cares of the world pulled my attention away; yet, He continued to pursue me and one day I saw Him...really saw Him. Now my eyes, and heart, are centered on the Teacher, Jesus Christ, my Lord. "I will keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (Psalm 16:8). 

Just One More Lord

"Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your mighty acts to all who are to come"- Psalm 71:18 (NIV).

In the movie Hacksaw Ridge, based on a true story, Private Desmond Doss was persecuted for refusing to carry a gun into battle during WWII, because of his religious beliefs. However, he earned the respect and adoration of his fellow soldiers during the Battle of Okinawa by saving 75 men without firing a shot, earning him the Congressional Medal of Honor. He kept running back onto the battlefield, dragging or carrying injured soldiers off the field; all the while saying, "Just one more Lord; just one more." That should be every Christian's prayer, to save those who are about to be lost on this spiritual battlefield. We are never too old, too poor, too tired, too wronged, too powerless to stop declaring God's power and mighty acts to the next generation. God did not let go of Private Doss and He will not let go of you. Lift your voice and say, "Just one more Lord; just one more."  

Words to Cling To

"Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human praise more than praise from God"- John 12:42 (NIV). 

Trying to straddle this world and Jesus' is impossible. Human praise won't mean a thing when we stand before our Judge one day. What catches my attention though are the last three words of the verse: "praise from God." I've always thought of praise as being in one direction, to God. It stands to reason, just as an earthly father praises his child, why wouldn't a heavenly Father praise His child? My earthly father and I shared a closer relationship when he was elderly. Before that, he was a man of little word and little presence. I remember clearly the day he told me he was proud of me. Oh how I clung to those three words: "proud of me." But what is human praise compared to Godly praise? Imagine my joy upon reading today's Scripture and reading that my Heavenly Father has praise for me. For all the people of the world who feel forgotten or unappreciated, know this: God has praise for you. Those are the words to cling to. 

Training Through Discipline

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have teen trained by it"- Hebrews 12:11 (NIV).

When you mention discipline you automatically think of children, but we know God disciplines us as adults, too. We are still God's children, whether we are 20 or 100-years old. I've noticed that many parents today delve out discipline that seems unpleasant, but rarely painful. That's been going on since parents were told they should never "hit" their children. That's what I heard as a young mother; however, I took the Bible's teaching and did not spare the rod (Proverbs 23:13). On one occasion, in a doctor's office, my 2-year old daughter kept climbing up the step stool to play in the water fountain. After scolding and removing her several times, without any change to her intent, I gave her a swat on her diapered bottom and sat her back down in her chair. A woman firmly grabbed my upper arm and told me, "You know, you should never hit your children." My upper arm could still feel those finger indentions, but my little one remained in her seat. Was I creating fear or respect? Maybe you should ask her today? I think it's healthy to have both. We fear and respect our Heavenly Father. God's discipline can be painful. We may not appreciate the discipline at the time, but righteousness and peace spring forth, a harvest resulting from His training. 

It Was Finished

"When He had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit"- John 19:30 (NIV).

Even in His death, Jesus was in control. He "gave up" His spirit; it wasn't taken from Him. It was His timing, His strategy, His victory. Jesus was and is King; He told Pilate: "You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me" (John 18:37). Jesus could have called for twelve legions of angels to fight for Him; but if He did, "...how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?" (Matthew 26:53-54). Prophecy was fulfilled; the law was fulfilled. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). People ask, "How could Good Friday be called "good" when the Savior of the world was put to death?" Here's how: The temple curtain, that separated us from God, was torn in two, top to bottom; we became children of God Almighty and we can now share in an intimate relationship with our Heavenly Father, just like Jesus did, thanks to Christ's victory on the cross. It was finished! Not by Romans, not by Jews, but by Jesus Christ.   

Fighting Back

"Now war arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back"- Revelation 12:7 (NIV). 

World War I was called "the war to end all wars," but that turned out to be a false claim. However, there will be a war to end all wars. The prophet Daniel prophesied about a coming time when the archangel Michael will fight a war like we've never seen before. Those whose name is written in the book of life will be delivered (Daniel 12:1). There has been spiritual warfare going on since the beginning of time, and Michael and his army have been protecting us all along. "But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"" (Jude 1:9). Michael and his troops answer to the Lord Jesus. Jesus Christ is Commander and Chief and will be the final Judge when the war ends. These are very real battles...over you and me. The dragon, AKA the devil, battles to keep us from having our names written in the book of life; therefore, whether we are aware or not, we are in the midst of this battle too; therefore, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes" (Ephesians 6:11), because the devil is fighting back.  

Pristine Condition

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies"- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NIV).

Have you ever had a brand new car or truck? You wash and wax it, park it away from other cars (especially questionable cars), fill it with the best grade of fuel, faithfully take it in for scheduled maintenance and, of course, no one is allowed to eat inside the car. Gasp! Then one day the first ding happens. Maybe it was as simple as a piece of gravel thrown up from the car in front of you or you've backed into the cart bin in the Costco's parking lot. Disappointment floods you as you look at the imperfection. Even if the car is repaired, the vehicle is no longer in pristine condition. God has given us each a "vehicle" for our time here on earth. We are to take care of it: being careful what we put in it, where we "park" it, and faithfully take it in for regular maintenance. We begin in pristine condition, but sooner or later the dings happen, which make us feel hopeless in honoring God with our bodies, but God is the Master Mechanic. Those of you who are suffering from dings, take heart: Not only did God pay the price for you, but God is in the restoration business (1 Peter 5:6-11). Be sure to be faithful in planning regular maintenance with the Master Mechanic. Unlike a repaired car, God is all powerful and He puts us back into pristine condition.

Naked Truth

"Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame"- Genesis 2:25 (NIV).

Children are so innocent. It was a real challenge to keep my youngest daughter in her bathing suit at the beach. The bathing suit felt confining, and being only two and a half years old, it was logical to take it off. By the time the struggle ended, she and I, had compromised that she could go topless. She felt no shame in being naked, just as Adam and Eve felt no shame in their nakedness. That's because once sin entered in innocence was gone. Jesus told us, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:3). (No, this Scripture does not advocate becoming a nudist.) Jesus wants us to have childlike innocence, free from the fear of judgment, accepting His truths; for such childlike acceptance makes up the kingdom of heaven. If only we could take off that "confining bathing suit" that  clothes us with the fear of judgment, the fear of non-acceptance and the fear of sharing our Christian faith. Childlike faith is possible only by accepting Jesus as Savior and Lord and putting on His mantle of salvation. Only His clothing frees us from sin and the judgment that comes with it. And that's the naked truth.   

To Him Be The Glory

"For from Him, and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen"- Romans 11:36 (NIV).

God is in control. He's in control when jobs are flourishing and when jobs are being out-sourced. He's in control when babies are being born and when infertility looms over a couple. He's in control when you finish your first marathon and when you discover your cancer has returned. There will be times when your faith is soaring, strong, and there will be times when God's presence can't be felt and your prayers seem to go unanswered, unheard. Look around at God's creation. The bird still sings after the snake has found her nest. The wildflower still springs forth after the fire has scorched the land. The rainbow still appears and arches over the hurricane battered coastline. Get out into God's creation and witness its testimony: God is omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience. He is all powerful, He is all present and He is all knowing; He is in control. Jesus responded to His frightened disciples, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm" (Matthew 8:26). To Him be the glory forever! Amen.  

Masquerade Invitation

"So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ"- Galatians 3:26-27 (NIV).

Costume parties are fun; you get to dress up and become someone other than yourself. This isn’t just for kids; adults love going incognito, too. Because it's so much fun, there's an entire market on costumes, some being very expensive depending on the popularity of the persona you're wanting to "clothe yourself in." Those masquerades are usually one night frills, but today's Scripture tells us that when we are baptized we eternally clothe ourselves with Christ. When God sees us, He sees Jesus, His Son, not the sinful person underneath; we are incognito. The "costume" of Jesus is the most expensive of all; but, you don't have to pay. Jesus paid the bill for you.This masquerade is an eternal party of being recognized as Christ Jesus, which allows you into heavenly places. This one-of-a-kind masquerade invitation is offered to everyone. Be baptized into Christ and be clothed with Christ.   

Be Thoroughly Rested

"Then He returned to His disciples and found them sleeping. "Couldn't you men keep watch with Me for one hour?" He asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak""- (Matthew 26:40-41).

Our bodies were designed to rest; just try depriving your body of sleep and see what happens. Research shows an adult should get at least 7-9 hours of sleep to be both physically and mentally prepared for the day. Here are just a few signs of sleep deprivation: your memory's shot, you have trouble making decisions, your motor skills are off, you're emotions are all over the place, you get sick often, and you may even fall asleep at a critical time. Imagine falling asleep when the Lord has asked you to keep watch, such as the fateful night of His arrest. The parable of the ten virgins is another example of falling asleep at a critical time. They were waiting for the Bridegroom to come, but weren't prepared with enough oil. "The Bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep" (Matthew 25:5). Our spirit is willing when God calls us to be watchful, but our flesh will betray us if we have neglected its need for rest. Be thoroughly rested then for whatever experience the Lord is bringing your way; as He taught, "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke 21:36).  

First Love

"You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?"- 1 Corinthians 3:3 (NIV).

Who is your first love? If an answer doesn't immediately spring from your lips, then ask yourself who should be your first love. I went through a period of being a jealous newlywed, which led to arguments and issues of trust. I'm not sure how it happened, but my source of love and happiness had moved from the Lord to my husband and Scripture is correct that jealousy can be cruel as the grave (Song of Solomon 8:6). If there is jealousy and quarreling in your life, someone has supplanted the One who should exclusively hold that position in your heart. As Christians, we are not to love the world or anything in the world more than God. "Anything" can mean position, power, prestige. Those are points of contentious jealousy, too. Worldly people, mere humans, do not love the Lord the way they should; they've forsaken Him (1 John 2:15). When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength" (Mark 12:30). That's your First Love asking for your complete love; not a portion, not to share that position with someone or something else; but, wholly His: heart, soul, mind and body. Once I corrected my focus, all parts of my life fell back into their proper place. I know my husband was much happier too. Today's Scripture warns, if you are experiencing jealousy and quarreling, you are acting like a mere human. Remember who you are and Whom you belong to: You are the bride of Christ Jesus.  

Stay Away From Them

"I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them"- Romans 16:17 (NIV).

There were almost ten of us riding horses through a lightly wooded area. My horse, Brandy, and I were close to the rear of the group, so we were completely caught off guard by what happened next. The ensuing commotion and flight was completely out of control. It was several long minutes, before I got Brandy under control and began looking for our scattered group. I soon learned that the lead horse had stepped into a hornet's nest in the ground. I only had one sting, but Brandy had many on her rump. The lead horse and rider got the worst of the hornets' wrath. We riders were simply following our leader. We had no idea where the leader was taking us; I wasn't paying attention until after the trouble began. Christians should pick who they follow with great care; not follow blindly. Too many Christian leaders have led followers into a hornet's nest, leaving them scattered and hurt. Take time to know your church leaders beliefs; they should be leading a life that reflects those beliefs. If not, keep away from them.       

Check Your Reflection

"But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"- 1 Peter 3:15 (NIV).

Imagine someone sitting in a dark prison cell, a death sentence impending, yet he has a smile on his face and only kind words to share. A worn out Bible lies open on his bed. Switch gears and imagine a CEO, earning $1.5 million a year, addressing his trembling staff in a swanky office overlooking San Francisco Bay. The chart behind him shows sales dipping and his facial expression reflects the same. Which of these people have what you desire? Which will answer you with gentleness and respect? You could reverse those men's demeanor and your answer would change. The convict now looks sullen and dark, while the CEO is uplifting and encouraging. It's time to reflect on how you are perceived. "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). Today's Scripture tells you how to live as children of light. We are to revere Christ as Lord. He is the Light that attracts others. Jesus said those who follow Him will never walk in darkness, but have the Light of life (John 8:12). People will ask the reason for your hope. If no one is asking, check your reflection.  

Twofold Lesson

"...and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody"- 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV).

One memory I carry from my youth is of sitting under a shade tree, with my Granny Fryar, shelling peas until our fingertips were both sore and green. Those peas sure were tasty at dinner time; it felt good to know that I had helped to put those peas on the table. As Paul traveled on his mission trips, he worked with those he served. For example: Paul was a tent maker by trade and worked alongside Aquila and Priscilla when he visited them in Corinth. He also used each opportunity to teach about Jesus and His resurrection (Acts 18:3-4). Paul was setting an example about not being a burden, sponging off others without lifting a finger. He even commanded, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from other believers who always had their hand out for a handout (2 Thessalonians 3:6-9). I'm grown now and have my own garden, plus a couple of grandchildren. I think, when the harvest comes in, I'll find a nice shade tree and teach them to snap green beans. While doing so, I'll teach them about Jesus and His resurrection. A twofold lesson about hands: working them and lifting them.  

Push Through

"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith"- 2 Timothy 4:7 (NIV).

Runners know the strain of keeping the pace over hills and rocky areas. Muscles complain for rest; your brain either begins to agree with your body or a battle ensues between the two. Push through. The goal is to finish the race. Similarly, keeping the faith, like a race, has it painful stretches. Some times God's presence is almost palpable and at other times He feels distant, separated. Keeping the faith, and finishing the race, is a battle fueled by the devil. Notice Paul says he has fought the good fight. Our life is just a vapor. Our tomorrow holds our eternity, predetermined by our victory, or our failure, in keeping the faith. We don't like hills and rocky areas in our lives. They're painful. We want to reach for something off the shelf to stop it or numb it, immediately; so, the devil gives us drugs, alcohol, perversions, indulgences...anything to take out mind off the race. The lie, "The race is not worth it." Here's Paul's response: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us" (Romans 8:18). Finishing the race is worth it; keep the faith. Push through. 

Avoid Sticker Shock

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it""- Isaiah 30:21 (NIV).

There is a narrow road that leads to life. Many will seek it, but only a few will find it (Matthew 7:14). There are only two ways to find that narrow path: through trust and obedience. There's a bumper sticker that says God is my Co-Pilot. Sad to say, if that is the truth. God is never the co-pilot; He's the Pilot. He has to be. The steering wheel of your life must be turned over to Him, scary as that sounds. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."  We all have a destination following the end of our earthly stay, but it's not always the desired destination. God has promised you that He will "instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; [He] will counsel you with [His] loving eye on you" (Psalm 32:8). Let go of that steering wheel; trust and obey God. Replace that bumper sticker, which only leads to sticker shock, with this one: In case of Rapture this vehicle will be unmanned.   

Center of the Moment

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you"- Matthew 6:6 (NIV).

Could you imagine getting ready for the day as you are moving? Putting your clothes and shoes on as you're walking to the car and brushing your hair and teeth as you drive down the road? Seems like there could be complications. That's the way most people perform the most important event of their day; they pray while moving about doing other things. The focus is shared with whatever they are doing at the moment. Of course, prayer can happen any time and anywhere during the day, but it's similar to when we check our reflection periodically during the day. Are our clothes on straight and is our hair still in place? So, we reach out and pray throughout the day, too. There needs to be time, though, each day to pray to God, without distraction, where He becomes the center of the moment. Jesus gives us instructions in Matthew 6:6. He even taught us how to pray (vs.9-13). You've been given what to do and what to say. Has God been the center of the moment for you today?