Wings of the Morning

EXPOSED!

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 19:43:00 +0000

I am continually amazed at how the Word of God is new every day, how we see things we NEVER saw before even if we've read the passage a hundred times.

That happened to me this week. We have recently begun a chronological Bible study, His Story, My Story. We are in Genesis, which I have read many times. I've read and studied and taught the creation story more times than I can count.

But as I was reading it this week, there it was. Something I had never really grasped before, at least not in the way I did as I read this week.

"Then the eyes of them were opened and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves." Genesis 3: 7

When we read they were "naked", we naturally think of them in the buff, without clothes, suddenly trying to cover up themselves with their hands. So that not being adequate, they grab the first thing they can find large enough....fig leaves.

But as I read that this week, it hit me. Yes, they were PHYSICALLY naked, but more than that, they were EXPOSED. They had taken of the forbidden fruit and immediately sin entered the picture and their sin was exposed. They could not hide it, even though they desperately tried.

And though they tried in their humanness to cover their sin, it was not good enough. An innocent animal had to be slain, blood had to be spilled in order to COVER their exposed sin. Why? "Because without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin." Hebrews 9:22

But, all that the sacrifice of the animals could do was to temporarily COVER their sin. It could not remove it. "For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. " Hebrews 10: 4 But when Jesus came, His sacrifice on the cross REMOVED our sin and our guilt once for all. "By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once and for all. And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can NEVER TAKE AWAY SINS. But this man [JESUS] after he had offered one sacrifice [HIMSELF] for sins FOREVER, sat down on the right hand of God." Hebrews 10: 10-12.

HALLELUJAH!!! What a Savior!! Our sin is no longer covered, but it is removed once and for all, as far as the east is from the west. Not COVERED and to be remembered and brought up to us again and again, year after year. But totally and completely REMOVED!

That precious royal blood did what the blood of bulls and goats never could. It set us free. Like the old song said "What can wash my sins away? Nothing but the blood of Jesus." I am so thankful for the blood, so thankful for what Jesus has done for me. What about you? Have your sins been REMOVED?? Fig leaves may cover, but Jesus' blood will wash you white as snow!

WHAT'S YOUR POSITION

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:25:00 +0000

I remember as a child, kneeling by my bed, saying the child's prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

If I should die before I wake

I pray the Lord my soul to take.

I guess that was my first experience of kneeling in prayer. After I grew up, I continued to pray, not "canned" prayers or recited ones, but from my heart. I can't say I was ever taught that...guess I just picked up how from listening to others at church pray.

As an adult there have been some times that I knelt to pray. It seems the more serious we get in prayer, the more our posture gets low. I can remember reading Kay Arthur's testimony years ago. She talked of lying prostrate on her face before God. That was new to me. I had never done that. More recently, we have had Bible teacher, Angela Thomas, at our church. She spoke of getting face down in the carpet quite often. And I have learned to do that a few times myself, again, more in times of deepest need.

It's in those times of bowing our knees or lying face down in our carpet, that we are humbled. We are brought low before a righteous and a holy God. It puts us in our place, if you will. And somehow, the more on our face we are, the more humbled we become, the nearer we feel to Him. Because then we are in a position that we have to look UP to Him.

At our church, we get on our knees every Sunday.

Funny thing is, at our former church, they also did that, but I was not raised to do that. It felt odd. Sad, isn't it, that getting on my knees in God's house felt "odd", but it did. And there, some people did and some didn't. But where we are at church now, there is scarcely a person who does not bow, and most of them are because they can't for physical reasons. And, you know what? It doesn't seem odd any more. It feels right.

God has blessed me with an added bonus of being able to worship with our daughter and son-in-love most Sundays. And to be able to bow with them and to see them bowing before the Lord together blesses this momma more than words can express.

May I ask you who are reading this....when was the last time YOU bowed your knee before the Lord? Maybe you do it on a regular basis, or maybe you never have. That is not to say that you don't pray, but you just don't bow. I certainly believe you can "bow" in your heart in an attitude of worship and humility. But, I can tell you firsthand that there is something powerful and humbling by actually bending the knee before the Father.

Maybe you don't bow because it really isn't important to you. You acknowledge that there is a God. Maybe you even pray occasionally when you get in a jam. But most days, you really do not think that much about Him. Or maybe you don't bow because you do NOT believe. Maybe you think that any god will do as long as you believe in something or someone.

But you need to know that one day, EVERY knee will bow to God the Father.

"Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear." Isaiah 45: 22, 23

Did you catch that word in red? EVERY!!

That includes every person who reads this blog.

Every person on Facebook.

Every person in the U. S.

Every person around the world.

Yes, EVERY person past, present and future.....including:

Billy Graham

Tim Tebow

Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich

President Obama

Martin Luther King

Mother Theresa

Christopher Columbus

George Washington

Abraham Lincoln

George Wilkes Booth

The list is endless because it says "EVERY" knee. That also includes you and me.

So you see, whether we ever find time to bow now or not. Whether we ever think it is important or not. Whether we have ever even THOUGHT about it before or not....one day, "EVERY knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father." Romans 14:11

If you have never bowed your knee to the Father, I pray that you will today. Personally, I want my knees to be so used to bowing that when that time before the Father comes when ALL knees are bowed, that it will not feel "odd", but it will feel more like coming home as I bow before MY Heavenly Father.

IOUS

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:20:00 +0000

HOW TO REALLY PRAY
by John Piper

For thoughtful people, how they pray for the soul is governed by how they believe God acts. So, for example, if they believe God changes people’s souls so that they make new and right choices, then they will ask God to make those soul-changes through evangelism and nurture. But not everybody is thoughtful about the way they pray. They don’t think about what view of God is behind their praying.

So what I suggest is that we learn first to pray for the soul from the way the Bible prays for the soul. If we do that, then our prayers will probably be good prayers, and in the process we will also learn about how God acts. Here is the way I pray for my soul. I use these prayers over and over again—for myself and my children and wife and for the staff and the elders and for all the church. This is the meat and potatoes of my prayer life.
The first thing my soul needs is an inclination to God and his word. Without that, nothing else will happen of any value in my life. I must want to know God and read his word and draw near to him. Where does that “want to” come from? It comes from God. So Psalm 119:36 teaches us to pray, “Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to gain."
Next I need to have the eyes of my heart opened, so that when my inclination leads me to the word I see what is really there and not just my own ideas. Who opens the eyes of the heart? God does. So Psalm 119:18 teaches us to pray, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.”
Then I need for my heart to be enlightened with these “wonders.” I need to perceive glory in them and not just interesting facts. Who enlightens the heart? God does. So Ephesians 1:18 teaches us to pray “That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.”
Then I am concerned that my heart is fragmented and that parts of it might remain in the dark while other parts are enlightened. So I long for my heart to be united for God. Where does that wholeness and unity come from? From God. So Psalm 86:11 teaches us to pray, “O Lord, I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.”
What I really want from all this engagement with the Word of God and the work of his Spirit in answer to my prayers is that my heart will be satisfied with God and not with the world. Where does that satisfaction come from? It comes from God. So Psalm 90:14 teaches us to pray, “O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
But I don’t just want to be happy in my own little private world with God. I want my happiness to be as full as possible for spreading and expanding for others. I want to be strong in joy. This will make me durable in the face of threats or adversity. Where does that strength and durability come from? It comes from God. So Ephesians 3:16 teaches us to pray, “That God would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”
Finally, I want my strength in Christ to produce good deeds for others so that the glory of God will be seen in my life. Who produces these good deeds? God does. So Colossians 1:10 teaches us to pray, “That [we] will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord . . . bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.”
All this I pray “in Jesus’ name,” because God gives these things to my soul only because Jesus died for me and removed the wrath of God so that the Father might “freely give me all things” (Romans 8:32).

To remember some of these prayers, I use an acronym—IOUS—almost every day in praying for those
I love, asking God to give us an inclination to his Word and not to money or fame or power (Psalm 119:36), and to open our eyes to see wonderful things when we read his Word (Psalm 119:18), and to have hearts united in the fear of God rather than fragmented over a dozen concerns (Psalm 86:11), and to be satisfied in his steadfast love (Psalm 90:14).

COMMITTED-PART 2

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:18:00 +0000

COMMITMENT.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines commitment as follows:

(1) an agreement or pledge to do something in the future; especially : an engagement to assume a financial obligation at a future date

(2) the state or an instance of being obligated or emotionally impelled commitment to a cause

Furthermore, the word COMMIT is defined as "to obligate or to bind" as in a contract.

In today's fast paced society, commitment is a word that has lost a lot of its value. People do not keep their commitments like they used to. In times past, a man's word was his bond. A handshake sealed the deal. Not any more. Even when you have it in writing, with every 'i' dotted and every 't' crossed, those deals are broken.

How many men and women have stood before God and a congregation of witnesses and vowed...."committed".... themselves to each other til death, only to find a few years down the road that one or the other tossed that commitment aside for something they deemed better?

It is not uncommon today for couples to marry and go through the motions of a traditional wedding, saying all the vows of commitment, yet with the mindset of "If it doesn't work, we'll just get a divorce and start over". Is that real commitment? I think not.

God takes vows and commitments seriously.

"If a man makes a vow to the LORD, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth."Number 30:2

"That which has gone from your lips you shall keep and perform, for you voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth." Deut. 23:23

"Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises to You," Psalm 56:12

"Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. " Eccl. 5:5

"But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment" James 5:12

Yes, there is definitely a difference between just having an "interest in" and being COMMITTED.

Whether in marriage, in exercise, in Bible study, or in any other arena, a commitment is serious business. Do not enter in lightly.

January is a time for "New Year's Resolutions". Most of them fall broken by the wayside before the month is out. Why? Because we are "interested in" making changes, but not "Committed".

This month, I encourage and challenge you to take a look at those things you really WANT to do to make a difference in your life. Then decide, "Am I committed to this or just interested in doing it?" As the sign from yesterday said, if you are committed, you will accept NO excuses. You may stumble. You may even fall down a time or two. But you will get back up, dust yourself off and get back on track.

I, for one, am committed to this Bible study, His Story, My Story. I want to know the full counsel of the Word of God. I'm committed to reading all the way through the Bible this year...not just 1/2 way. What about you? I hope you will join me!!

HOW COMMITTED ARE YOU?

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:55:00 +0000

A friend posted the following on Facebook this week:

At first glance, it reminded me of my daughter who just ran her first 1/2 marathon in December. 13 miles!!! Did you get that.....THIRTEEN MILES!!!!!!!!!!!!! It blew me away! We were SO proud of her.

Of course, she didn't just get up on the morning of December 3 and slip on her running shoes and decide "Oh, I think I'll run the 1/2 marathon today!" No, she began months in advance by running first one mile, then two, then three until she finally worked herself all the way up to THIRTEEN!!

I marveled at her stamina and her discipline, her determination and COMMITMENT to the goal she had set before her, even when her knee started to give her trouble. She would not quit. Even when it was extremely hot, even when she did not feel her best, even when she had 100 other things she had to do, she made the time to run. She was the perfect example of the photo above. In fact, she could be THAT woman running!

That premise layed forth in the photo applies to anything, not just running.

This week we began a Bible study called His Story, My Story. We will be reading through the Bible chronologically. The whole basis of this study is that we must KNOW His story which is contained in all 66 books of the Bible, not just bits and pieces.

Did you know that God was so committed to His people knowing His Story that He commanded that it be read to the people, in its entirety (which then was only the first 5 books as we know it), every 7 years?! And that was to be passed down from generation to generation. Why? Because God wanted them to know what He had done for them, how much He loved them and to understand His faithfulness to them.

Our leader and the author of the Bible study, Iva May, shared with us Thursday that she has read THROUGH the Bible every year since the 1970's! WOW!! I don't know many people who can say that. I sure can't. In fact, I've started more times than I can count, but somehow I always got sidetracked and never got all the way through.

But this year is going to be different. Why? Because I am committed to it. I am no longer just "interested" in trying to do it. I'm committed to doing it. I'm committed to learning ALL of His Story and not only learning it, but being able to TELL it to another.

So, what about you? Are you COMMITTED or just INTERESTED?

More tomorrow.

IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 23:28:00 +0000

It seems these days, you only have to look a short distance to find someone who seems to be facing what appears to be an impossible situation. Impossible, that is, in the eyes of man.

God, however, does not see things as we do. He sees beyond our circumstances to what He envisioned when He allowed those circumstances into our lives.

One thing God keeps trying to drive into my head is IT IS NOT ABOUT ME. No, rather it is ALL ABOUT

H I M !!!

We have a good friend who is battling terminal cancer. Yet his and his wife's attitude is amazing. Why? Because they know that it is all in God's hands, not theirs and not even the doctors. Yes, they go to the doctor and they are seeking the best medical advice and treatment possible. But they still understand that ultimately our lives are in His hands.

I read the blog today of a young family whose young son just had major surgery and is now battling for his life due to an unforseen infection. They are calling out to God, trusting Him for the outcome. Is it hard? Absolutely! But they have known Him long enough to know that He is trustworthy.

How about YOU? If that were you in either of those situations, would YOU trust God? Do you know Him well enough to know He is faithful? Cause I can tell you, if you don't, when YOUR desperate situation comes on the scene of your life, you are going to have a really rough time. In fact, I wonder how you will even make it .

God teaches us through our daily struggles that He is faithful and He is enough. Each time we face a crisis of any proportion, He is there. And when we learn to lean on Him, to wait for Him, to trust that He really does know what He is doing, we are building spiritual muscle. Then one day, when the totally impossible situation arrives in our lives, we will not wonder, rather we will KNOW that JESUS is big enough!

I read a devotional in the One Year Women's Devotional that spoke so eloquently to this. The writer, Leighann McCoy wrote about her experience of learning she had colon cancer:

"You might have hoped that God gave me a "word" and that I smiled and quoted it aloud to my medical frieinds. But that's not what happened. For fifteen minutes I wept like a baby.

But as soon as my husband and I got in the car, a deep peace rose up in me like the tide rising around a Caribbean island. The peace that passes all understanding swallowed up my tears. When peace moved in I didn't know if I would live or die. I didn't know if the cancer had spread. I didn't know what tests I would have to take or what appointments I would be making or canceling.

But what I did KNOW put all that I didn't know into its place. I knew that God was on His throne. I knew that He was still good and I was still loved. I knew that Jesus took care of death for me a long time ago on an old rugged cross. And I knew that He was with me every step of the way."

Friend, if you are facing an impossible situation today, it really does not matter what you DO know, unless you know JESUS. For He is the only one who can get you through it, no matter what. I pray that you do know Him and that you KNOW that He can be trusted.

My friend whose husband is battling cancer said to me that she knew it sounded crazy, but that they had experienced more blessings and seen the faithfulness of God in more things than she could ever have imagined. Yes, I told her, those are the "treasures of darkness" that God promises us in Isaiah 45:3. So even when we find ourselves in difficult situation, IMPOSSIBLE situations, we must remember that God is in the midst of those situations and He will work all things for His good!!

OVERWHELMED BY LOVE

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 23:51:00 +0000

"Oh God! I am SO overwhelmed by your amazing love for me!!!.

Thank you so much for loving me the way you do .

You will never abandon me.

You will never reject me.

You ALWAYS have time for me...even when I have neglected to have time for You.

I will never be too old, too fat, too ugly, too talkative, too quiet, too weird, too nerdy, too eccentric, too troubled, too needy, or too clingy for you.

You always have time to listen, even when I make the same complaints, beg for the same things, or ask forgiveness for the same sins again and again and again.

You always care.

You always say "Come"; never "Come back later, I'm busy" or "Could you hurry it up?" or "Haven't you already been here once today?"

You never turn a deaf ear.

Oh God, no one will ever love me like YOU do!!

How grateful I am for your constant, abiding love.

It is infinite, immeasurable and unconditional!!

Thank you, O God, the lover of my soul, for loving me!!"

"Hear me, O Lord, for thy lovingkindness is good; turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies and hide not thy face from me" Psalm 69: 16, 17

GOD NEVER CHANGES

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:03:00 +0000

Saw a great sign in front of a neighborhood church this week:

NEW YEAR

SAME GOD

I liked that!

How thankful I am that I serve a God who NEVER changes. He is the same yesterday, today and forever more.

Think about that.....

Someone you love may stop loving you....BUT GOD NEVER WILL.

Your finances may change....BUT GOD NEVER WILL.

Your location may change....BUT GOD NEVER WILL.

Someone you trust may betray you....BUT GOD NEVER WILL.

Your circumstances may change....BUT GOD NEVER WILL.

Your health may change....BUT GOD NEVER WILL.

The world situation will change....BUT GOD NEVER WILL.

Politicians will change....BUT GOD NEVER WILL.

"For I am the Lord, I do not change....." Malachi 3:6

I am so glad to know that I can trust my life and my future to a God who never changes. Aren't you?

"CHANGE AND DECAY ALL AROUND I SEE. O THOU WHO CHANGEST NOT, ABIDE WITH ME."----Unknown

TIME TO DECLUTTER

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:06:00 +0000

I do not know why, but this has been the most difficult CHRISTmas to clean up after ....EVER!!! I don't know if it's because I'm getting older or because I'm suffering from perpetual brain fog, but I can't seem to stay focused long enough to get anything accomplished. It took me DAYS to get my den back to normal...something that used to take me at most ONE full day. Seeing all that clutter and all that disarray really ruined my day.

Then in the bedroom, all of my CHRISTmas presents got piled to the side of the bed. It took me over a WEEK to get to them. UGH!!!

And, last but not least, my office is just indescribable. Because everything that got collected from the other rooms that needed to be sorted, investigated, filed, etc. got dumped there. I look around and am just totally overwhelmed, trying to think "Where do I even begin!?"

So when I saw a post on Facebook this morning from one of my favorite sites, PROVERBS 31 MINISTRIES, it jumped off the page at me. It was about "Decluttering". When I read it, I so related. So I thought I'd just pass it along to you because I think we ALL have some areas of our life that need "decluttering". Maybe not your house, but maybe some area of your life. And, as we begin 2012, there is no better time to begin. So I hope you enjoy!! I've already signed up to follow her beginning the 9th. Maybe you will want to join us.

January 3, 2012

Living Clutter-free
Glynnis Whitwer

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 (NIV 1984)

My friend was desperate. I could hear it in her voice as she talked about her disorganized house. She was disgusted. Her husband was frustrated. Every day was a challenge to get the kids ready, find clean socks and cook dinner.

The chaos in her home was affecting her emotionally. She felt like she was falling apart. Why couldn’t she get it together? she wondered. After all, she was an intelligent, educated woman.

She was also embarrassed. So when I told her I’d love to come over and help, she put me off. It wasn’t a bother at all, I said. Second to finding a litter of kittens needing me to rescue them, I love helping friends organize something. Eventually I wore her down and we set a date.

Walking into her house that morning with a cup of coffee for her in one hand and some boxes to sort things in the other, I immediately realized organization wasn’t her problem. Clutter was. There was no point trying to organize anything. We needed to uncover and reclaim her home.

She wasn’t a hoarder. Life circumstances had converged and overwhelmed her. Plus, the amount of visual mess was draining her energy and causing confusion. She couldn’t identify what to keep and what to let go. And she was afraid to file anything in case she couldn’t find it later … but that wasn’t working either.

I could relate to my friend’s situation. What happened to her happens to most of us at some time. In fact, if she had come by my house a few years before that, she would have seen a very cluttered home. At the time, my husband and I had three little boys. We were outnumbered and I couldn’t keep up with everything.

I’ve discovered that in most loving and lively homes, there is going to be a lot of clutter. It can be a sign of activity, intelligence and curiosity. Books from the library, art projects and magazines speak of minds and hearts that long to explore and create. However, left untended, clutter becomes a prison. And that is where my friend was. She just needed someone to come and help her get out.

Together we were able to quickly sort through stacks and piles. We discarded broken toys and dishes, recycled loads of paper and identified what was important. We didn’t get much “organizing” done that day, but we sure did lighten her load – physically and emotionally. That was just the jumpstart she needed to continue bringing order to her home and life.

My friend did the right thing in sharing her situation. By admitting she needed help, she was able to get unstuck. The clutter had rendered her frozen in indecision, which is what happens quickly. It becomes like a prison, affecting our schedules, finances, homes and sometimes even our relationships. And that is far from the life of freedom God desires for us.

Galatians 1:5 tells us that Christ came to set us free. Free from sin. Free from legalism. Free from judgment. Basically, free from whatever holds us back. Jesus frees us from all this so we are free to live a simple, alert life. A lighter life. One where our minds are clearer, our focus sharper, our priorities evident and lived-out. Truly it’s a life of freedom.

It may seem like a harmless pile of paper, or just a stack of clothes needing mending. In reality every area of clutter in our lives can be a link in a chain, holding us back from freedom. It doesn’t have to be that way. Will you join me today in embracing God’s gift of ordered and clutter-free life? I might not be able to bring you coffee, but you’ve got my support.

Dear Lord, thank You for Your freedom…freely offered in every area of my life. Please show me areas of clutter I have, and ways to clean them up to best serve You and those around me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Starting January 9th, Glynnis will be featuring a 15-Day Clutter-FREE Challenge on her blog. She’ll be addressing ways to reduce the clutter in our minds, schedules, offices and homes. If you’d like to join her, visit her blog today for more information.
I Used to Be So Organized by Glynnis Whitwer

NEW BEGINNINGS

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 16:07:00 +0000

2012....a brand, spanking new year!!

Don't you love new beginnings?! I do. A new year is like a fresh start, a "do-over" if you will. A chance to make some needed changes, re-think our possibilities, take on new challenges, and just plain wipe the slate clean and start fresh.

We used to have an English teacher when I was in high school. He was a quiet man, very learned and one that did not allow you to get away with anything. But he was very respected and when he spoke, he was like E. F. Hutton....EVERYONE listened! Whenever he got ready to give a pop test (in case they don't give those anymore, those are tests you probably were not prepared for, that he just "popped" on you at the last minute, usually with only 2 minutes left in the class) he would say "Now....get out a nice....clean....sheet of paper." I always think of that when I think of new beginnings.

Our new year can be like that nice clean sheet of paper. No blemishes. No bad marks.

God is the God of new beginnings. He loves to wipe our slates clean and give us clean ones to try again. He is all about forgetting the past and looking toward the future.

"Remember not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold I will do a new thing..." Is 43: 18, 19

"but this one thing I do...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which lie ahead I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ." Phil. 3: 13, 14

"Put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." Ephesians 4: 22, 23

Today as we embark upon a new year, may we lay aside all that hindered us and weighed us down in 2011 and begin anew today. May we not hold on to past hurts, past grudges, past failures, but may we LET THEM ALL GO and move forward, trusting God to light our way so that HIS light might shine through us to all of those around us.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

NO OTHER FRIEND....

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 22:32:00 +0000

I have been blessed over the years to have many precious friends. Each brings something special to my life. I have friends that have lasted through the ages...we have a shared history. We have shared the highs and lows together. I have friends that I've only known for a short time, but have become so dear to me that I can't imagine my life without them. Friends add so much joy to life. They adorn our lives, giving it rich color and they add sparkle to dreary days.

Many friends come and go as our lives and circumstances change, distance separates or they were meant only for a season.

Yet friends are only human. Their capacity to love and give and care is limited. Their ability to share your burdens can be compromised by their own problems, time constaints or simply friend fatigue.

But there is one friend who will NEVER leave you or forsake you....JESUS. His love is limitless! His shoulders are broad and He invites us to give Him all of our troubles.

Yes, no one cares for me like JESUS.

As the song writer penned "What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer."

When friends grow weary of our tears and our burdens are too heavy to carry any longer, He is there. All of our burdens He will bear.

He will walk with me through the darkness, my candle He will be.

He thinks about me constantly. He never forgets me. He is never too busy. His door is always open. In fact, He yearns to spend time with me. He wants me to pour my heart out to Him, even if I've already told him 100 times already. He never grows weary of my coming.

Take my hand, Jesus. Walk with me today. Whisper your love to me. Calm my fears. Wipe away all the tears. Plant YOUR joy in my heart. Fill me with your peace. Chase away all the fearful thoughts. Reassure me you are in control and all is well. Walk with me Jesus and hold my hand. Never let me go. Til my time on earth is done and my heart beats its last, then open the gates to Heaven and walk me through the door where I will FINALLY be home with You for all eternity.

GOD IS IN THE LITTLE THINGS

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 03:21:00 +0000

"So I will praise you as long as I live; at Your name, I will lift up my hands. You satisfy me AS WITH RICH FOOD; my mouth will praise you with joyful lips." Psalm 63: 4,5.

I call this my TRUFFLES verse. I can't think of any richer food than truffles and the psalmist declares in this verse that is how God satisfies me "as with [truffles]". Now how sweet is that?!! (No pun intended)

Yes, God satisfies me with so many truffles, sweet little things that are just blessings many would never notice.

Let me share just a few from the last few days.

Thursday I was getting ready to leave for Bible study and I reached for my white jacket. It was not in my closet nor was it in the coat closet. Puzzled, but no time for searching, I got in the car with a quick glance over my shoulder to be sure it was not in the backseat and headed off to church. Bible study. A lunch meeting. Then waiting to meet with our women's director while I casually chatted with a friend. I had not mentioned the missing jacket to anyone. As we are standing there talking, in walks a gentleman who works in the kitchen. Guess what he was carrying? You guessed it! My white jacket, neatly hung on a hangar!! He had come to ask my friend who works at the church if she knew who it belonged to. She had no clue. But I was astounded to see MY jacket in HIS hands!! He had no idea it was mine! So totally a God thing!! And how sweet of God (one of those "truffles",don't you see) to have it hand delivered to me even on a hangar!!

Today I had planned to attend a writing retreat. I have had it on my calendar for months. But today I was SO tired, had so much that needed to be done at home, so many other things I could be doing that I almost talked myself out of going. Yet I sensed that I was supposed to go. I knew no one who was going, which also made it a little less appealing. Still, I decided I needed to go.

I headed off to Bartlett with my Mapquest map in hand. Somehow though it did not jive with the road signs and I took several wrong turns before finally locating the church. Oddly, we were meeting at an outdoor sanctuary for opening worship. I couldn't quite feature that and was not overly excited at the prospect. (Like I said, I was tired). But oh did God have a treat (aka "truffle") waiting for me.

Out from the parking lot of this church was a gravel path that led to a wooded area at the rear of their property. As you walked through the gate, you walked into an open area surrounded by trees... a perfect sanctuary in the woods! At the front was a large wooden cross. To the side was a stone fire pit which was burning to chase away the chill and to the right of that was a stone pulpit. The area was even equipped with a sound system and lights for use at night!

As we sat in that little piece of Heaven, tucked away beyond a concrete parking lot, the musicians played worship songs and we sang praises to Him. A gentle breeze blew through the trees as a shower of golden leaves fluttered about, drifting ever so quietly to the ground. Such a peaceful place. Such a respite from a busy, hectic week. I knew I was where I was supposed to be. Praise God I had not turned a deaf ear and chosen to stay home to do laundry.

After the music, a young woman came to speak on Psalm 103. I love the book of Psalms so she definitely had a captive audience with me. She was a great communicator and God blessed again as she spoke, reminding me that I am a beloved daughter of the King and He desires to give me the desires of my heart. Another truffle for the day.

Inside we made our way to tables to begin the "learning" part of the day. A woman approached my table and said "Don't I know you?" Her face did look very familiar and we soon realized that she had been in one of the Bible studies I had led a while back. She joined me at my table and we had a great time together, both sharing our love for writing and later, sharing our joys over being grandmothers. What a sweet time we had!! I was so thankful that God had brought her across my path again. I have a feeling that we will be keeping in touch in the future, and I look forward to getting to know this sweet sister in Christ even more.

Later in the day, we switched tables. Here I met an older woman who teaches at the University of Memphis. She had spent most of her life writing professionally in line with her career, but now is enjoying writing children's books. Her latest project is writing about tea parties for little girls. Are you ready for this? My oldest granddaughter LOVES tea parties and I'm hoping my youngest will, too, in another year or so. She told me all about her plans for this delightful series of books which will be designed for little girls to teach them in a fun way about manners, social graces and being feminine. How sweet of the Lord to introduce me to this dear lady. She has taken my information with a promise to email me as soon as they go to print.

Yes, I truly believe that God is in the little things. The seemingly insignificant things of life. But nothing is insignificant when lovingly handed to us by our great and gracious God. I am so thankful for the way He touches my life, handing me truffles on an ordinary Saturday morning for no other reason than the fact that He loves me so!!

Have you had any truffles today?

WHERE DO YOU STAND?

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:11:00 +0000

In his most recent book, Maximum Faith, George Barna reports that 4 out of 5 self-identified Christian adults (81%) say they have made a personal commitment of faith to Jesus Christ which is important in their life.

Yet less than one out of those same five (15%) claim to be invested in spiritual development. And only
about the same number (22%) say they are dependent upon God.

So where does that leave the Christian community?

Where does that leave YOU?

Are you one of the four......

or the one out of five?

I hope this will get you to thinking.

My mother used to say "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." If America is not standing upon the promises of God...if we are not deeply rooted in our faith, then we will ultimately FALL.

NEAR BELIEFS

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 23:32:00 +0000

The following is taken from MOMENTS WITH YOU by Dennis Rainey. I thought it powerful enough to want to share it with you today. I hope it will stir you to ask "WHAT DO I BELIEVE?"

Near Beliefs

Continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them. 2 TIMOTHY 3:14

I'm afraid too many of us Christians don't know what we really believe. Like a cork in the ocean, driven and tossed by the waves, we bounce from opinion to opinion, influenced more by the last book we read than by a lifetime of biblical study. We've become activity junkies, seldom stopping long enough to decide what really matters to us, too busy to determine what's really worth living for,let alone worth dying for.

As a result we live our lives based upon "near beliefs." Near beliefs have just enough truth in them to sound strangely familiar to convictions, yet they're too weak to inspire us or our actions. Too anemic to influence us to make a decision that demands a sacrifice.

Near beliefs wimp out when a teenager is pushing you out of his or her life. Near beliefs won't keep a marriage together when romance fades. Near beliefs almost always fall silent on such issues as same-sex marriages and homosexuals adopting children. Near beliefs don't inspire the courage to change a behavior or to press on against disapproval or opposition from "the herd."

Near beliefs are to blame for a new brand of Christianity that is epidemic in our homes and churches—a faith that has little flavor, little light and little influence. When near beliefs are our only source of motivation, tough stands are never taken, feathers are never ruffled, and absolutes are held very loosely.

Without core convictions to help us navigate, we stand uneasily on shifting sand, and we lack the solid footing with which to stage a life of principle and character.

Today is a call to biblical conviction. A call to spending time studying the Word. A clarion call to challenge you to determine: What do I believe?

What is needed today is a battalion of believers who follow Christ and stand for Him and His truth.

DISCUSS

If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

PRAY

Ask God for the courage to stand for that which you know to be true.

THE SCARLET THREAD

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 22:26:00 +0000

I decided earlier in the summer that I wanted to read some novels this summer just for pleasure. Not to learn anything or to study anything....just for sheer pleasure and enjoyment. My good friend loaned me some of her Francine Rivers books and I have devoured them!

The first Francine Rivers book I ever read was years ago....Redeeming Love. If you have never read it, I can't recommend it enough!! I have never met anyone who read this book who did not make this comment,
"I could not put it down!" However, after reading it and wanting more, I was given another Rivers book. Sadly, I could not get into it. But, with the encouragement of my friend, I decided to delve into these newer Rivers books and give them a try. I am SO glad I did.

These books are all Christian books, with a Christian theme and scripture peppered throughout. Although I was NOT studying, I was tremendously blessed and impacted by all three that I have read. The last one, The Scarlet Thread, demonstrated the awesome truth that God is sovereign and His plan ....His kingdom plan....runs through all of history and right through each of our lives. Jeremiah 29:11, my daughter's favorite verse, says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for good and not evil, plans to prosper you and to give you a hope and a future".

I don't know about you, but some days it's just hard to SEE God's plan in the things that happen in our lives and the lives of those we love and care about. But, we KNOW that His word is true. We KNOW that He is totally good even in the midst of everything bad.

This week in looking for a scripture to share with a friend, I ran across the following passage. It is just a reminder of WHO our God is, how mighty, how awesome and how completely IN CONTROL and SOVEREIGN He is. Maybe you need reminding as much as I did.

He protects His flock like a shepherd;

He gathers the lambs in His arms

and carries [them] in the fold of His [garment].

He gently leads those that are nursing.

12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand

or marked off the heavens with the span [of his hand]?

Who has gathered the dust of the earth in a measure

or weighed the mountains in a balance

and the hills in scales?

13 Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD,

or who gave Him His counsel?

14 Who did He consult with?

Who gave Him understanding

and taught Him the paths of justice?

Who taught Him knowledge

and showed Him the way of understanding?

15 Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket;

they are considered as a speck of dust on the scales;

He lifts up the islands like fine dust.

16 Lebanon is not enough for fuel,

or its animals enough for a burnt offering.

17 All the nations are as nothing before Him;

they are considered by Him

as nothingness and emptiness.

18 Who will you compare God with?

What likeness will you compare Him to?

19 To an idol?—[something that] a smelter casts,

and a metalworker plates with gold

and makes silver welds [for it]?

20 To one who shapes a pedestal,

choosing wood that does not rot?

He looks for a skilled craftsman

to set up an idol that will not fall over.

21 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been declared to you

from the beginning?

Have you not considered

the foundations of the earth?

22 God is enthroned above the circle of the earth;

its inhabitants are like grasshoppers.

He stretches out the heavens like thin cloth

and spreads them out like a tent to live in.

23 He reduces princes to nothing

and makes the judges of the earth to be irrational.

24 They are barely planted, barely sown,

their stem hardly takes root in the ground

when He blows on them and they wither,

and a whirlwind carries them away like stubble.

25 "Who will you compare Me to,

or who is My equal?" asks the Holy One.

26 Look up and see:

who created these?

He brings out the starry host by number;

He calls all of them by name.

Because of His great power and strength,

not one of them is missing.

27 Jacob, why do you say,

and Israel, why do you assert:

"My way is hidden from the LORD,

and my claim is ignored by my God"?

28 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

Yahweh is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the whole earth.

He never grows faint or weary;

there is no limit to His understanding.

29 He gives strength to the weary

and strengthens the powerless.

30 Youths may faint and grow weary,

and young men stumble and fall,

31 but those who trust in the LORD

will renew their strength;

they will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary;

they will walk and not faint.

ACCEPTED

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 13:45:00 +0000

Have you ever struggled with being accepted? Ever felt like you were not quite good enough in someone else's eyes?

I have. I have struggled with that most of my life.

Growing up I always felt like I was on the outside looking in around my peers. I had a terrible inferiority complex. At home, I lived in the shadow of a "perfect" cousin who always did everything right. She was so talented, so smart, so pretty. In high school, I remember our home ec teacher remarking to me just a few weeks into the semester (having had the perfect cousin prior to me) "Well YOU certainly aren't ________, are you?"

As a Christian, I have felt like I have failed way more than succeeded. BUT....the good news is that in God's eyes, if we have put our faith and trust in Christ, we are ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED!!! Ephesians 1: 5,6.

We are not accepted based upon our performance. That is hard for us to grasp sometimes because we live in such a performance-based society. Our acceptance is based on the finished work of Christ. We are accepted "in Him". We are not accepted by what we have done, but rather what He has already done in our behalf on the cross.

When we can really get that through our heads, it will change the way we live. No matter what I DO I will never be good enough. I will never measure up to Christ's standards. But I don't have to because my acceptance is not based on my measuring up.

My desire to measure up, to be obedient, to follow Jesus is not to "perform". It is to bring glory to Him...to put HIM on display!! There is NO good thing in me....except Him! But, if I live according to His Word, it puts HIM on display and draws others to Him. It is not about me, it's all about Him!!

William R. Newell in his classic "Romans, Verse by Verse" put it this way:

"[Man] has been accepted in Christ, who is his standing! He is not on probation. As to his life past, it does not exist before God; he died at the cross and Christ is his life. To believe and to consent to be loved while unworthy is the great secret. To 'hope to be better' (hence acceptable) is to fail to see yourself in Christ only. To be disappointed with yourself is to have believed in YOURSELF [not Christ's finished work]. To be proud is to be blind! For we have no standing before God IN OURSELVES."

"Until the Christian is absolutely and scripturally sure of his standing, he is not going to do much standing." Miles Stanford, Green Letters.

Today if you have spent your life trying to measure up to someone else's standards or your own, if you have felt "less than" more often than not, if you have found yourself performing to gain God's approval, STOP!!
Today embrace the glorious fact that you are ALREADY ACCEPTED IN THE BELOVED!!! Go forth, therefore, and live in the light of the glorious fact that it is CHRIST + NOTHING. Stop "performing" to measure up, but rather be obedient in your walk and put HIM on display!!

DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILIES

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Do you know any dysfunctional families? Are you part of a dysfunctional family?

I used to think they were in the minority, now I'm beginning to wonder if there are truly ANY functional families at all. It seems everyone I talk to has some kind of issue going on within their family that tears at the heart. This got me to thinking "What does the Bible say about dysfunctional families?" So I began to think back through some of the major families we know in the Bible. Turns out dysfunction in families has been around since the beginning. Take a look.

Adam and Eve – had Cain and Abel. Cain was rebellious, failing to handle the sacrifice as God had commanded. As a result, God favored Abel’s offering over Cain’s. This caused jealousy between the brothers. Cain killed Abel. (Genesis 4: 5-10)

Noah – Noah had 3 sons: Ham, Shem and Japheth. Ham “uncovered his father’s nakedness” (which some translate to mean he sodomized him) after the flood.(Genesis 9:20-24)

Lot – After God sends Abram out of the land of UR and into the land where HE wants him to go, he and Lot cannot get along. There is always bickering over the land and the wells, etc. So Abram tells Lot to choose which way he wants to go. Lot picks the side he thinks is the most lush and green and ends up in Sodom, a land filled with homosexuality and wickedness. God comes to destroy Sodom, but allows Lot and his wife and 2 daughters to escape. His wife is killed so it is only he and the 2 girls on the outskirts of town, trying to stay alive. The girls get their father drunk and both sleep with him and get pregnant by him. (Genesis 19: 1-36)

Abraham and Sara – Sara offers her handmaiden as a surrogate to because she is childless. Then gets mad because he does what she asks and he fathers a child by Hagar. Ishmael and Isaac were never close as brothers, but an enmity was between them from the beginning. (Genesis 16; 21: 1-21)

Jacob and Esau – Isaac and Rebekah have 2 sons, Jacob and Esau. Isaac favored Esau because he was a hunter and a "man's man". Rebekah favored Jacob and a "homebody". Jacob cheats Esau out of his birthright with the help and encouragement of his mother. He has to run away from home to escape Esau’s rage. He goes to work for Uncle Laban but Uncle Laban tricks him into marrying the wrong daughter, then makes him work 7 more years for his beloved Rachel. He has 12 sons by the 2 women but he favors Rachel’s children, Joseph and Benjamin. (Genesis 25: 26-34; 27: 1-43; 29-30)

Joseph – Because of his father’s partiality towards him, his other brothers are so jealous they seek to kill him. One of them has pity on him and convinces the others to put him in a well instead, planning to come back and rescue him later. They deceive their father into thinking an animal killed him after they sell him to some traveling gypsies. (Genesis 37)

David – Out of all the sons of Jesse, God picks David to be the next king and to be the line through which Jesus will come. Though scripture does not elaborate on it, I’m sure there was probably quite a lot of jealousy over that fact among the brothers. Then he becomes king, is highly favored of God being called a man after God’s own heart. He has numerous wives but he looks upon the wife of another, sleeps with her and then has her husband killed in battle. He has a son who rapes his sister and another son who plots the overthrow of his father’s throne. (I Samuel 16: 1-13; II Sam 11: 1-27; 13: 1-14; 15-18)

Solomon – One of David’s sons, Solomon, was born to the woman he committed adultery with, Bathsheba. Solomon was considered the wisest man who ever lived yet had took hundreds of women to be "wives" and they turned him away from being obedient to the Lord. (I Kings 10: 23, 24; 11: 1-4)
These are just a few of the more familiar families of the Bible, but I think it gives a clear picture that families are made up of sinful people. There are no perfect families because there are no perfect people. God Himself was a perfect parent but He only had ONE perfect child, and it wasn't me or you! It was JESUS.

So do we give up our quest for a godly home and a godly family? Absolutely not!! We continue to seek, on a personal level, to be all that God wants each of us to be, to be in relationship with Him, obedient to Him and committed to Him. We teach our children and grandchildren God's Word, we model before them to the best of our ability how to follow Christ and pray for them to commit their lives to Him.

In reality, no family will be truly "functional" til we get to Heaven and sin is eradicated. But, until then, we must contine to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness", love each other, forgive each other and pray for each other without ceasing.

DOES PRAYER REALLY CHANGE ANYTHING?

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:39:00 +0000

From Max Lucado's latest book MAX ON LIFE:

"Prayer reminds you WHO is in charge. You don't take your requests to somone with less authority. You take them to someone who outranks you in the solutions department. Prayer decreases you and increases God.

Prayer gives permission to God to complete the request according to His will. Hopefully, you don't pray just to let God know what's going on. He's way ahead of you on that one. You are praying to transfer 'my will be done' to 'God's will be done'. Since he is in charge, he knows the best solution. Prayer exercises your willpower and gives God authority to work in your life.

Prayer relieves the stress of perceived inactivity. Now that God has been given the task, you don't have to worry about it any longer. God has his people on it. With less stress comes more strength. Prayer transfers the burden to God and lightens your load.

People struggle with life when they don't have answers. The darkest valleys are blackened by the shadows of question marks. So what do you do? Think harder? Try harder? Hold longer conversations with yourself? Why not pray to the One with all the answers and let Him take over?

Prayer pushes us through life's slumps, propels us over the humps, and pulls us out of the dumps. Prayer is the OOMPH we need to get the answers we seek."

WAITING ON "PERFECT"

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:25:00 +0000

How many times have you said the following:

"When I lose 10#, 20#, 30 #, etc, THEN I'll............"

"When we have enough money, THEN we'll............."

"When this relationship is healed, THEN I'll be happy"

"When this problem is resolved, THEN I'll be happy"

"When I get this promotion, THEN I'll be happy."

"When I am healed of this sickness, THEN I'll be happy".

"When we have a baby, THEN I'll be happy."

"When our children are grown and on their own, THEN we'll..........."

"When I retire, THEN I'll .................".

I don't know about you, but I find that I am always waiting on the PERFECT set of circumstances, waiting for everything in my life to fall into place. But as the years continue to creep up on me, I am beginning to realize there is NEVER going to be a day when EVERYTHING is perfect in my life....at least not in THIS life.

In the meantime, I am wasting time and failing to enjoy what I DO have to enjoy.

Over the last several years God has been trying to hammer a verse into my head, "THIS is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in IT." Psalm 118: 24. You see I am a worrier and the "what if's" can drive me crazy and, if I let them, steal my joy. God has been trying to teach me that "sufficient unto today is the evil thereof "(Matt. 6:34). TODAY is the only day I have and when I bring tomorrow's troubles into TODAY, I rob myself of all that God had for me TODAY.

But today, I heard a comment on K-Love about wasting time waiting on things to be PERFECT and it hit me that I have been doing that all my life. Again, Psalm 118:24 came to my mind. But this time, instead of the emphasis being on TODAY, it was on REJOICE and BE GLAD IN IT.

It was if the Lord were saying to me, "Pat, things are not ever going to be perfect and you are wasting precious time waiting for them to be. In the meantime you are missing the blessings you DO have waiting on what you DON'T have."

What about YOU? Have you been waiting on something in YOUR life to become perfect? Are you wishing things could be like they used to be? Are you waiting on circumstances to change? Are you grieving for a lost love? Are you yearning for something God has not allowed you to have?

It is true that God tells us to wait on Him, to trust Him and to seek Him for what we desire. But, while you are waiting on those prayers to be answered or those needs to be met, what are you doing with what you DO have? What are you going to do with TODAY?

I urge you to realize that PERFECT is not going to come til we reach Heaven. Oh the circumstance that you are praying over may very well work out just the way you want it in God's time. But...there will be another circumstance that is imperfect waiting in the wings to take its place.

So today, will you join me in thanking God for all the blessings you DO have? Will you choose to REJOICE and BE GLAD in THIS day?

Helen Steiner Rice put it beautifully:

Yesterday's dead,

Tomorrow's unborn,

So there's nothing to fear

And nothing to mourn,

For all that is past

And all that has been

Can never return

To be lived once again...

And what lies ahead

Or the things that will be

Are still in GOD'S HANDS

So it is not up to ME

To live in the future

That is God's great unknown

For the past and present

God claims for His own..

So all I need do

Is to live for TODAY

And trust God to show me

THE TRUTH and the WAY..

For it's only the memory

Of things that have been

And expecting tomorrow

To bring trouble again

That fills my today

Which God wants to bless

With uncertain fears

And borrowed distress...

For all I need live for

Is this one little minute,

For life's HERE and NOW

And eternity's in it.

---Helen Steiner Rice

IS GOD ASLEEP?

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:53:00 +0000

Do you ever pray and feel like God must be sleeping? You pray and you pray, you ask and you ask to no avail. It seems as if Heaven is closed and God must be napping.

Psalm 11 : 4 says "His eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men." In other words, He IS looking, He IS seeing, but it appears that His eyelids are closed from our vantage point.

We must remember that God never slumbers or sleeps. Even Jesus, who in his humanity DID sleep, never OVERslept!! He woke just in time to still the storm. He was never late nor did He ever run out of time.

So in our lives, though it may seem that the doors of Heaven are shut and that His eyes are closed, the reality is that He may be testing us. Will we give up? Will we stop praying?

I have been in God's waiting room. On one of my first occasions to be in that waiting room, it seemed that His answer would never come. Then He gave me Isaiah 30:18 and it changed my perspective on waiting:

"Therefore will the Lord wait, that [object of the exercise] He may be gracious unto you and therefore [ultimate goal] HE WILL BE EXALTED". Again we are reminded IT IS NOT ABOUT US!!!

If you have labored long in prayer over a problem, a relationship, a lost loved one and it seems God is sleeping, be assured He is not. He is waiting til the appointed time to move and to act on your behalf so that ultimately HE will be glorified in it. In the process, the waiting is hard, but our faith is strengthened, and one day we will finally see it all unfold according to His plan. The rest of Isaiah 30: 18 says "Blessed are all they who wait for Him". So don't despair and don't give up. "Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him." Psalm 37: 7

BROTHER LAWRENCE

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:49:00 +0000

I've been reading a book that a friend from Sunday School has referred to numerous times in our class, PRACTICING HIS PRESENCE by Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach. Brother Lawrence (Nicholas Herman) of France died in 1691. Frank Lauback went home to be with the Lord in 1970. Both men wrote about practicing the presence of the Lord on a moment by moment basis.

Brother Lawrence was born into poverty in French Lorraine in 1611. He became a Christian at the age of 18, became a soldier and then a footman. At the age of 55, he entered a religious community called the Carmelites and became what was known as a "lay brother", from whence came his name "Brother Lawrence". During those years he served mostly in the hospital kitchen. But within that community and later beyond, became known for his experience of practicing the presence of God. We are privileged to learn a little more of how he came to do this through some letters that he wrote and that were later published.

Frank Laubach was born in the U.S. in 1884, almost 200 years after the death of Brother Lawrence. Forty five years later he would be serving as a missionary in the Phillipines. It was not til he was 45 that Frank began "practicing the presence of Christ" and 45 years later, he went home to be with the Lord. He was one of the most well known and well travelled men on earth at that time. Countless honors were bestowed upon him during his lifetime including Man of the Year to which he commented "The Lord will not wish to count my trophies but my scars." He wrote over 50 books, several of which were best sellers. He was perhaps the greatest educator of his time. His accomplishments are virutally endless. But what stands out most are the letters he wrote to his father regarding his experience of "practicing the presence of Christ."

January 20, 1930 he wrote :

"Although I have been a minister and a missionary for fifteen years, I have not lived the entire day of every day, minute by minute to follow the will of God. Two years ago a profound dissatisfaction led me to begin trying to line up my actions with the will of God about every fifteen minutes or every half hour. But this year I have started out to live ALL my waking moments in conscious listening to the inner voice, asking without ceasing ,"What, Father, do you desire said? What, Father do you desire THIS MINUTE?" It is clear that is exactly what Jesus was doing all day every day [while he walked on this earth]."

Now as you are reading this maybe you are thinking "That is absurd! No one can think about God every minute of every day." But...is that really impossible?

I have found myself throughout my life talking to God throughout my day, about big things and little things. In fact, we really have an ongoing conversation. So, to me, that does not really sound SO far-fetched. However, I can say that I have not attained the level to which either of these saints did....every minute of every day. Yet it is something to press toward.

Does He not say "Pray without ceasing"?

Does He not say "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in ALL of your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths."

Does He not say "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you."

If we are acknowledging Him in every thing we do, if we are seeking Him above all else, will that not lead to praying without ceasing and therefore be "practicing the presence"?

Here are just a few instances of how that can play out as I have experienced it just today....

As soon as you open your eyes, acknowledge Him. Ask for His guidance throughout the day, ask for His help with whatever problems you may be facing today. Thank Him you were able to sleep through the night.

As my granddaughter and I pulled weeds this morning, we talked of Adam and Eve, and how it was all their fault that we have weeds. Now maybe you are wondering how that is "practicing the presence"? I think it is because it gave me the opportunity to bring Him into our conversation. To which she replied "Yes, Mimi, that was sin and Jesus died for our sins." Oh yes, I was practicing the presence as inwardly I praised Him that this child knows that already at the tender age of 5!!

Later, still pulling weeds, I asked her what her favorite song was. She replied "One, Two, Three". I was puzzled. I said "I don't think I know that song". So she began to sing
One, Two Three...Jesus loves me
One, Two Jesus loves you.

Three and four, He loves you more
Than you've ever been loved before

Five, Six, Seven I'm going to Heaven
Eight and Nine soon to be mine

Nine and ten
Let's sing it again.

Now if that wouldn't bring any grandmother into His presence, I don't know what would. Oh yes, I was praising Him big time that that song was her favorite!!!

Still later upon hearing of my son-in-love's grandmother's health crisis, I uttered a prayer for comfort and healing, direction for the doctors and comfort for the family. Others were on my mind as I drove away, many who are needing His healing touch today.

A few minutes later I was standing in Lowe's looking at a variety of plants in all different shapes and colors, marvelling at His handiwork and asking Him to help me make the wisest choices.

Home again, checking email and Facebook, I was stirred and brought into His presence once more by the numerous needs that were voiced from both sources.

You see it is not as hard as one would think. Yet I am not to the level of intimacy that Brother Lawrence or Frank achieved....but I hope to be one day. But I do know that He is always there, waiting to speak to us, waiting for us to come to Him with every detail of our life. He desires for us to acknowledge His presence, every moment of every day.

How about you? Have you entered His presence today? It's not too late.........

WHATEVER.................

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 13:06:00 +0000

"Whatsoever you do, in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ." Colossians 3:17

WHATEVER..............

Whatever is a pretty inclusive word. Whatever you DO....whatever you SAY, do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus.

If we do or say something "in the name of the Lord Jesus" it means that we represent Him by what we do or say. What we do or say directly reflects upon Him. Ouch!!

So what falls under "whatever"? Let's just think of a few:

How you drive. When you get behind the wheel, do you drive the way Jesus would? WHATEVER includes your driving.

How you speak to the telemarketer who calls you right when you're in the middle of something. As Jesus' representative, how do you handle His calls? WHATEVER includes your words.

How you treat the customer service representative that continues to argue with you. WHATEVER means what you say as well as HOW you say it. How do your words when you are stressed or angry reflect upon the Lord?

How you perform on the job. Do you cut corners? Do you respect your clients? Do you do your work with the utmost integrity? Do you give a full 8 hours for 8 hours of pay? How do you treat your co-workers? How do you treat your subordinates? WHATEVER means you represent Him to every person you come in contact with on your job....those above you, those below you, those you work with and those you work for. Do ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus.

How you treat your family. Do those who live in your house see Jesus in you? Do your words represent Him? WHATEVER also means WHEREVER ,including home where we often let down our guard and treat our family differently than we would treat a guest.

Your daily household chores. Whether you are doing laundry, mopping the floor, cleaning the bathroom, preparing a meal, cutting the lawn, or washing the car....WHATEVER you do at home, do it ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus.

WOW!! When you think that passage through, it is easy to see that most of us probably fall short in a lot of areas. But, now that you know....WHATEVER you do today....at home, at work, at play, at school, on the way or in between....do ALL in the name of (representing) Jesus Christ. When you do, it will reflect WHO you belong to and it will draw others to Him.

WHAT TIME IS YOUR APPOINTMENT?

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:12:00 +0000

We make appointments for many things....doctors, dentists, hair cuts, attorneys, massage, manicures, ,etc. Sometimes things happen, though and we forget our appointment or we just skip it because we have something better to do. Sometimes we are late; sometimes we are early.

But there is one appointment you are destined to keep. It is a 100% odds that you WILL make it. That appointment is with death. Yes, that's right, the odds are one out of one. No one escapes this appointment.

You can try as you will, but the day WILL come when the Lord will call you home.

Hebrews 9:27 says "it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment".

Most of us do not spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about dying. At least not until something puts it in our face....like the death of a loved one, the terminal diagnosis of a friend or the sudden death of a close friend. Then we are once again reminded that it is real, it is coming to each of us one day and none of us knows when. But...God knows.

He knows your appointment. It may be nearer than you think. Or, you may have a lot more years to live. None of us know. Life changes in the blink of an eye.

The important thing is not to obscess about WHEN it is coming, the important thing is to be ready WHENEVER that day comes.

How to you get ready for death?

Romans 6:23 tells us that "the wages of sin is death". Every single one of us has sin debt. Romans 3:10 says "There is NONE righteous, no not one." So no matter how good you think you are, no matter how many good things you have done in your life. There will NEVER be enough good deeds to outweigh your bad deeds, not enough good things to measure up to God's standard. So if we have a sin debt and we cannot pay it, then someone must or we will be expected to pay the price for our sin. Aaaahhh...but, there IS someone who has already paid your debt...JESUS!! He paid your debt and mine. He paid a debt He did not owe, because I owed a debt I could not pay!! And all He wants is for us to receive the free gift He has so graciously bought for us...our cancelled debt...by receiving what He did on the cross for us. If we do that, if we place our trust in Him and receive the free gift of salvation, He will be waiting for us at our appointment with death and He will tenderly welcome us Home to be with Him forever more....!

Do you have the peace and assurance today that if you appointment should be today, you'd be ready? You can be. Just accept that free gift so freely offered and receive Him today. I'd love to share with you how you can do that.

I'LL MEET YOU IN THE MORNING

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 13:53:00 +0000

There is an old hymn, beloved of my mother, entitled "I'LL MEET YOU IN THE MORNING". This song sings of a sweet reunion with loved ones who have passed on to Heaven.

Yet I love to think of it in context of how God longs to meet with me every morning. He is waiting for me as soon as my eyes open, eager to talk with me and share His love with me.

In Bob Sorge's book, THE SECRETS OF THE SECRET PLACE, he writes of meeting with God in that secret place :

"One of the best kept secrets of our faith is the blessedness and joy of cultivating a secret life with God. Imagine the sheer delight of it even now. You're tucked away in a quiet nook, the door is shut; you're curled up in a comfortable position; the living word of God is laid open before you; Jesus Himself stands at your side; the Holy Spirit is gently washing your heart; your love is awakened as you meditate upon the gracious words of His mouth; your spirit is ignited and your mind is renewed; you talk to Him and He talks to you in the language of intimate friendship."

Oh and how sweet is that meeting when we take the time to do it. It is my favorite time of the day.

How it must sadden the heart of the Father when his children do not make time to talk to Him. I know how much I delight in talking to MY children! Hearing their voice on the phone is always a joy to me. Spending time with them is precious. If it is so with me, is it not so also with our Heavenly Father? Absolutely!! He yearns for us to spend time with Him. He waits on us to show up. Yet day after day many of His children refuse to take the time. They give Him a cursory nod at the dinner table with a rehearsed blessing or only run to Him when they are in trouble. But oh the blessings you are missing if you are not meeting with Him daily.

One of my favorite old hymns is IN THE GARDEN....

I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear
Falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.
And, He walks with me
And He talks with me
And tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share
As we tarry there
None other will
Ever know.

That song is special to me because I love meeting with Him in my garden.

In JESUS CALLING today, I read,

"Open your hand and your heart to receive this day as a precious gift from Me. I begin each day with a sunrise, announcing My radiant Presence. By the time you rise from your bed, I have already prepared the way before you. I eagerly await that first conscious thought. I rejoice when you glance My way."

As I sat in the quiet solitude of my garden this morning, His presence was so real. He tells me in Zephaniah 3: 17 that He "rejoices over me with singing," Can you fathom that? The God of the universe rejoices over ME with singing?!!! I can. He did it this morning. He sent the birds to sing sweet melodies as I sat in His presence. Not only that, but as the gentle breeze blew He reminded me that His Holy Spirit breathes on me moment by moment of every day. His love washes over me. As I looked around at the beauty of His creation, the intricate design of His handiwork, I am also reminded of who He is, the Master Designer, Creator, Holy God. What a privilege to bow in His presence and worship Him in the beauty of His holiness....right in the middle of His garden.

When was the last time you got alone with the Father and talked with Him?
When was the last time you sat at His feet and listened?

If you are not in the habit of doing so,

May I suggest to you that you begin today?

He is waiting for you and eagerly wants to talk with you.

Come just as you are for that is just how He loves you...just as you are.

If it seems awkward and you don't know what to do

Just start with 5 or 10 minutes.

JESUS CALLING is a great devotional to help you get started

It is short, sharing the Father's heart with a few

scriptures to get you started.

Whether in the garden, on the back porch, in a quiet nook, or

your favorite chair...just get alone with Him today.

You will be so glad you did!!

GOD, THE ONE AND ONLY

noreply@blogger.com (Pat) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 21:06:00 +0000

"Before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I even I am the Lord; and beside me there is no savior....therefore you are my witnesses that I am God. Yea, before the day was, I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand....I am the Lord and there is none else, there is no God beside me....for I am God and there is none else; I am God and there is none like me." Isaiah 43: 10, 13; 45: 5; 46: 9.

This past weekend I was on a long drive alone. To keep myself awake I had a Mercy Me cd playing. It was the Incredible Mr. Lovewell album and it has some cranking music on it! I had listened to it there and most of the way home, when suddenly a line from one of the songs caught my attention. The line said "you are the uncreated one." Isn't it amazing how you can listen to a song over and over before you actually HEAR it?

Anyway, that phrase "the uncreated one" has stuck in my mind. God is so unique. He is the only one who is uncreated. Everything on earth, and for that matter above the earth and in the sea, the billions of stars and the entire universe was made....created by Him. But, He, God was NOT created for He has always been.
Incredible thought!

He says He is the great "I AM"; not the I was or I will be. Nope, He and He alone is the great I AM. He has always been, He will always be.

Everything else had a beginning.

Genesis 1:1 says "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the earth." They had a beginning and He was their creator. He spoke and they were. For man and woman, He touched them. They were the only created things that God actually put his hands on. He formed them with His very hands and breathed His life, His ETERNAL life into them and "they became a living soul". More importantly they became eternal souls, for from that moment on they were eternal beings. Though our outer man perishes and decays after death, our soul lives for eternity. WE had a beginning, but will have no end. God had neither a beginning nor will He have an end. That makes Him unique over every other created being.

He is immortal, we are mortal.

He is perfect, we are sinful.

He is holy, we are unholy.

He is righteous, we are unrighteous.

He is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent; we are none of those.

Yes, God is the one and only. The creator and sustainer of the universe. The Master Designer. Savior. Redeemer. Lover of our souls. And amazingly HE loves us!!! Can you grasp that? God, the great I AM, the one and only God, loves YOU and ME?!!! Think on that amazing fact today and be blessed!!