post

A Place Just for You

Posted on May 5, 2014 ·

960041_763046300375859_1610115485_n[1]14 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.2 There is more than enough room in my Father’s home.[a] If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?[b]3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going. John 14:1-4.

My husband and I were getting our rental condo ready for the family members on their way for a visit. We carefully planned for each person’s comfort and enjoyment. We had painted, bought new furniture and appliances and had put up artwork that we thought would be a blessing to them. We had a wonderful time preparing for our coming loved ones. As I was working, I remembered that the Lord is doing this for each and every one of us that trust in Him.

He is truly preparing a place for us. He knows our tastes and likes. He knows what colors we prefer. He knows what makes us happy. He is anticipating our arrival with joy and happiness. He is looking forward to having us there. He is personally going to come and get us so we can always be there where He is.

As the day of my family’s arrival draws near I am filled with happy anticipation. So is He.

Jesus is Lord!

 

Filed Under: Heaven, Hope, Peace, Uncategorized ·
post

Loving the Unlovable

Posted on April 28, 2014 ·

blog picture homeless man34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world.35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’ Matthew 25:34-36

Sometimes we can learn valuable lessons from young Christians. I have had the honor of knowing some of the most beautiful hearted young Christians.

I was at work one day with a young woman with a gentle disposition and a fervent love for Jesus. She was an example for me. She told me she had been to church the day before and at the Communion she had stood next to a smelly homeless man. But that’s not the way she saw him. She said she remembered Jesus and how we minister to Him when we love and help the needy. Her heart went out to that man. She said she felt the Lord tell her that he was hungry. After Church she and her young husband took the man out for a bountiful meal.

Another time I met three young women who shared an apartment. All were devout Christians. They often told me how much they loved Jesus. One day they decided to have a “lasagna party” at their home for the many psychiatric homeless people that attended their inner city church. They fed about thirty people and made a joyful, happy time for people who did not have much joy in their lives.

Needy people often aren’t beautiful in the eyes of the world, but they are beautiful in Jesus’ eyes. Maybe we need to look around us for opportunities to bless those with need.

Jesus is Lord!

Filed Under: Love, Obedience, Uncategorized ·
post

God’s Timetable

Posted on April 21, 2014 ·

picture blog joseph wheat dreamNow Joseph had a dream and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him still more.6 And he said to them, Listen now and hear, I pray you, this dream that I have dreamed:7 We [brothers] were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright, and behold, your sheaves stood round about my sheaf and bowed down!8 His brothers said to him, Shall you indeed reign over us? Or are you going to have us as your subjects and dominate us? And they hated him all the more for his dreams and for what he said.

I was reading the story of Joseph and how the Lord used him. Although he was only a teenager, the Lord gave him a prophetic dream. He showed him that his family would  bow down to him. But when did that dream finally manifest itself in the natural?  -Years later.

Joseph had to be prepared for that final position. But as you recall his jealous brothers decided to get rid of him, selling him to a passing caravan of traders. Then he was sold to Potiphar, did a great job managing his household, and was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife of trying to molest her. He wound up in jail where he learned to manage the needs of the prisoners. Later he met two of Pharaohs’ workers and interpreted their dreams. Later he was called to appear to Pharaoh where he correctly interpreted his dream and was appointed to rule as next in command to Pharaoh. Joseph’s position as second in command allowed him to provide for his family in the time of famine.

Joseph was given a prophecy. But it was years before he saw it come to fruition.

Maybe someone has given you a prophecy. Relax and let the Lord plan out how things will go.

Our problem is that we are the Burger King generation. We want things now and we want it our way. But that is not how the Lord works. He prepared Joseph step by step for his final destination – second in command to Pharaoh. It took years.

Joseph knew the Lord was with him. He knew that he would be a leader. He just did not know when. The Lord was the one planning and bringing things into being.

We are on God’s timetable

The Lord has plans for your life too. I have noticed that I have learned and grown from every job I have had. Some of those jobs were difficult. Some good and some bad.  But I have learned from each and every one of them.

So we learn to get on the Lord’s timetable – not ours.

We learn to be patient. The Lord is in charge of our lives.

Jesus is Lord!

 

 

Filed Under: Faith and Trust, Uncategorized ·
post

The Power of the Tongue

Posted on April 14, 2014 ·

blog picture child wordsDeath and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life]. Proverbs 18: 21

I wonder how many words we say in a day. Thousands, I guess. I often don’t remember that my words have a power. They can bless or curse. Lift up or put down. Frighten or encourage. Lighten a load or make it heavier.

I was working in a baby clinic a few years ago. As I entered the exam room, I heard a young mother speaking to her baby. “You’re no good. You are bad.” She said it twice before she noticed I had come into the room. I felt so sad for that little one. Words of death. That mother did not know the power of her own words. If she has not changed her words she will eat the fruit of her words in the behavior of her child. She will have what she said.

My eighty eight year old mother still speaks words of blessing and encouragement every time we talk to her. Those words of blessing still echo through my soul. I have heard them many times and yet they still bring comfort and the knowledge of my mother’s love. Words of life.

I have learned from my mother.

We remember that the Lord spoke the world into being. He also spoke and the ground was cursed when Adam sinned. Power.

The Lord wants the words that flow from our mouths to be life giving ,kind, loving, forgiving, uplifting blessings.

Let’s speak words of Life.

Jesus is Lord!

Filed Under: Love, Obedience ·
post

Encouraging Ourselves

Posted on April 7, 2014 · 
picture encouraging ourselves

 

David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened  himself in  the Lord 1 Samuel 30:6.

You have probably read about the time when David and his men came home one day to Ziklag to find  that everything and everybody had been carried away by their enemies. David’s men were a mess. They blamed David and wanted to stone him. But David did something different. He encouraged  and strengthened himself in the Lord. Then he went out and the Lord gave him victory. The Lord restored.

How did he do that?

He began to remind himself of all the times the Lord had shone Himself strong on his behalf. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Faith and Trust, Uncategorized, Victory, wisdom ·
post

More About the Rock Foundation

Posted on March 31, 2014 ·

“Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears My teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” -Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)

blog picture man on rockIn my last post we considered the difference between two houses. One was built on sand and the other built on rock. We saw that the house built on sand collapsed when the storms of life came.

Now let’s consider what happens when we are obedient, faithful Christians firmly planted on the Rock. The storms of life still come – job problems, kid problems, health problems, money problems and so on. But when the storm and floods are over, we are still standing. The Lord has told us that our lives won’t collapse. Our lives will go on strong with our feet firmly planted on the solid rock of the Lord.

Notice that as long as there is no storm the houses both seem to be secure. It is only when the storms, floods and winds come that the true foundation of the house is revealed.

Let’s stay on the Rock of obedience to the Lord.

Jesus is Lord!

Filed Under: Hope, Obedience, Uncategorized ·
post

Solid Rock

Posted on March 24, 2014 ·

“Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears My teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” -Matthew 7:24-27 (NLT)

 

  We saw the effects of a hurricane when Hurricane Charlie blew through the central West coast of Florida a few years ago. Structures that looked solid were tilted on their sandy foundations. Some collapsed completely.blog picture house collapsed

Two houses. One built on sand and one built on rock. A storm rose up. Rains, floods and winds beat against both. One collapsed. One stood. What was the difference?

 

 Sand is an uncertain foundation. Shifting, no two grains adhering to one another. When water and floods come the water can go under a house and undermine it washing away the support of sand under the house. Add in a fierce wind and the house can collapse. .

 

Rock on the other had is solid. Water can not undermine it. If a house is built on rock winds cannot create the damage we see with a sand foundation.

 

Hearing and obeying and hearing and not obeying. That is the difference between the two lives Jesus is talking about. One person hears the word of God and obeys it. The other doesn’t. The winds and storms come. Job problems, kid problems, money problems, health problems we see these things happen every day. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Obedience · Tagged:
post

Going Through

Posted on March 17, 2014 ·

blog picture water isrealitesFear not, for I have redeemed you [ransomed you by paying a price instead of leaving you captives]; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.

2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned or scorched, nor will the flame kindle upon you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; Isaiah 43:1-3

I have been through a fire. Our house caught fire while I was out with my husband one evening. Our three children were asleep in their beds and the baby sitter was downstairs practicing guitar. Thanks to a miracle from the Lord ( you can read more about it in my book WALKING WITH JESUS)  all the children and the sitter were saved. Later I remembered this scripture- “when you walk through the fire you will not be burned.” Now it had a personal meaning for me. The Lord was with us through it all. He kept us all safe and restored our home. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Faith and Trust · Tagged: ,
post

A Strong Anchor

Posted on March 10, 2014 ·

PICTURE BLOG ANCHOR TWO

Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have a great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal high priest in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6: 18 – 20

When Paul wrote these words he was using an example from real life. When fishermen are on the water in their boat they throw their anchor overboard. It is no longer visible being many feet below snugly holding onto the ocean bottom. There is a chain connecting the boat to the anchor. The anchor keeps the boat from drifting, going in the wrong direction and decreases the effect of wind and tides on the boat. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Faith and Trust, Hope · Tagged:
post

It’s All Under the Blood

Posted on March 3, 2014 ·

1blog picture ledger blank2 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever. Hebrews 9:12

Once we have made Jesus our Lord and Savior a wonderful thing happens. All the sins we committed past present and future are cleansed by the blood of Jesus. The Lord never thinks about them again. He doesn’t sit in heaven thinking, “Well I forgave so – and – so but I’ll never forget it.” No, He forgives and forgets. As far as He is concerned all He sees is the blood His Son Jesus shed on the cross for us. The only one who remembers those sins is us.

Satan loves to bug us with the memories of those past offences. But the good news is that we can take action through the Word of God and say “Those sins and mistakes I made are under the blood of Jesus Christ and I call them no more to mind”. In other words “I don’t think about them anymore”. What happens when we do think about them? We feel guilty, sad, and remorseful. Rather than praising the Lord and loving Him, we feel dejected. Jesus gave His life and shed His blood to free us from our sins. We don’t want to be like Lot’s wife – looking back. There was nothing back there worth looking at.

If we could see God’s ledger of our sins, it would be blank. No record of our sins at all! Gone! I am so grateful to the Lord for His wonderful plan that included freeing us from guilt and sin and filling our hearts with peace so we could be free to go boldly to His throne.

Jesus is Lord!

Filed Under: Faith and Trust, Forgiveness ·
« Previous Page
Next Page »