MY BIBLES

I bought myself a new Bible.  It's a English Standard Version Ryrie Study Bible.  I like all the study notes, charts, diagrams, and etc. that you get with a Study Bible even though it does increase it's weight and size.  Our pastor uses the ESV and apparently it is supposed to be closest to the original in translation.

I got the genuine leather binding and hopefully my new Bible will  hold up better than my last  which was The Defender Study Bible KJV.  The Defender is the most well-used of all my Bibles.  Nearly every page has verses underlined or highlighted and I have made notes in the margins.  It has been my Bible for the past 15 years, but the pages are literally falling out.  I keep it in a Bible case and still use it often because I know right where to find verses in it. 

Before the Defender KJV, I used the NIV Study Bible.  It was a gift from Larry, Christmas 1990.  I love this one because it is where I recorded our family records like births, deaths, and marriages.  It was also the Bible I used to read through the Bible in a year.

The Bible I used before the NIV was the New American Standard.  It was a gift from our Sunday School teachers when Larry and I were still newlyweds.  It is not a Study Bible, but it has a good concordance and chain references. 

I also have a beautiful blue leather KJV Bible that was a gift from my college roommate, Anna.  It's small and compact, which is probably the reason Phil used it when he was a teenager.  I keep it on my desk at work now and pick it up occasionally when I have time to read.  This was my Bible when I first read through the gospel of John in one setting.  The whole book, from start to finish, and it changed my life.  It was just the beginning of a life-long love for God's Word. 

I can't really say that any one of these Bibles is my favorite.  I have felt the power of the Holy Spirit speaking to me through all of them.  I believe that God's Word is powerful, no matter what translation.  Each of these Bibles has added to the treasury of knowledge of God's Word.  It is through the Bible that we come to know God and what he is like.  It's all in his Word: his love for his creation, his plan of redemption to save us, his sacrificial love in Jesus Christ who gave his life that we might live, his promise of eternal life for all who believe. 

"Oh how I love your law!  It is my meditation all the day."  Psalm 119: 97

Does God Keep Our Tears in a Bottle?

It was a tearful day.  I had cried when a moving song came on the radio.  It was about the plight we feel as Christians living as strangers in the World; that feeling of not belonging and longing for a place we can call home.  I had cried at the news of the death of my cousin, Jackie; thinking of his family and feeling the loss that they are  feeling, crying out to God for comfort and mercy.  I had cried because everything I know and love is changing and I have to figure out who I am supposed to be.

All day long I had felt the weight of sadness and despair; like a dark cloud that blocked my ability to see anything good or positive.  So, after work, God and I took a walk and the pent-up frustration that I had felt all day was released in a torrent of tears as I poured out my heart to him.  The tears welled up and ran down my cheeks and all my longing was fulfilled, and all my sorrow was washed away, and all my fears and disappointments disappeared in the love that flowed from God's heart to mine.

My tears brought an immediate release of the stress and frustration that I felt, but I wondered, "Do my tears have an eternal purpose?" 

In Psalm 56:8 we read, "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.  Are they not in your book?"

Imagine that!  God keeps a record of my tears.  He hears my cries, sees my tears, and remembers them.  I am uncertain about whether he keeps them in a bottle or not, but perhaps he does.  At any rate, he knows every tear that I have cried.  And that, my friend, makes me feel better.  My tears are not wasted.  They are important to God

CYCLES

Life is a series of cycles; things that happen over and over again.  The best example is, of course, the calendar cycle; a year-long cycle of 365 days with four seasons, various weather patterns, and temperature changes.  Other examples are the water cycle, growing seasons, reproductive cycles, and ocean tides.  Even History is said to repeat itself.  We can find cycles nearly everywhere we look. 

Another cycle that I discovered is the "cycle of disobedience".  The Israelites disobeyed God; He allowed their enemies to overcome them; they cried out for help; He heard their cries and rescued them; but then they would turn from God and sin  again.  In Judges 2 we find an example.

• Judges 2:11  and the children of Israel did evil in the sight of  the Lord.....
• Judges 2:14  and the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel and he delivered them into the hands of the spoilers.....
• Judges 2:15  .....and they were greatly distressed.
• Judges 2:16  nevertheless the Lord raised up judges which delivered them.....
• Judges 2:17  and yet they would not harken.....

The "cycle of disobedience" is seen through out the Old Testament: in Judges 4, Judges 6, Judges 10, II Kings 13, and Nehemiah 9. 

I, too, have experienced this "cycle of disobedience" in my own life.  Over and over again, I find my self dealing with a problematic sin, like negative, critical speech.  The words just  pop out of my mouth.  And before I know, I have said hurtful things.   I pray, ask for forgiveness, and for a while I guard my words and hold my tongue.  God is gracious, He hears my prayer and forgives my sin.  But, inevitably, I find that I have to deal with my negative, critical speech again.

Conquering sin is an ongoing process for the believer.  Through this process, God allows me to see myself for who I am and to see that I need a savior.  He is the potter and I am the clay.

So, don't  be discouraged if you find yourself dealing with the same sin over and over again.  Instead, rejoice that God is working in you to conform you to the image of his Son, Jesus.

God's purpose is to make us holy and without blame before him in love. (Ephesians 1:4)  We may not get it right the first time, but we can know that he will continue his work in us, not matter how many times it takes.  In 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, we read these words, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I  pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it."

Guilt by Association

Hannah wanted to be a SAIL volunteer, an upperclassmen who mentors incoming Freshmen during orientation.  She would be assigned a group of students and she would show them the ropes, so to speak, of  high school.  She loves her school and she's a great communicator,  so it was a real shock when she was not chosen to participate.  She spoke with her guidance counselor and discovered that she had received the approval of her teachers, but administration had "black-balled" her.  They said that she had been involved in a bullying incident.  She was heartbroken and now she knew first hand the cost of hanging out with the wrong crowd.  The principal called it guilt by association.  Maybe, she had not actually bullied anyone, but she was present when it was going  on. 

The dictionary defines guilt by association as the attribution of guilt (without proof) to individuals because the people they associate with are guilty. 

So, are we responsible for the actions of another person?  Are we guilty because we hang out with those who are guilty?  Wikipedia calls it "association fallacy" or a red herring.

Jesus associated with sinners, but he lived a sinless life.  Yet, even he was deemed guilty by the Pharisees because he ate with tax  collectors and touched those who were unclean. 

The more I ponder this query, the more I have come to realize, we are all guilty by association- our association to humankind.  We are born into a sinful world, with a nature that is bent toward sin.  We are like our father, Adam, who ate of the forbidden fruit and disobeyed God.  We are sinners, all of us.  "As it is written, there is none righteous, no not one:"  Romans 3:10.

So maybe you haven't murdered anyone or robbed a bank, but you are guilty; guilty of not telling the whole truth, guilty of copying some one's work, or guilty of not being completely fair with everyone.

If we continue reading Romans 3, in verse 19, we find, "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."

One day when we stand before God, we will have no excuse, we know in our own heart that we are guilty, that we deserve the just punishment for our sins.  Here, we are all on level ground; everyone is the same.  We have no excuse, all the world is guilty before God. 

Have you come to realize that you are a sinner, helpless and hopeless to save yourself?  If so, then you are at the right place.  The place we all must come to.  The place of forgiveness through Jesus Christ who gave his life as a ransom for all who are guilty by association. .

My Favorite Promise

On Tuesday, this week, an unusual question came up at our ladies Bible Study.  "Do you think promises in the Bible are hard to recognize?"  We agreed that sometimes they do seem hidden and we tend to read right over them without stopping to thank God for his marvelous promises in his Word.

With this question still fresh on my mind, I considered what I felt to be God's best promise for me, personally.  I found my answer in John 14:26.  It is a promise that I rely on every day of my life. It is a promise that brings me peace and assurance. It is a promise that has kept me from sin.  It is a promise that has kept me on the path that God has for my life.  It is the promise of the Comforter or the Holy Spirit.

In John Chapter 14,  Jesus is explaining the role of the Comforter; which in the Greek is parakletos, meaning "called alongside".  It is through the Comforter that Jesus continues his ministry here on earth, by walking alongside every believer.  In this loving relationship we abide  in Christ and Christ abides in us and we abide in the Father and it is through this abiding relationship that Christ makes himself known to us.  This unique and wonderful experience is only for those who love Christ and obey him.

Look again at verse 26.  Christ promises us that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things and he will remind us of all the things that Jesus said.  You can see why I would count this as one of my favorite promises.  I cannot even count the times the Holy Spirit has spoken to me through this exciting, abiding relationship.  A thought from out of nowhere urges me - "Call your parents".  A gentle nudge prompts me- "Pray about this."  A recollection from long ago reminds me- "I answered that prayer."  A timely suggestion directs me- "Forgive them and love them."

How does one experience this promise for himself?  In Acts 2:38-39, Peter is preaching on the Day of Pentecost, Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call.

God's Word is filled with precious promises and I can hardly wait to discover another one.

Largeness of Heart

During the reign of King Solomon, Israel reached a pinnacle in her history.  It was a time characterized by peace and prosperity.  In 1Kings 4 we read that the borders of Israel were expanded to the largest that they had ever been or have been since.  Solomon's wealth was incredible; possessing horses and chariots by the thousands.  And all of this was because of his great wisdom.  Verse 29 tells us that, "God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore."  It is amazing what God can do with a heart that is surrendered to him.

Have you ever known anyone with largeness of heart?  The size of a persons heart it seems, is in direct relationship to their wisdom.  A large heart has an increased capacity to love.  It is compassionate, patient, and merciful to others.  A large heart is honest, true, and does what is right.  A person with a large heart listens and does not make snap judgements. 

Jesus expressed largeness of heart.  He always had time for those who came to him.  He had compassion on them, and healed the sick, the lame, and the blind.

We generally think of wisdom as a characteristic of an old man with gray hair, but neither Solomon nor Jesus were old men.  Wisdom is not gained with age; wisdom is imparted by God.  He gives wisdom to those who ask.  If you are a believer, you are filled with the Holy Spirit and God's wisdom is available for the asking.  God was pleased to give Solomon wisdom and he will be pleased to give you wisdom, too.  And along with his wisdom, he will give you a heart that is large.  

THE GIFT
God gave me a special gift when I lost my daddy.

The night before Daddy's funeral service, I returned home from the funeral home exhausted from a day of tears and sadness.  As I stepped out of the car, I looked up into the night sky, and there blazing from north to south was the most beautiful, brilliant shooting star I have ever seen.  It seemed so close, I felt like I was witnessing some miraculous event.  I could only stand and stare as I watched it disappear from sight.  Of the five other people in the car with me, only one, Lauren, the youngest granddaughter saw it.  She confirmed that what I had seen was real and not just the product of my exhaustion and grief.  Me, the oldest daughter and Lauren, the youngest grandchild, were privy to the glory of God that night. 

For me that shooting star represented my daddy's life; beautiful, brilliant, blazing with the fire of God.  Our lives, too, are like shooting stars.  God breathes into us his life and we are set ablaze.  We journey through this life from our birth until our death.  Some of us burn brightly, some are only glowing faintly, and some have no light at all.  For all of us though, our lives are over in a moment, and we are only a memory.  Those who burn brightly, like my Daddy, do so because God's glory is poured into their hearts by the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus and that makes all the difference in a person's life. 

God was living in my Daddy and God's presence brings light and knowledge; it brings direction and hope; it brings peace and love.  What about you, are you filled with God's presence?  Does your life look like a shooting star, blazing a trail of light, hope, and love across a starry night sky?

"Ye are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Matthew 5:14-16

Cause and Effect

"Girls who eat their vegetables get to have dessert."

"If you stay on your bed and rest, then we will go outside and play afterward."

I'm watching my daughter-in-law, Teresa as she teaches our two granddaughters, Kate and Audrey.  She does a wonderful job of taking care of them and they are very well-behaved.  Teresa is teaching them, even at one and three, that the choices they make have consequences. 

Life is full of choices.  Moment by moment, day by day, we make choices that will effect our future.  I am who I am today, because of the choices I made when I was a child, a teen, and then a young adult.  It's pretty scary to think of just how important the formative years are.  Will I be truthful and honest?  Will I work hard and do my best?  Will I choose to do the right thing?

Every cause has an effect.
Every action has a reaction.
Every choice has a consequence.

And before you know it, you are a grandmother and you look back at your life and clearly see that the choices you made brought you to the place where you are today.

So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  Psalm 90:12.

Lord, help us today to make the right choice.

God Speaks Through His Holy Spirit

In the Listening section of my prayer journal I have written what I like to call my marching orders.  My marching orders are little notes I make to myself during prayer time of the things that I should do, like write a note of encouragement to a friend who is going through a trial or maybe I am reminded to buy Larry a pair of pants or call Melanie and invite her to lunch.  I have learned over the years that these nudges are from the Holy Spirit. 

The Holy Spirit is one of the ways that God speaks to us.  Jesus told his disciples in John 14 that he was leaving, but he would send the Comforter who will abide with us and teach us and remind of Jesus words.  The Holy Spirit is a gift that has been given to every believer to help us live a life that is pleasing to God.  If you are a believer, you are a child of God and you have the Holy Spirit living inside you and you can learn to listen and hear his voice. 

Whenever I say that the Holy Spirit speaks to me, it's not an audible voice that I hear.  It's more like a thought that comes across my mind.  He may remind me of a scripture that I have read or he may inspire me to reach out to help another,  And all of this takes place in my mind;  ideas, inspiration, discernment, and answers to prayers.

If you are a young Christian you may not have learned to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit.  But, with practice, you can learn to listen and hear when God speaks through his Holy Spirit.  Quiet yourself before the Lord as we are told to do in Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God" and then record what you feel he is saying to you.  If it is something that will lead you astray, then it is probably you own thoughts or thoughts from the enemy.  If it is something that agrees with scripture, then you can rest assured it is the voice of the Good Shepherd. 

God will speak to us in these planned moments of quiet, but he is not limited to these times only.  He may speak to you at other times as well.  In 1Kings 19 we have the story of Elijah the prophet when he was fleeing Jezebel who had sworn to kill him.  Elijah is hiding in a cave when the Word of the Lord comes to him.  First, there is a strong wind, then an earthquake, and then a fire, but God does not speak in any of these.  Last of all, there came a still, small voice that spoke to him, encouraging him and giving him instructions.  If you will listen, you too can hear God's still, small voice as he speaks to you through his Holy Spirit.  God is speaking.....Are you listening?

God Speaks Through Dreams & Visions

In my last post entitled. God is Speaking.......Are You Listening?  I introduced the many ways that God speaks to us.   One of those ways is through dreams and visions.  Examples can be found throughout scripture of God using dreams and visions to communicate with people. 

Joseph was hated by his brothers we read in Genesis 37 because of his dreams.  He later interpreted the Egyptian king's dream and became second in command of the whole kingdom.  He was able to see into the future and save his people as well as the Egyptians.  God spoke to Joseph through dreams. 

Years later, Daniel also was promoted to second in command by the king of Babylon and was known for his excellent spirit and knowledge and understanding and interpreting of dreams.  Daniel 5:12

Joel's prophecy in Joel 2:28, tells us that the Holy Spirit would be manifest in that your sons and daughters will prophecy, your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.  This pouring out of the Holy Spirit took place on the Day of Pentecost as seen in Acts 2.  So we can assume that God will speak to us in dreams.


In Matthew chapters 1 & 2 we read that the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and told him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife because the child she was carrying was of the Holy Spirit.  And then later after Jesus' birth the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph again in a dream to warn him to take the child to Egypt because Herod was seeking him to kill him. 

On his second missionary journey the apostle Paul had a vision in the night which must have been like a dream.  A man from Macedonia appeared to him, asking him to come over here.  You can read about this vision in Acts 16:9.  Dreams and visions are one of the ways that God speaks to us.  In the case of Paul, God was leading him in the direction that he would have him go. 


 Was God speaking to me when I awoke that morning with the memory of a dream still lingering in my mind?  Maybe.  Perhaps the point of my dream is to remind us that there are people all around us who think that the idea of God speaking to them is crazy; people who need to know that there is a God in heaven who loves them more than they could ever imagine.  Maybe you or someone you know feels out of control and needs desperately for God to pick them up and cradle them in his arms and care for them.  God is speaking through dreams and visions, but are we listening?

God is Speaking............Are You Listening?

This morning my alarm clock awoke me from a dream.  The only dreams we remember are those we have right before waking.  So, since then, I have been putting the pieces together to understand exactly what the dream was about.  In my dream, I was  visiting with a family with several small children.  The mother was concerned about her son who was 4 or 5 years old.  He was misbehaving and seemed out of control.  And she was worried too because he was not eating. 

I went over picked up the boy, cuddling him in my arms and said, "Let's pray about this and find out what God would have us do.  Maybe he will give us insight into the problem and a solution to help the child." 

The little boy looked up at me and laughed.  "God doesn't talk to people," he said, "and everyone would think I was crazy if I said I talked to God." 

The alarm sounded at that moment and as I reached to shut it off, I wondered, "Do people really think I'm crazy whenever I say I talk to God?"

Some people may have a problem with the fact that God is real and that he is involved in our lives.  It may be absurd to them to believe that God hears prayers and speaks to us.  But for those who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it is a way of life.  They know because they have experienced it for themselves. 

Having a conversation with God starts with faith.  It happens only when you are in a relationship with him, meaning, you have trusted in his son, Jesus Christ for salvation.  You must believe that Jesus is God's son and that he lived a perfect life and that he gave that life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world.  You must rely completely on Jesus to save you  for you cannot save yourself.  Your faith in Jesus makes it possible for you to know God, the Father.  He accepts you into his family and you become his child.  As a child of God you can know that he hears your prayers and he will speak to you by his Holy Spirit who lives inside every believer. 

So how does God speak to us?  God speaks to us in many ways.  He speaks through his creation, through his Word, through his Son, and through his Holy Spirit.  He speaks through Christian media, through people,  through angels, and through dreams and visions.

I thought it would be good to explore some of the many ways that God speaks.  Over the next few weeks I will return to this topic to find out what the Bible has to say about it.  For me, it has been a never ending quest, to hear from God and at times, I have been desperate to hear from him.  And if we know the ways that God speaks to us, then we can learn to listen.

What did you get for Christmas?

I received some great gifts this Christmas; things that I will enjoy for many days to come.  A new pair of earrings, a Kindle Fire, cookie mix in a penguin oven mitt, and cute coffee mugs just to name a few.  My heart is full as I give thanks to God for a beautiful Christmas.  Beautiful, because I spent time with my family and friends.  Beautiful, because we kept reminding ourselves of the true meaning of Christmas.  Beautiful, because we worshiped and gave our  hearts anew to Christ, who is at the heart of Christmas.  As I thought about these things, I began to see that I had received many gifts that maybe I had taken for granted.

• I held and loved our granddaughters.  I got down on the floor and played and snuggled and laughed with them.  My granddaughters gave me the gift of JOY.
• This year we had all three of our children in our home and we enjoyed many meals together, played games, and talked for hours about our future plans and reminisced about our past.  I am so proud of each of them because they have committed their lives to following Christ and doing what is right.  (Psalm 127:3)  Behold, children are a gift of the Lord; the fruit of the womb is a reward.  My children gave me the gift of PEACE.
• I held my husbands hand when we took a walk and when we prayed.  We looked into each others eyes as we watched our children take care of their children.  My husband gave me the gift of LOVE. 
• I was blessed to spend time with my mom and dad, brothers and sister, and nieces and nephews.  The family home was teaming with grand kids and babies and everyone was talking at once.  I wanted to be a part of every conversation, but, I could only stand back and watch and hear bits and pieces of their lives.  Being with my relatives makes my heart steadfast,  because these are my roots.  My relatives gave me the gift of FAITH. 
• We also enjoyed an evening with our office staff.  It's so nice to work with people who are honest and trustworthy and work together as a team.  My friends at work gave me the gift of GRATITUDE.
• Christmas would not be complete without spending time with church friends.  I sang "Happy Birthday Jesus" with the kindergarten Awana class and we talked about the best gift that we could give to Jesus.  I enjoyed a lovely evening with the ladies in women's ministry.   I volunteered to help with the Christmas Bash and was blessed by the people who shared their story with me and humbly prayed for God to intervene in their lives.  My church friends gave me the gift of KINDNESS.

Joy, peace, love, faith, gratitude, and kindness.  These are like beautiful gifts that God gave to me this Christmas.  He wrapped these gifts in the friends and family I share  my life with.  But none of this would be possible without his best gift of all - the gift of Jesus Christ, his son who was born at Christmas so that we might have eternal life.  (John 3:16)  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, or shifting shadow.  James 1:17

My Thanksgiving List

While roasting the turkey on Thanksgiving day I had my kitchen radio tuned to Dr. David Jeremiah's daily broadcast called Turning Point.  He message was about Giving Thanks.  He said that gratitude should be expressed; that it is not thanksgiving until it is expressed.  As I thought about this idea of giving voice to my gratitude, I realized I should be saying "thank you" a lot more often than I do.  For me that starts with thanking God for everything.  But it also means being thankful for all the people he has placed in my life.  To express my gratitude, I started a list of people that I am thankful for.


Romans 1:8, "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world. 


I am thankful -

• for my Dad who continues to give God praise after a year long battle with cancer; whose faith has been tested and tried and proved to be genuine. 
• for my Mom whose faith never waivers; her life is built on a solid rock.
• for Betty and her hospitality to me and my family; we have stayed in her home many times in the past months.
• for Glen and Barbara; for being available when Dad and Mom needed them most.
• for Andy and Charlotte; for overcoming difficulties and obstacles and giving the rest of us courage to do the same. 
• for Sherwood and Sonia; for inspiring me to read the Bible through as they have. 
• for Norma and all that she does on a daily basis to help Dad and Mom by checking on them, bringing them meals, and helping with their medications.
• for Larry, for being the most interesting person I know and for sharing his heart with me; for being a great Dad, Grandpa, and Gepaw and for being a man who doesn't back down.
• for Melanie; for giving 100% everyday to everything she does and for teaching me to believe. 
• for Hannah; for teaching me to be joyful, to have fun and to enjoy life and for being unafraid to speak her mind. 
• for Philip; for being an awesome dad who loves his family and puts their needs ahead of his own; for his keen sense of justice and a desire for order and peace in the world.
• for Teresa; for being a daughter-in-law that I can trust to be the best wife and mother that she can be because she desires to be a Godly woman. 
• for Taylor and Martin and Kate and Audrey; who give me a glimpse of the future and the courage to share my faith unashamedly.
• for Kris; for being a true friend and for being so kind.
• for Jeane, for being my role model; In all the years that I have known her, I have never seen her unhappy, angry, or ill tempered.  I have never heard her complain or criticise others.  She is the most gracious, loving person I have ever met.

There are many more of you that I am thankful for; old and new friends and family at church, at school, at work, in all the places I have lived.  I am so grateful for you and how you touched my life.  It is good to give thanks.  May it become our lifelong goal;  to express our gratitude in true thanksgiving.

Those Whom God Calls

 I do not know how a preacher gets up to speak every week if he thinks about the awful burden of responsibility that is his.  To speak for God!  It is a very humbling experience to stand before God's people to say, "Thus saith the Lord".  At times, I'm certain they must question their ability to perform their duties. "What if  I mess this up; profane God's name?  What if I cause someone to stumble or what if I do not speak the truth?"  I have experienced some of this kind of trepidation myself whenever I click on the Publish Post button for my blog.  The biggest danger for me is that pride can easily slip in and I can loose sight of my original motive in writing, that is, to glorify God. 

We have many examples in scripture of God using less-than-perfect people who felt unworthy or ill equipped to lead others.  Men like Moses who did not think that the people would listen to him and Gideon who questioned whether God really meant it when he called him to lead the people.  In each case, God equipped these men whom he called with the skill and knowledge that they would need.  In 1Samuel 9&10 we have the account of Saul being chosen by God to be the first king of Israel.  God reveals to Samuel that Saul is the man that he has chosen and when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the Man..... but Saul expressed some reluctance to this new calling upon his life, even to the point of hiding when the tribes were being presented for selection.  God confirmed his calling of Saul not only by Samuel's words but by empowerment of the Holy Spirit.  In chapter 10 verses 9 & 10 we read, "God gave Saul another heart and the Spirit of God came upon him and he prophesied among them."  In addition to these confirmations, God surrounded Saul with a group of men to assist him because he knew that Saul would need help.

So we can surmise that those whom God calls he also equips to do his will.  Jesus understood this principle and talked about the fact that he was dependent on the Father in John 8:28b,  ".....I do nothing of myself; but as my father hath taught me, I speak these things."  Jesus knew that his Father had sent him and that he had never left him alone.  His ministry grew out of  his relationship with the Father and he always glorified his Father.

We too can do nothing without the Father's help.  And unless we are in an intimate relationship with God our Father and his son Jesus Christ, we have nothing to say or give.  I think it's important to give credit where credit is due.  For me personally that means before I write a blog post, I wait until I have a topic or idea of spiritual significance.  This is usually something I read during my Bible reading or something that came up in a conversation or something I experienced.   I pray before, after, and during the process.  I never know for sure where my writing will take me.  But, I definitely feel that the inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit.  He brings it all together, reminds me of things, helps me choose words, gives me scripture to support my ideas.  So all glory to God, for without him, I can do nothing.

When God Seems Far Away

Have you ever had one of those days when God seems a million miles away?  I had one of those days today.  I felt as though God had forgotten me.  I tried reading my Bible and the words just lay there on the page.  Worst of all, my prayers seemed to have no power.  We've all experienced it; the loneliness and void of feeling separated from God.  So what do you do when you can't find God? 

First of all, let me reassure you that God has not gone anywhere.  He is right where he has always been.  "Thy throne is established from of old;  Thou art from everlasting."  Psalm 93:2.  And God is still on his throne, irregardless of how I feel.  So, if God has not moved from his place, I must be the one who has moved and I must take steps to return to God.  Here are a few things that one can do.

1.  Confess your sins as soon as you are aware of them.  Unconfessed sin can keep us from God's holy presence.  In Psalm 32, David tells of how he felt when he had sins that had not been dealt with.  He goes on to tell how he felt once he had confessed his sins.  So be quick to confess your sins because they stand between you and God. 

2.  Praise God for who he is.  Think of as many words as you can to describe God.  For example, God is holy, he is just, God is loving, patient, and kind.  God is merciful.  Or sing a praise song.  Psalm 100 tells us to "enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise."  Praise is like a doorway into God's presence.

3.  Remember what God has done in the past.  Remember the special, precious times you have spent with him.  Remember when he answered your prayers.  Remember when he spoke to your heart.  Remember how he has blessed you with so many blessings.  Remember how much he loves you.  "Remember his wonders which he has done, his marvels, and the judgements uttered by his mouth," Psalm 105:5 

4.  Do something for someone else; help a neighbor or friend, cook an extra casserole to share, offer to babysit.  When we do things for others, it takes our mind off of us and our problems and helps us see the needs of others.  Putting others first pleases God. 

5.  Be obedient.  Do what you know to do.  Keep praying, keep reading the Word, keep loving God and others!  "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."  James 4:8

Making this list was just what I needed to bring me back into God's presence.  He doesn't seem so far away anymore.  He has not forgotten me, in fact, he reminded me of his final words to his followers before he went back to heaven, "and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  Matthew 28:20b,

Do I really have to go to church?

"Do I really have to go to church?" she said.  "Me and God are OK.  I don't have to go to church to go to heaven.  I just can't go to church now.  All I do is cry and the people all look down on me and judge me because of all that's going on with my family."  I was speechless, taken aback, because I love to go to church; can't imagine why anyone would not want to go. 

Do you remember the children's song, I Was Glad When They Said Unto Me, Let Us Go Unto the House of the Lord.  Well, that song is me.  I'm ready to go to church on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night or any other time if there was a reason to go.  In fact, I'm miserable if I don't get to go to church.  Just ask my family; whenever I'm late for church, I suddenly become a speed demon when driving to church.  I may even reach the speed limit. 

But her question made me wonder, just why do we go to church?  Here are a few of the reasons I came up with, to explain why I go to church.

• Jesus went to church.  (Luke 4:16) "And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and as was his custom, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read".  Jesus went to church or synagogue, and to the temple in Jerusalem several times a year.  Remember the time his parents lost him when they went to the Jerusalem, and where did they find him?  Why he was in the temple discussing scripture with the Rabbis.  He told his anxious parents that they should have known that he had to be in His Father's house.
• God commanded it.  (Exodus 20:8)  "Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy."  God himself observed the Sabbath by resting on the 7th day after creation.  I believe he created our bodies and souls, in such a way that we can be renewed or rejuvenated if we will observe a Sabbath rest.  Granted you don't have to go to church to rest,  you can do that at home or anywhere.  But going to church is one way we "keep it holy".
• We go to  church to offer sacrifices.  (Exodus 34:22-23)  "And you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year.  Three times a year, all your males are to appear before the Lord God, the God of Israel."  We no longer offer sacrifices during our worship, but we sacrifice in other ways, by giving of our time, talents, and resources.  We are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices the apostle Paul said in Romans 12.  I believe that would include our service to God and others.
• We go to church to worship God.  (Psalm 95:6)  "Come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our maker."  This is the part of church that I so look forward to;  to focus on him, to sing to him, to thank him, to offer my life in submission to him.  I believe that this is the true worship that Jesus was speaking of when he told the woman at the well that true worshipers were those who worship in spirit and in truth.  (John 4:23-24)
• We go to church to study the Bible.  (2Timothy 3:15)  "And that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus,"  At church we study God's word in age appropriate classes, from childhood to senior adult; there's something for everyone.  Through the years, I have been in some wonderful Sunday School classes.  I have been grounded in my faith by the consistent, weekly times of Bible study. 
• We go to church to fellowship with other believers.  The church is the body of Christ and made up of many members.  (1Corinthians 12:14) But we are one body in Christ.  Which means that we are in this thing called life together.  We need each other, to share the burden, to hold us accountable, and to encourage us.  God placed us in the body with other believers to help us.

Craig Groeschel has written a book called The Christian Atheist.  In his book he makes the point that some Christians  say that they believe in God, but live as though they don't believe that he has forgiven them for instance, or that he can change them.  He devotes one chapter of his book to the fact that some Christians believe in God but not the church.  He says in Chapter 12 that God is not calling us to go to church,  but he is calling us to be the Church, the hope of the world.  Since Jesus lives in believers, we represent him to the world. 


I have been the beneficiary of many blessings as a result of going to church.  It's sad when an individual, because of shame or guilt or fear, decides not to go to church.  To do so, is to miss out on the joys of going to church.

God Bless You!

From across the hallway, I heard Brad sneeze three times.  "Achoo!"  "Achoo!"  "Achoo!" 
"God bless you."  "God bless you."  "God bless you."  I said.  We both laughed.  But, now I wonder, just what do we mean by the words, 'God bless you'. 

Later, in my car,  I'm reminded of those words, and again I wonder, what do we mean when we say 'God bless you' to someone or even more, when we pray these words.  I have prayed many times that God would bless my family, my friends, my church, and myself.  Was it just a general expectation that God would prosper us, or that we would be happy, or have a good day?  I have to admit, I have thought that God's blessing was little more than this. 

But, God's blessing is so much more.  When God blesses us, he will not simply give us things to make our lives happy and prosperous,  but, he will give us things that will bring us closer to himself.  And what more could we desire than to know God and to be in a thriving relationship with him.  Each time that I say God bless you, what I mean is that I want God to bring you closer to himself.

Let's name some ways that God blesses us or brings us closer to himself.  Time alone with him to meditate, to pray, and to read his Word is my richest blessing.  Also, he places within us a hungry heart that causes us to long for him and keeps us ever searching for him.  The people in our lives who encourage us and are not afraid to be truthful with us are also blessings.  Trials are blessings in disguise that teach us to trust him and to rely on him for every need. 
In contrast, we could add,  sometimes when God blesses a person with wealth and success, the blessing can become an idol.  An idol can be anything that takes the place of God in our hearts.  That person may become preoccupied with the things that wealth can buy or he may come to believe that he earned success and therefore does not give God thanks for blessing him. 

I wanted to take this idea of blessing even farther, so I asked my family, "What blessings or things bring you closer to God?"  For Larry, it was running, because it makes him feel alive.  Melanie said that for her it's listening to Christian radio on the way to work and school, because the songs help her worship God.  Being with other Christians was what Hannah said brings her closer to God.  We can see that Gods blessings are many and varied, and may be different things for different people, but we would all agree that we are truly blessed by God.  So, the next time you pray for God to bless someone remember that what you are asking is that God would bring them closer to himself.  Have a blessed day!

......blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.    Psalm 144:15b   

How can I influence others?

 I asked Hannah what she had learned while at Beach Blast this summer. 
"How to influence people", she said. 
That certainly perked my interest and we began discussing what that would look like; how it would play out in our day to day lives.  If I would have the power to affect others, I must be deliberate, engaging them by my actions.  I won't be an influence if I ignore others.  I won't be an influence if I am too busy to look at them or too preoccupied to notice them.

Later that week, I had an a return appointment at the Breast Care Center.  Because of a spot that showed up on my mammogram,  they wanted me to come in again for more pictures.  I was a little concerned, but trusted that everything would be OK, and it was.  But, that night, as I sat there in bed thinking about all that had happened, I realized that I had missed a golden opportunity to be an influence for others.  I could have said a prayer for someone that day.  There may have been some other woman in the waiting room, who did not get a good report. But, I never looked to see.  I showed up for my appointment with a book to read and I really never looked at the other women.  I had spent the whole 90 minutes reading.  Sitting there in my bed, I felt so selfish, I felt as though I had missed out on a blessing because I had been totally focused on me and my life.  I felt so ashamed.
"What kind of Christian am I?"
 God could had used me if I had been sensitive to his Holy Spirit. 
"Forgive me, Lord,"  I prayed, "I'm listening now, and I want to do better".

What he is teaching me is, that I should be praying for everyone whose path crosses mine; not only the women in the waiting room at the Breast Care Center, but, the staff that works there, the girl who cuts my hair, the businessman that walks into our office, and the checkout lady at the grocery store.  I encounter people all day long; a thing which should never be taken lightly.  God would have me really look and see those around me.  How do I do that?  Well, I can't, but, by his Holy Spirit I can be given new eyes to see the sick, the lonely, the troubled, the weary, the lost.  And if I see, then I can pray, and maybe I can even be an influence.