Category: Jeremiah

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In Capable Hands

When I was very young, I remember my Dad letting me sit on his lap as he was driving.

Now, before anyone starts to tell me how dangerous that was I will remind them this was 65 plus years ago. It was on dirt roads, with no other cars in sight and for two or three minutes at the most.

What stays in my mind and my heart is the love and laughter that we shared in those moments. I trusted my Dad and I knew he would never do anything that would knowingly harm me.

I was in capable hands. I learned to listen and to trust.

Some days, I still feel like that little girl sitting on my Daddy’s lap. There are new situations, new joys, new adventures, new dangers that present themselves. I find myself reaching for my Father’s hand and wanting to crawl up on His lap, listening to His voice and learning from His words.

Of course, now, I’m not speaking of my natural father but of my Heavenly Father.

“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

We are in capable hands.

We are told to come to the Father WHENEVER we have a need and we will find help! He won’t refuse us. He doesn’t just want us to come when we need something He wants us to come and learn from Him. In this way, He will teach us how to avoid the dangers and pitfalls that are waiting to ambush us.

“With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

Trust the Father’s capable hands.

“Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.” Proverbs 16:3 ERV

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

We have the Father’s word that when we turn to Him with a trusting heart He will be there to direct, guide, instruct and provide. He won’t break His word.

There are a few things that I have been talking to the Father about. Things that I need His wisdom and leading in. My knowledge is limited and sometimes I feel like a little kid again, a kid who needs my Father’s help. Maybe you’re experiencing the same kind of thing. I can assure you that when we take these to our Father He will listen and lead us to a good future.

We’re in His capable hands.

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What Are You Looking For?

I know I’ve told you that I really enjoy “hidden object” search games. Even when I was young I liked doing the word search pages in the newspaper or magazines.

Down the side of the page would be a list of words that were hidden somewhere in the maze of letters. If I was really feeling confident I would do them with an ink pen. These were the earliest versions of computer games before there were computers.

We all seem to be on a search, one way or another. It can be a search for fame and fortune, the perfect mate, a healthier lifestyle – any one of a vast number of things – all in hope of making life better.

My search was complete when I found Jesus!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NKJV

Seek, search for Me, and you will find Me! This was the Lord’s instruction hundreds of years ago and it’s still valid today. The Lord isn’t trying to hide. We find Him in plain sight. The shepherds found Him in a stable. The wisemen found Him at His house with His mother. His mother found Him in the temple teaching.

Zacchaeus went searching for Jesus. He even had to climb a tree to get a better vantage point. What Zacchaeus didn’t know was Jesus was also searching for him.

“Jesus said, “Today is the day for this family to be saved from sin. Yes, even this tax collector is one of God’s chosen people. 10 The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.” Luke 19:9-11 ERV

After His resurrection Jesus found his disciples behind closed doors. He came to them just like He comes to us. He came searching for those He loves. When we are in our darkest hour He comes. He comes to bring life, light, hope and joy.

Jesus searches to save the lost. We seek a Savior. When we meet, the search is over. No point to look any further.

“Look for the Lord while He may be found. Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the sinful turn from his way, and the one who does not know God turn from his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have loving-pity on him. Let him turn to our God, for He will for sure forgive all his sins.” Isaiah 55:6-7 NLV

When we find Jesus our search ends, we are complete in Him!

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Real Encouragement

I am overwhelmed when I stop to think of the friends I have been blessed with through the years. Their love and encouragement is priceless!

Encouragement.

In it’s simplest form encouragement is the act of infusing with courage. By definition it means “the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope”. Encouragement is something friends give to one another.

Encouragement is a light in our darkness and a warm blanket of comfort. It provides us with strength to move forward and hope in future.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. 8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.” Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

The Bible tells us we are blessed when we turn to the Lord for encouragement. In Him, we find hope and confidence. In Him, we flourish like a well watered tree. In Him, we produce good fruit.

Christ gives us courage and infuses us with encouragement. That’s what the Bible is all about – written words of encouragement and our friends are used by God to remind us that we can always trust in Him and depend on them.

Today, we are ending our quick study through the book of Colossians. I hope you have found it encouraging. In the last eleven verses of this book Paul mentions eight people who have worked with him, encouraged him while he has been imprisoned and who are now offering encouragement to these Christians.

The book started out with Paul’s greeting to be filled with grace and peace and ends with him urging us to encourage others in their faith. Some skip over these closing words, thinking they are insignficant. However, every word in the Bible has significance.

These final thoughts express appreciation for those who have worked with Paul to deliver the message of new life in Christ. It calls by name those who have worked closely with him, it validates them. And it reminds us to express appreciation for those who have walked with us in our trying times.

“Tychicus is my dear brother in Christ. He is a faithful helper and he serves the Lord with me. He will tell you everything that is happening with me. 8 That is why I am sending him. I want you to know how we are, and I am sending him to encourage you. 9 I am sending him with Onesimus, the faithful and dear brother from your group. They will tell you everything that has happened here…Epaphras, another servant of Jesus Christ from your group, sends his greetings. He constantly struggles for you in prayer. He prays that you will grow to be spiritually mature and have everything that God wants for you.” Colossians 4:7-9, 12 ERV

Give encouragement!

Let’s follow Paul’s example. I urge you to make a mental, better yet, a physical list of those who have been an encouragement to you. Pray for them, send them a greeting and thank them for the role they have played in your life. I guarantee your greeting will be an encouragement to them.

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I’m Listening!

This morning I read a quote by Colin Powell and I’d like to share it with you.

“All children need a laptop. Not a computer, but a human laptop. Moms, Dads, Grannies and Grandpas, Aunts, Uncles – someone to hold them, read to them, teach them. Loved ones who will embrace them and pass on the experience, rituals and knowledge of a hundred previous generations. Loved ones who will pass to the next generation their expectations of them, their hopes, and their dreams.“

The truth of this statement rang true in my heart. I realized that it isn’t just small children who need a laptop but we grown-ups need one as well…and we have One!

We have a Father whose lap is available 24/7. He’s never too busy to spend time with us, to listen to us or to share His love with us.

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 NLV

It’s imperative to be a good listener if we desire to have strong relationships. Children need to know that their parents are listening; spouses must listen to each other; co-workers must listen to be an effective cohesive team and friendships are shallow without a commitment to listening.

Listening is caring! It says “You are important to me. I will give you the one commodity I can’t replace, my time.”

I haven’t always been a good listener – a good talker, yes, but not always a good listener. With age, I have improved. Now, when I know someone is wanting to talk and be heard, I will often say “Give me just a minute to finish this and then you will have my undivided attention”. I try to listen more and interrupt less. Relationships improve when we listen. The one talking feels valued.

“Then those who feared the Lord talked often one to another; and the Lord listened and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who reverenced and worshipfully feared the Lord and who thought on His name. 17 And they shall be Mine, says the Lord of hosts, in that day when I publicly recognize and openly declare them to be My jewels (My special possession, My peculiar treasure). And I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.” Malachi 3:16-17 AMPC

The Lord listens when we talk to Him and about Him; He says He sees us as a treasure, as valuable as jewels.

Not only does the Lord listen but He responds. He’ll provide us with answers. He gives us instruction, wise counsel, course correction and help. He tells us His hopes and dreams for our future.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 NLV

Listening is a two-way street. We are listened to and then we listen for is said to us.

The Lord hears our praise and our prayers. We need to listen as He tells us the great and wonderful things that He has planned for us.

Lord, I’m listening!

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Good Morning

Most mornings I have no problem at all rising early. It’s been my way of life for over thirty years. For me, sleeping in is not getting up until after 6 am. But this morning is different.

I woke up but the idea of getting up wasn’t a pleasant thought. Have you ever had a morning like that?

The coffee has just finished brewing and my first cup is about half gone. My heart is focused and there is a prayer on my lips. “Lord, let me use this day to honor You. I need Your strength and wisdom for this day. I’m not sure what You have planned for me today but I know it’s good because You always want the best for me. I love you Father, I love you Jesus, I love you Holy Spirit. Thank you for being all I need. In Jesus name.”

Getting up early to spend time with the Lord is never a waste of time.

Give Me Jesus by Fernando Ortega

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

In the quiet I find it easier to hear the Father speaking to my heart. There are no text messages to interrupt, no emails requiring answers and no distractions to sidetrack me.

“Be proud of his holy name.  You followers of the Lord, be happy! 4 Depend on the Lord for strength. Always go to him for help. 5 Remember the amazing things he has done.  Remember his miracles and his fair decisions.” Psalm 105:3-5 ERV

I depend on the Lord for my strength. He’s always there to help!

I’m praying for those of you who woke early and are having a hard time getting started this morning. I’m praying that you are strengthened for the day; energized for the opportunities ahead. We don’t know what appointments God has for us today. Does someone need encouragment – a kind word, help with a task? Maybe one of our family need some one-on-one time to express their heart. Is the Father putting someone on your heart who needs prayer for healing, for peace, for a miracle? It’s these kind of things that I hear the Father speaking to my heart in the early morning.

Second cup of coffee is almost gone and I am excited to see what the day has in store.

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

I can’t wait to see what good plan the Father has for me and He has one for you too!

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No Two The Same

A couple of days ago we had our winter snow. It happens once, maybe twice, a year. It’s generally only here a day and then its gone. I really look forward to it.

This year I was able to capture some beautiful images of the mesquite trees in our front and back yards, flocked with white. I must admit that I spent a good portion of the day staring out my window at the beauty.

When I uploaded the pictures from my phone to my computer I paused again. I did take a couple of videos when the snowflakes were softly falling. They were so big and fluffy. Junior High Science class taught me that no two snowflakes are the same…

Imagine – no two the same. I had no way of counting the hundreds of thousands of snowflakes that fell that day. My front yard, my back yard, the neighborhood, the canyons and the mesas all were covered and no two were the same.

The State of Arizona was blanketed in white. Even Scottsdale got snow. How many millions or billions of snowflakes fell in Arizona in just that one day? How many trillions of snowflakes fell around the world and how many have fallen since the beginning of time?

No two are the same.

What an amazing God we have!

If He creates each snowflake with its own unique characteristics then how much time does He devote to developing our individual uniqueness? He knows how many hairs we have on our head – He has given us disintictive fingerprints and our DNA is one-of-a-kind.

No two of us are the same! God’s love and power in creating our individuality is almost unfathomable.

“Rain and snow fall from the sky and don’t return until they have watered the ground.
Then the ground causes the plants to sprout and grow, and they produce seeds for the farmer and food for people to eat. 11 In the same way, my words leave my mouth, and they don’t come back without results. My words make the things happen that I want to happen.
They succeed in doing what I send them to do.” Isaiah 55:10-11 ERV

God’s purpose for the snow is to nourish the earth and He says the purpose of His word is similar. His word nourishes our lives and causes us to grow and succeed.

“‘I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.’ This message is from the Lord. ‘I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.'” Jeremiah 29:11 ERV

Just as the ground welcomes the moisture from the snow, we should keep our hearts open and ready to receive the good plans that God desires to bring into our lives.

No two of us are the same and that’s by God’s design. Each of us have unique, God-given talents and abilities. We each have a divine purpose. Like the snowflake, we are truly a one-of-a-kind masterpiece of God.

“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.” Psalm 139:14 NLT

Next time you see the snow fall I hope it reminds you of how wonderful you are to our heavenly Father. There’s no one else like you.

No two are the same!

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More Than a Building

When you hear the word “church” what do you think of? Is it a building, an event or something more personal?

In this day and age, it has generally been accepted that “the church” isn’t just a building on the corner but is instead those who believe Jesus to be the Son of God, their personal Savior and soon coming King.

However, in years past, it had been the common conviction that a certain building was a holy place and it was there and there alone, that God could be worshipped…

Have you ever heard someone say, “Don’t do that in church or you shouldn’t act like that, you’re in church”? That person is holding a building in reverence. The true church is not made of brick and mortar but of living stones – people set apart and dedicated unto the Lord.

Dave and I had the privilege to hold Cowboy Church meetings at High School, College and Junior Rodeos for several years here in Arizona…Our gatherings were in arena grandstands, pastures, and open clearings next to a set of corrals. This is where the church came together for fellowship and worship.

We were at a Junior Rodeo in Florence, Arizona when I had a mother of one of the competitors tell me that their Youth Pastor had told the kids that if they truly loved the Lord they would have to give up rodeo because it stopped them from coming to church.  You can imagine my shock!

These kids attended every service; they brought their Bibles and listened attentively while the teaching was being given. Then they would leave and go compete in their events. They honored God at every rodeo.  I had one girl come to me crying when one of the services was over. Her horse had pulled up lame and she was beside herself with worry.

I asked if we could go look at her horse together. She took me to where it was. Sure enough, he couldn’t put any weight on his back left leg. There was no way she was going to be able to compete, or at least that is how it appeared.

I asked her a couple of questions – do you love the Lord? Do you know that God loves you? Do you think God is a good God?  She answered yes to all of them. Then I told her we were going to pray and ask the Lord to heal her horse and that I believed He would.

“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy and loving-kindness, O Lord, endure forever—forsake not the works of Your own hands.” Psalm 138:8 AMPC

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3 KJV

I explained these verses to her. Since she was concerned about her horse Psalms stated that God would make perfect the things that concern her. Then in Jeremiah, we are told to call on the Lord and He will show us great and mighty things. So, we were going to pray and tell the Lord what concerned her, ask Him to heal her horse and ask the Lord to show us great things.

We did and He did!

Now that my friend is having church. This young woman left the rodeo that weekend knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that God met her there. She knew He loved her and was involved with what concerned her. Her horse was healed, and she was able to compete, and she gave God all the glory!

We, followers of Christ, are the church and whenever we get together, He is present with us.

A lot has been said about limited gatherings during COVID but a virus can’t stop church. We can experience God’s presence camping, on the phone, through an email, streaming through the airways or with two or three friends.

The Church triumphant is alive, we are alive, and well!

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The Garden Maker

For a few years we lived in Spokane, Washington and our home was close to a wonderfully designed garden, Manito Park. There were ponds, rolling hills, large evergreens, a Japanese garden and a magnificent flower garden. At one time the garden had been the home of a small zoo.

Our daughters and granddaughter skated on the pond in the winter and sledded on the manicured hills. In the Spring and Summer the flower garden was brilliantly dressed in every shade of red, purple, yellow and blue. The walking paths were welcoming to all who came.

But the garden didn’t just come into being on its own. This 90-acre public park was designed in the early 1900’s and completed by 1912. A famous landscape architectural firm was commissioned to design the garden grounds. Since then the city of Spokane has kept the grounds as it was designed.

On any given day there are numerous grounds keepers and volunteers through out the park tending to the plants. The grounds keepers became the focus of my attention last night as I heard a discussion on the resurrection of Christ.

A woman named Mary went to the tomb, where Jesus had been laid, early on Sunday morning after the crucifixion. She was startled to find that Jesus body was no longer there. She was weeping in the garden and she encountered a man she presumed was the gardener and asked if he had taken Jesus body somewhere. She didn’t recognize Him as Jesus.

“The angels asked Mary, “Why are you crying?” She answered, “They have taken away my Lord’s body! I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was. 15 Jesus asked her, “Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener and said, “Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.” 16 Then Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni.” John 20:13-16 CEV

Here was the One who had created all that was in this garden and she assumed He was just a grounds keeper. The Apostle Paul tells us that Jesus laid aside His reputation when He came to earth. Jesus said that He came to minister to the needs of people and not to have the people minister to Him. This is certainly proof of that.

Can you imagine? The master designer of all of creation – sun, moon, stars, planets, oceans, waterfalls, flowers, trees, mammals, fish, birds – Creator of All and He took on a form so common that He could be mistaken for a gardener.

How often are we like Mary and don’t recognize Jesus working in our lives? We get caught up in our daily struggles, trying to fix things on our own when we have the Master Designer, Almighty God, our heavenly Father waiting to help us in any circumstance.

None of us could create the flowers we see in a garden. However, we can know the Creator personally. We can call Him Father and we can trust the plans He has designed for our lives. His plan for us is much greater than a flower’s design.

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 ERV

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Saying Hello

Communication: Phone calls, voicemail, text, IM’s, Skype, Facetime, Zoom – WOW!

Communication has come a long way in the past 50+ years. I remember when I was a small girl there was a postage stamp container on my Grandma’s desk. It held one hundred, Lincoln four cent stamps. That’s all it cost to mail a letter. Next to the stamp container was a big black, desktop, corded, rotary dial telephone.

I also remember that “long distance” phone calls could only be made on weekends, preferrably Sunday afternoons or late in the evenings because the rate for the call was lower. Even then, they were only made once every two or three weeks. We were limited to how long we could talk to friends on the phone, there was no call waiting, so we couldn’t tie up the phone too long. The phone was centrally located, generally on a desk or the wall in the kitchen. No real private conversations. My husband’s memories of one of their first phones was a party line. Several households used the same phone line and you only answered calls that came through with your assigned ring pattern – one long ring, three short, two long rings with one short. You get the idea. And anyone on the line could listen in to your call.

Today, households all across America will be making calls and sending text messages to loved ones that aren’t able to be with us. I have one friend who said she was going to Facetime with her daughter and teach her how to make stuffing according to their family recipe.

We’ll see familiar faces although they are hundreds of miles away and take it all for granted. Making sure there is a strong signal and that batteries are fully charged seems to be the only real consideration.

I still know some old timers who still love to write letters instead of emails and make phone calls to speak personally instead of texting. But the communication I love the best is the one that is as close as my next breath or fills my heart when it is heavy and there seems to be no words.

Jeremiah, a prophet in the Old Testament, was locked up in prison when he had God speak to him. No low battery, lack of cell service, no dropped calls or full voicemail would prevent a call from going through.

“While Jeremiah was still shut up in the open space of the prison, the Word of the Lord came to him a second time, saying, 2 “This is what the Lord says Who made the earth. The Lord made it to last. The Lord is His name. 3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:1-3 NLV

No smart phone needed. No multi-gig data plan. No fee. Unlimited service.

Just want to say hello – call. Need direction – call; need help – call; need the miraculous – call; need a loving touch – call!

Call Him today, He’s waiting to show you the wonderful plans He has in store and I’m thankful for that!

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Take Time to Pray

Did you know there will be a prayer march in Washington D.C. today? Franklin Graham will lead a prayer march from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol Building with several stopping places along the way for specific prayer.

I ask you to take time, whereever you are, to join in prayer with those in Washington.

If you’re like me, you have been praying for this Nation and our leadership for many months now. We are commanded to pray for those in authority.

“First of all, I ask you to pray much for all men and to give thanks for them. 2 Pray for kings and all others who are in power over us so we might live quiet God-like lives in peace. 3 It is good when you pray like this. It pleases God Who is the One Who saves. 4 He wants all people to be saved from the punishment of sin. He wants them to come to know the truth.” I Timothy 2:1-4 NLV

I don’t pray for one political party or another, nor do I pray just for the President. I pray for all members of Congress, the Supreme Court, Governors and local judges. I simply pray that all of our leaders will make just and righteous decisions; decisions that please and honor God as the founders of our nation intended.

And then I pray that we all honor the Lord with our actions and our words. How often do we pray for others to change but first and foremost we must be willing to conform to the person God has called us to be.

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. 17 And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.” Colossians 3:12-17 NLT

Some think of prayer as an action of last resort – a cry of desparation. That it can be! However, I see prayer as a time to talk with my Father telling Him my concerns and seeking His direction and answers. I’ve found it’s much better to get His direction instead of begging Him to get me out of a mess.

“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:3 NLV

Will you join me today in praying for our Nation? Let’s follow the instruction of the Apostle Paul and “Pray without ceasing”.

AMEN!

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