Category: John

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Making an Impact

Yesterday morning shortly after I finished writing this blog our grandkids started waking up. It was time to set aside the computer and instead of posting I watched the sunrise, all the while snuggling in the blanket and getting hugs and kisses…this blog needed to wait.

How will I be remembered? As I went to bed last night that was the question running through my mind.

Three little grandkids tucked in beds. They are 8, 6, and 4; Dave and I are not. We have 2 older grandchildren, 30 and 26. They will remember more about us than the younger ones. I thought about my grandparents. They lived in Iowa, and we lived in Arizona. I only remember them visiting a few times and we only made a couple of trips there.

My one grandmother came to Arizona for a few years after my grandfather died. She remarried and sadly, the only “grandpa” I really knew passed a few years later. Grama moved back to Iowa shortly after that but while she was there, I would walk to her house from my elementary school and have lunch with her.

She was a godly woman, short and always joyful. She was a prayer warrior. Each morning she would pray for her children, her grandchildren, great grandchildren, stepchildren and their children. She prayed for missionaries and friends, her siblings and their children. She did this for decades. She died and went to heaven at the age of 93.

“ I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you.” I Timothy 1:5 NLT

Will my grandchildren remember my faith and my love for the Lord? That’s the legacy I want to leave for them.

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. 35 Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 NLT

They will remember the baby chick pancakes and the big box of craft stuff. They will remember the donuts we bring ea.ch time we come and the special one-on-one time we share around their birthdays. The hunting for rocks, rides in the Razor and swimming together

“In the future your children will ask you, ‘What is the meaning of these laws, decrees, and regulations that the Lord our God has commanded us to obey?’

21 “Then you must tell them,…‘22 The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes,…24 And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. 25 For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us.’” Deuteronomy 6:20-25 NLT

When our grandchildren ask, “why do you love and serve the Lord, why do you read your Bible and pray”, my answer will be “The Lord did miraculous signs and wonders before our eyes”, He has always been faithful to us, and He will be faithful to you!

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You Are Loved

This morning I have spent some time looking at pictures from four years ago. You see, this is a very special day, it’s our youngest granddaughter’s birthday. This afternoon, all three of our youngest grandkids will be coming for a sleepover. I love being a Bestamor.

I don’t imagine that God has photo albums; He doesn’t need them. We are always present in His thinking. From the day we accept Christ as our Saviour and become a part of His family He takes special interest in us, He even knows the number of hairs on our head.

“What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.

8 “I tell you the truth, everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, the Son of Man will also acknowledge in the presence of God’s angels.” Luke 12:6-8 NLT

Even before we accepted Christ He loved us.

“When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:6-8 NLT

Do you see that? Willing to die. There’s a common expression, “that’s to die for”. It’s used to describe excitement over a new car, a good meal, a vacation – but when God used that expression, He was talking about us.

We are that precious and valuable to Him.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NLT

As a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother I feel I have a big capacity to love but as much as I love it isn’t even close to the depth of the love God has for us.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT

May your day be filled with the thought of this very thing, you are loved so deeply that you were “to die for”.

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Light the World

In my quiet time, I began to sing. The first song that came to my heart was “In My Life Lord be Glorified”.

We talked about it the last week – David was able to defeat Goliath so all the world would know there was a God in Israel (I Samuel 17:46). Daniel spent the night with lions and came out unscathed and the king proclaimed that God, was the true god, to be worshipped. (Daniel 6:26-27). Esther went from being a peasant girl to queen that saved the Jewish people from annihilation, “for such a time as this”. (Esther 4:14) Finally Paul stood before the elite of Athens at the altar they set aside for “the unknown god” and said let me tell you who this unknown god is – then he told them about Jesus. (Acts 17:22-24).

God wants to be glorified in our lives!

When we honor and exalt Him we are bold; we are strong; we are confident. Not in our own abilities but in His. Jesus said about Himself:

“However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. 38 For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. 39 And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.” John 6:37-39 NLT

We also have a calling from the Father to do His will.

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

18 And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. 19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. 20 So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” II Corinthians 5:17-20 NLT

God will always have a voice, it is yours and mine.

“For God, who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT

Let’s be that light, be the voice; let the world see God through us.

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The Price is Paid

For the next few days we will be going through Isaiah 55. It is a wonderful chapter, filled with promises of God for those who love Him.

A couple days back we talked about heart health. I truly believe that one of the biggest worries people have concerns finances. Worried when they don’t have enough and when they are financially prosperous, they worry that they may lose it.

“Is anyone thirsty?  Come and drink— even if you have no money! Come, take your choice of wine or milk— it’s all free! 2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength? Why pay for food that does you no good? Listen to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the finest food.” vs. 1-2 NLT

When God, the Father, first established a relationship with Abraham, the man who would be the father of the nation of Israel, God promised to be his provider.

“Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.’…18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:14-18 NLT

Because of our relationship with Christ we have become a descendant of Abraham and the blessings and promises God made to him are also available to us as his descendants. Paul, the Apostle, wrote this:

“Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:14 NLT

The Lord delivered Abraham’s descendants from the bondage of Egypt and He provided for them while they wandered in the desert.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever…For he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:1, 9 NLT

One of the first teachings Jesus gave is what many call the Sermon on the Mount. A multitude was following Jesus – they longed to hear what He had to say. So, from the mountainside Jesus delivered this message:

“Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are happy, because they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6 NLV

and His message continued

“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?…So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Matthew 6:25-33 NLT

We are more precious than the birds. When we give our lives to Christ, we become children of God, most high.

Thirsty?

“…Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” John 7:37-39 NLT

Come drink. Our heavenly Father has provided for our needs!

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Time for a Checkup

Nothing says back-to-normal-routine quite like a medical checkup. Our second day home and Dave got a voice message reminding him he has a routine checkup on Monday.

One of my least favorite things is the stack of papers we receive at nearly every medical appointment. It’s the same form from last year, I’ve always felt the first question on should be “has anything changed since your last visit”. If no, then you should get to go to the end of the forms and sign your name. But it doesn’t work like that, does it?

You answer all the questions on paper and then you are asked them again once you’re in the exam room. Since I’m following out this train of thought I have a question for you.

Do you have heart trouble? Has anyone in your family had heart issues? Are there triggers in your life that have or are now affecting your heart?

Then let me write you a prescription that will cure that immediately.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1 KJV

My Mom was such a sweet soul but she was a worrier and occasionally I find myself showing signs of that same dis – ease.

When we read through the Gospels and look at the life of Jesus, we see that He led a campaign for heart heath. His words were often “peace, be still”, “fear not”, “be not afraid”. Jesus spoke the words above to his disciples right before His crucifixion. If anything would cause “heart trouble” for them, it would be this. Jesus’ command was don’t be troubled.

“My son, pay attention to my words and be willing to learn; Open your ears to my sayings. 21 Do not let them escape from your sight; Keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, And healing and health to all their flesh. 23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:20-23 AMP

King Solomon knew that the way to prevent “heart trouble” was to pay attention to God’s word. It provides health and healing to all who choose to live by it.

If you are experiencing heart trouble this morning, I’m sending you to my cardiologist, He’s never lost a patient yet.

“But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you. 27 Peace I leave with you; My [perfect] peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. [Let My perfect peace calm you in every circumstance and give you courage and strength for every challenge.]” John 14:26-287 AMP

Keep your heart healthy – fear not!

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Warning Signs

Last night I was awaken to the sound of the emergency weather warning going off so where in the house.

When we were watching the nightly news the weather man said that there was danger of high winds later in the night. He was apparently he was right.

The thing we have here in the desert with the high winds is blowing dust that takes you 0 visibility immediately and at night you rarely have the opportunity to see it coming from the distance.

When I was little we lived in a small Arizona town called Gila Bend. I was down playing at friend’s when my Mom saw a dust storm coming. She sent my older brother to find me and bring me home. Before we got to the house the wind hit us. My brother was smart enough to have us turn our backs to the wind. He stood directly behind me and since he was taller, he was able to shield me from the stinging sand.

As soon as the winds lightened we ran for home. Safe!

Society has given us so many warning signs. They’re on the highway – Narrow Bridge Ahead, Watch for Elk/Deer, Icy When Wet. We see them in our vehicles – Check Engine, Tire Sensor, Back Up beepers.

Our homes have motion sensors, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide readers. Restaurants publish food allergy warnings on their menus and don’t even get me started on the “side effect” warnings on the prescription medication commercials.

Warning Signs, they’re everywhere and with their frequency comes a deafness to the seriousness of the warning.

Some people are deaf to the warnings of the Bible too.

25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.“ Luke 21:25-28 NKJV

These things are happening all over the world – they are warnings signs to those who are without Christ. “Look up your redemption draws near”.

They are also warnings to those who do follow Christ.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3 NLV

We’re not supposed to be frightened by what we see. Instead, we are to be wise in our manner of living, reaching out to reassure those who are anxious and afraid. We should be delivering a message of hope and faith. Trust in the Lord!

The morning and evening news should be our ”emergency broadcast system” warning signal. But there’s no need to be afraid; let’s put our trust in God.

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Looking Up

I love taking pictures of clouds. In fact, the other morning, dressed in my jammies, I went out and crawled up on the flatbed of the truck so I could get a good shot of the sunrise.

Dave used to tease that I would probably be taking pictures of the clouds on the day the Lord returns and splits the sky! Oh, I hope so, that would be an amazing photo!

But, while I am always looking up at the skyline, many think that we as Christians have our heads buried in the sand like an ostrich, afraid to see things as they really are.

Not true! Our heads aren’t in the sand, they are in the sky. When our focus is up, we can be in perfect peace even in the worst circumstances.

Peace – perfect peace!

Looking at things the way the rest of the world does blurs the truth and causes you to “try” to fix things by ourselves. Being self-centered is a true recipe for disaster. Being God-centered is a place of peace and rest.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:” Isaiah 26:3-4 KJV

“The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. 4 So always trust the Lord because he is forever our mighty rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4CEV

Looking up has been an analogy for salvation throughout the Bible. In Moses day, the Israelites were dying in the desert because of an outbreak of snakes in their midst. This is what the Lord had Moses do.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” Numbers 21:8 NKJV

Hundreds of years later, Jesus made reference to that very same incident when He was talking with Nicodemus, the man who came to Him at night, asking about salvation.

“ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16 NKJV

We followers of Christ have a hope for the future that others do not have. We must remember where our strength and peace come from.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2-3 NKJV

Keep looking up dear friends – that’s where our help comes from!

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Table Friends

Growing up I didn’t have family close by. Mom and Dad moved to Arizona from Iowa a year before I was born. Dad needed to be in a more conducive work environment; he was in construction and the harsh Iowa winters kept him from working for several months at a time.

Anyway, our newfound friends became family. It didn’t matter that we lived in a trailer and had a small living space, Mom would have Dad put up the card tables in the living room for us kids while the adults sat around the table in the kitchen. There was always laughter and plenty of good food.

I also remember the signs of struggle as the adults would talk softly and occasionally a napkin was used to wipe away the tears. That part of loving relationships has stayed with me all my life. I was thinking about those friends this morning…

When you think of the people around, those you share your life with, would you say they are friends or just acquaintances? What makes some relationships treasured and others only casual?

Are there relationships you would like to deepen; those folks you admire but just don’t seem to have enough time with? What do you do to try to increase the bond with these special people?

Maybe you invite them to lunch or perhaps have them come for dinner. They are welcome in your home and having them visit for several days is never a chore but a delight. You learn about their likes and dislikes – how they like their coffee and favorite dessert. It’s important to treat them special!

Now that you’re thinking of these people and how they tug at your heart, you can understand what the Apostle Paul wrote about one of his relationships.

“All I want now is Christ. 9 I want to belong to him. In Christ I am right with God, but my being right does not come from following the law. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in Christ to make me right with him. 10 All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him from death…” Philippians 3:8-10 ERV

Do you have a desire to know Christ the way Paul did?

Clear your schedule today. Make a lunch or dinner date and invite Jesus to attend. I guarantee He will show up, he wants to spend time with you more than you want to spend time with Him!

“ You are My friends if you do what I tell you. 15 I do not call you servants that I own anymore. A servant does not know what his owner is doing. I call you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from My Father.” John 15:14-15 NLV

Learn about Him, develop your relationship, sit at the table, share fellowship with the One who loves you most. I can assure you it will be the best friendship you’ve ever cultivated!

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More Than Expected

I love the mornings when I wake up thinking about the goodness of God!

Frankly, I used to have mornings when I would dread getting up because I knew the day was going to be chaotic and at times confrontational. I went to sleep focused on a problem and it would be the first thing on my mind when I greeted the day. But now, most mornings I am in awe of God’s love.

Do you want to know what was on my mind this morning?

“God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers 17 and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18  I pray that you and all God’s people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep.19 I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.

20-21 I pray that Christ Jesus and the church will forever bring praise to God. His power at work in us can do far more than we dare ask or imagine. Amen.” Ephesians 3:16-21 CEV

God is wonderful and He wants us to know and experience the depth of His unconditional, unending, immeasurable love!

There is nothing more powerful than the love of God because God is the full embodiment of love and He wants to fill our lives with all He is. To be filled with that love, that power, working in us is certainly more than I could possibly imagine or ask for.

Our heavenly Father’s desire is to live through us so that we are experiencing the fullest life ever.

“I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 ERV

Those aren’t my words, those come from the Apostle Paul who was writing to Christians who were young in the faith. He wanted them to know, and us to know also, the amazing depth of His love and commitment to us.

It truly is so much greater than anything we could dream of, imagine or ask for but that’s how God is!

When Christ came to earth one of His names was Immanuel meaning God with us. This is so much more than a baby in a manger. This is Christ, the full expression of the Godhead, making us complete and providing all that we need to live the same type of life that He lived while He was on earth.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:10 AMP

More than expected? Absolutely. Our heavenly Father has a life planned for us that is beyond our dreams.

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Joy, Joy, Joy

When I was a little girl we sang a song in Sunday School. “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart…down in my heart to stay”.

And when I was a teenager we sang, “Jeremiah was a bullfrog. Was a good friend of mine…Joy to the world, all the boys and girls”.

At Christmas time we sing, “Joy to the world, the Lord has come”.

Each day I wake with a joyful heart, not because life is perfect but because the Lord promises to never leave or abandon me. His grace is sufficient to carry me through my storms and disappointments. He heals my broken heart , restores my soul and gives me joy!

Today my joy is just a little more exuberant! Had a wonderful time yesterday with Dave, Kim, Austin, Kaci, Stephen and Kaci’s littles. We missed Koy and Kym. (I hate that they live so far away.)

It was a day of giggles and hugs, love and laughter. Kisses and tickles. It was a day of family.

When I put the word joy into the search engine of my Bible app this morning it came up with 444 references on joy. Oh my, yes, our heavenly Father wants our life here on earth to be joy-filled.

“ But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things.” Galatians 5:22-23 ERV

Just like fruit grows in an orchard or vegetables sprout in a garden, the Lord plants seeds that will produce fruit in our lives and the Holy Spirit is the gardener Who is always there to see that they grow.

In the hard times, and there will be hard times, the Lord is there to sustain us.

“Lord, hear my prayer, and be kind to me. Lord, help me!” 11 You have changed my sorrow into dancing. You have taken away my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. 12 You wanted me to praise you and not be silent.  Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” Psalm 30:10-12 ERV

Jesus knows what it’s like to face life’s worst circumstances. The night of His arrest He spent time with His apostles talking to them about the anxiety they would feel. Speaking peace into their hearts and telling them to ask the Father for what they needed and then they would be filled with joy.

“Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive. Then your joy will be full.” John 16:24 NLV

Joy is an emotion but it’s also a decision. It’s the act of letting God’s goodness always reign in our hearts. When we are weak His joy gives us strength.

“You have not seen Christ, but still you love him. You can’t see him now, but you believe in him. You are filled with a wonderful and heavenly joy that cannot be explained.” I Peter 1:8 ERV

“…Today is a special day to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong.” Nehemiah 8:10 ERV

I hear the birds outside and each morning they wake singing praise to the Lord. Their joy is contagious. Yes, this morning I will sing, “I have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Down in my heart to stay.

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