Category: July2018

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Circle of Influence

Each one of us has a sphere of influence. Each one of us has a specific purpose that God has called us to.

Joshua’s calling was to replace Moses and lead the children of Israel into the promised land. What a daunting task! But God made him a promise and spoke words of encouragement into his life.

What has God called you to do? Does it seem overwhelming and near impossible? Then these words to Joshua are for you too. If God has called you to do something, then He will also empower you for the task.

Replace Joshua’s name with yours and meditate on God’s promise to you today.

“Joshua, you must be strong and brave! You must lead these people so that they can take their land. I promised their fathers that I would give them this land. 7 But you must be strong and brave about obeying the commands my servant Moses gave you. If you follow his teachings exactly, you will be successful in everything you do. 8 Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:6-9 CEV

Be strong, be brave! I am with you – what better promises could you have.

Let’s look at some of the regular people in the Bible. People who weren’t the lead players but without their involvement the story would have greatly changed.

We always hear about Noah but without the help of his three sons I doubt the ark would have ever been built.  Then there’s the Egyptian servant girl who went down into the Nile River and retrieved Moses from the bulrushes. Hers was a vital mission but menial.

Consider the innkeeper who allowed Joseph and Mary to stay in the stable. He is only briefly mentioned but his role was paramount. Do you remember anyone who has ever given a message on the owner of the donkey that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday? Or what about the carpenter who constructed the cross?

All of these people had very important roles to fulfill but gained no notoriety.

What role have you been called to fill?

I once received a phone call from a very gifted singer. Years ago she had been on the worship team in our church. She sang like an angel. People would be spell bound as she sang. She was anointed.

She was frustrated because it seemed that all the avenues to her having a recording made were blocked. She said to me “I just want to use this gift God has given me”.  She was working as a nanny at the time.

Here is what I found myself saying. If you use your voice to sing to the little children in your care and the Holy Spirit uses your songs to impact them, who’s to say that they don’t grow up to become the next Billy Graham and change the world for Christ. Whatever you are doing, do it for the Lord.

“ Let the teaching of Christ live inside you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 Everything you say and everything you do should be done for Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.” Colossians 3:16-17 ERV

When Joshua was a young man I don’t think he knew that he would become Moses replacement. He just did what he was good at and the Lord moved him in to the right place.

I used to think that it would be great if I could teach God’s word to large crowds. I love to teach – I know it’s what I’m called to do. However, I have never filled a large auditorium, much less a stadium. But I am happy with the circle of influence that I have among my family, my friends and through this blog and social media.

If you’re  a good cook, woodworker,  musician, business administrator, internet genius, policeman, fire fighter, nurse, homemaker, mom or dad – you have a circle of influence that no one else can fill.

Take the words the Lord gave Joshua and go for it!

Be strong, be brave. Don’t be afraid. The Lord goes everywhere with you!

 

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Enjoy a Good Meal

I love the way the Father gives me examples of Christian life. This morning He showed me something about my routine that reflects on Him.

“Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty.” John 6:35 ERV

My morning starts with letting  Glory out, starting the coffee, feeding her and then coming to the couch where the she joins me as soon as she has eaten.

Each morning she knows that I will feed her and she is waiting for me. But it’s what happens after she eats that means so much. Glory jumps on the couch and lays her head in my lap. She comes to be loved on. After a few minutes she moves away a bit but stays  close.

So the Father showed me that this is what He wants our daily routine to be like. Coming to Him to get nourishment, eating from His word but staying close so that He can love on us.

He doesn’t want our Bible reading to be “drudgery”. We should be excited to come, eat and then stay to be loved on. God’s word is a wonderful love letter but it’s also a banquet, a meal that will strengthen us and provide all we need for each day.

“All you people who are thirsty, come! Here is water for you to drink. Don’t worry if you have no money. Come, eat and drink until you are full! You don’t need money. The milk and wine are free. 2 Why waste your money on something that is not real food? Why should you work for something that does not really satisfy you? Listen closely to me and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the food that satisfies your soul. 3 Listen closely to what I say.
 Listen to me so that you will live. I will make an agreement with you that will last forever. It will be an agreement you can trust, like the one I made with David—a promise to love him and be loyal to him forever.” Isaiah 55:1-3 ERV

But don’t eat and run. Stay. Visit. Develop a loving relationship. Make it a routine! Be ready to spend time, loving time, with the Father.

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Good Deeds Can Change A Life

The truth in the title of this morning’s blog is overwhelming! Good deeds can change a life, will change a life, and more than likely the life that will be changed is ours!

I am going to pose a question  that I have asked myself.

When you are doing something nice for someone, do you ever hear “they probably won’t appreciate this anyway” going off in your head? If so, you’re not alone. I have dealt with that for years and have had to come face to face with my answer.

Definitely a motive check-up. I Corinthians 13, “the love chapter” tells us that if we martyr ourselves and it isn’t motivated by love then it profits us nothing. “I’m giving all my time to do this or that and no one will really appreciate it anyway – no one is going to know how hard I worked, how I gave up sleep, how much it cost me to do this nice thing”. All these are wrong motives!

I spend nearly every day reading these verses from Colossians 3. I find they keep me focused for everyday life. I don’t try to live a “good” life because I have too; I truly want my life to reflect God’s goodness and love.

“You were raised from death with Christ. So live for what is in heaven, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Think only about what is up there, not what is here on earth. 3 Your old self has died, and your new life is kept with Christ in God. 4 Yes, Christ is now your life, and when he comes again, you will share in his glory…

8 But now put these things out of your life: anger, losing your temper, doing or saying things to hurt others, and saying shameful things. 9 Don’t lie to each other. You have taken off those old clothes—the person you once were and the bad things you did then. 10 Now you are wearing a new life, a life that is new every day. You are growing in your understanding of the one who made you. You are becoming more and more like him. 11 In this new life it doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, circumcised or not. It doesn’t matter if you speak a different language or even if you are a Scythian. It doesn’t matter if you are a slave or free. Christ is all that matters, and he is in all of you.” Colossians 3:1-11 CEV

Years ago I would do things for people  to get them to like or accept me. What a destructive force that can be! I was so insecure in who I was that I needed constant confirmation from others that I was lovable. Then I heard a wonderful godly woman, Dale Evans Rogers, speak in our college chapel service about God’s love, His unconditional love, and it got through.

Knowing that God loves me, really loves me, is the only acceptance that I need.  I went from doing things for people to get them to like and accept me to doing the same things because I really loved those people and I wanted them to know they were loved and appreciated. A complete 180 degree change in motivation.

So when this thought sprang up “they probably won’t even appreciate this”, and my response back was  “I appreciate them and I want them to know that they are special” the question of motive was answered.

Seems when we are tired and under stress that our motives come into question. Satan knows when we are weak and he tries to kick us when we’re down. He’s such a creep – he did the same to Jesus. After a 40 day fast he tempted Jesus with food,  “IF you are the son of God, turn these stones to bread”. His tactics with us will be the same, recognize them and  walk in the same strength and victory that Jesus did.

Today, face the challenges and make your motivation one of love without expecting anything in return. I take it very seriously when I hear others begin to speak badly about people. I know what it’s like to be talked about and I also know what it’s like to have the Lord correct me for that. I want to give the same kind of love to others that Jesus has given to me.

“I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love.
4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 6 Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits.
8 Love will never end.” I Corinthians 13:3-8 CEV

Doing one good deed for others may change their life. It will change our life too!

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A Time to Celebrate

Happy Anniversary everyone! Yes, we are celebrating the 1st Anniversary of the morning blog.

I’ve been sharing for years on Facebook but it wasn’t until mid-July last year that a dear friend, Tom, set up this blog for me. I hope you have been encouraged by God’s Word as you joined me during the past year.

The other day I was watching a television show and one of the characters made a comment about her grandmother. She said, “Gran faces crises in such a quiet way. She just prays. I can’t sit and do nothing like she does. I have to act.”

I’ve been mulling that over and I’m sure that many people feel that way. They think that praying is an inactive, passive way of handling life’s challenges.

Far from it!

What an appropriate Scripture was part of my reading this morning. It’s filled with action.

“Give thanks to the Lord and call out to him! Tell the nations what he has done!
2 Sing to him; sing praises to him. Tell about the amazing things he has done.
3 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 105:1-5 ERV

Look at all those action words; Give, Call, Tell, Sing, Be Proud, Be Happy, Depend, Go, Remember.  Far from a passive life.

There have been times when people have asked me to pray about something specific. A thing that they thought was completely overwhelming. We would pray and they would see the answer powerfully. Then a few weeks later they would be call in a panic and ask me to pray  about another crisis, as if they had completely forgotten about the way the Lord had provided the last time.

We need to continually remind ourselves of all the amazing things that God has done in us, through us and for us. This will not only encourage us when we face the next challenge, big or small, but it will also be a reminder to those around us of the goodness of our Father.

“My soul, praise the Lord! Every part of me, praise his holy name!
2 My soul, praise the Lord and never forget how kind he is!
3 He forgives all our sins and heals all our sicknesses.
4 He saves us from the grave, and he gives us love and compassion.
5 He gives us plenty of good things. He makes us young again, like an eagle that grows new feathers.” Psalm 103:1-5 ERV

The psalmist David talks to his “soul” in this Psalm. Our soul is our very core; the heart of our emotions and stability. How important it is that we follow David’s instruction to never forget.

I think that’s one of the reasons I love the early morning so much. It gives me time to remember and to rehearse what the Lord has done in the past, strengthening me to face this day and all that it has. Part of that reminiscing is prompted by the birds that rise before dawn – quail, dove, hummingbirds, sparrows, finches, meadowlarks, whippoorwills. The first thing they do every morning is sing!

Jesus told us that the Father loves and cares for the birds but we mean so much more to Him than they do. So shouldn’t we start our day like them, singing?

“So I tell you, don’t worry about the things you need to live—what you will eat, drink, or wear. Life is more important than food, and the body is more important than what you put on it. 26 Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are? 27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it… “Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things. 33 What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what he wants you to do. Then he will give you all these other things you need.” Matthew 6:25-33 ERV

During the last year I hope you have been stimulated in your faith; trusting the Lord more today than you did last year at this time.

Join me in having a piece of cake, singing to the Lord, remembering His goodness from the past and praising Him for the year ahead.

God bless you all.

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A Blank Page

Each morning is a blank page and our words and actions are the ink.

How will we fill it?

We have become so accustomed to the advancements of the computer than some have forgotten what it was like before we had a delete button. If we made a mistake with our writing our only choices were to cross out the mistake or get a clean sheet and start over.

I remember how long it took me to write my term paper when I was a Senior in High School. Painstakingly working on the final paper, making sure every word was spelled correctly and the punctuation was right. It had to be perfect…

I am so thankful that the Lord makes allowances for our mistakes. In fact, with each sunrise He gives us new mercy for the day.

“The Lord’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. 23 The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. 24 Deep in my heart I say, “The Lord is all I need;  I can depend on him!” Lamentations 3:22-24 CEV

Since the Lord is faithful to us, we should extend the same mercy to those around us. We are not only filling our own page but we will be writing on the page of others.

” Intelligent people choose their words carefully. Those who know what they are doing remain calm. 28 Silent fools seem wise. They say nothing and appear to be smart.” Proverbs 17:27-28 ERV

Today we have the opportunity to add value to our life and those around us.

“Saying the right thing at the right time is like a golden apple in a silver setting. 12 Wise advice to a listening ear is like gold earrings or fine jewelry.” Proverbs 25:11-12

We have probably all seen images of redacted government reports,  the ones where the pages are filled with blacked out information and comments. We don’t want our life’s pages looking like that. Instead we fill our pages with kindness.

“Share with God’s people who need help. Look for people who need help and welcome them into your homes.

14 Wish only good for those who treat you badly. Ask God to bless them, not curse them. 15 When others are happy, you should be happy with them. And when others are sad, you should be sad too. 16 Live together in peace with each other. Don’t be proud, but be willing to be friends with people who are not important to others. Don’t think of yourself as smarter than everyone else.

17 If someone does you wrong, don’t try to pay them back by hurting them. Try to do what everyone thinks is right. 18 Do the best you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:13-118 CEV

Let’s choose our words wisely today and if we aren’t sure what to say, say nothing at all.

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A Love Letter for All Time

I quite often refer to God’s Word as His love letter to us. A love letter for all time!

I have saved a box of love letters from Dave. When we were dating he lived in California and I was here in Arizona. Every few years I take them out and read them. They remind me of how this wonderful life begin.

This morning I was reading back through some devotional thoughts I shared on Facebook about 5 years ago. We were back in Iowa and little did I know that the day after writing this I would be in the hospital fighting my most painful battle. It was important for me to read this and see where my heart was that day.

and so it goes…

Each day I am thankful that God has allowed me to share His word with you. I don’t know where I would be without the Father’s love or His wonderful love letter, His Word! In fact, I don’t even want to think about what my life would be without Him.

God’s Word has brought  forgiveness of sins, health to my body, peace to my soul, healing for my children, enrichment to my marriage, wisdom when my human intellect was lacking, protection in physical and emotional storms and safety in the face of danger. God’s promises have let me know that He would always supply and He always has. But I do have to tell you, it hasn’t always been this way. I lived a defeated life for a long time until I saw in God’s word that He had made provision for more than eternal life and that He wanted me to live victoriously while I was here on earth.

All of God’s promises are the same. His Word is for everyone but we don’t all see the same results. Why? We must appropriate what God has given us; simply put we must believe it regardless of how we feel or what circumstances tell us we should believe.

There have been days that I wake up and don’t feel very saved; my salvation isn’t founded on my feelings, it’s based on God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice. There are days that I wake up and may not feel healed but I am because it’s based on God’s promise and Jesus’ sacrifice.

The circumstances told Jesus and his disciples there wasn’t enough lunch to feed 5000 men with five loaves and two fish but the blessing of God flowed and there was more than enough.

The circumstances said to the apostles all hope was gone and they should hide after the crucifixion but the power of God was released through His Word and resurrection came! The medical world said nothing could be done for the woman with the issue of blood but just one touch brought healing to her body. Yes, the word of God changes our circumstances when we believe; it’s called faith! Not faith in ourselves, but faith in God’s unchanging, unfailing love.

Let the words of David’s Psalm be real in your life today.

“You can go to God Most High to hide. You can go to God All-Powerful for protection. 2 I say to the LORD, “You are my place of safety, my fortress, My God, I trust in you.” 3 God will save you from hidden dangers and from deadly diseases.
4 You can go to him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield. 5 You will have nothing to fear at night and no need to be afraid of enemy arrows during the day. 6 You will have no fear of diseases that come in the dark or terrible suffering that comes at noon.
7 A thousand people may fall dead at your side or ten thousand right beside you, but nothing bad will happen to you! 8 All you will have to do is watch, and you will see that the wicked are punished. 9 You trust in the LORD for protection. You have made God Most High your place of safety. 10 So nothing bad will happen to you. No diseases will come near your home.
11 He will command his angels to protect you wherever you go. 12 Their hands will catch you so that you will not hit your foot on a rock. 13 You will have power to trample on lions and poisonous snakes. 14 The Lord says, “If someone trusts me, I will save them. I will protect my followers who call to me for help.
15 When my followers call to me, I will answer them. I will be with them when they are in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. 16 I will give my followers a long life and show them my power to save.” Psalm 91 ERV

These are the words that I had going through my heart laying in the back of the ambulance. These are the words I focused on in the emergency room and these are the words that gave me strength and brought me home safely.

These words were my love letter from the Father and I placed my confidence in Him.

What are circumstances telling you? Are they demanding you give up and quit? Do they say you’ll never recover?

Read your circumstances the words of love that you have on your end table or in your computer. Read them God’s promises – they never fail.

The Bible truly is a love letter for all time!

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Rain Brings Life

 Here in Arizona it’s monsoon season. This is our rainy time of year. The time when the desert comes to life!

From mid-June to mid-September we are blessed with the sounds and smell of rain. The earthen water tanks fill to overflowing, the cacti drink in this precious moisture and the smell of the desert after the rain is indescribable.

Sometimes it comes with flashes of lightning, crashing thunder and strong winds. The lightning storms are truly something to behold. The birds take flight and relish the refreshing waters.

We love it!

To be perfectly honest, I used to be bothered by the thunder and lightning. I hated to have it come in the middle of the night. I always enjoyed the rain but the sounds of the storm were disconcerting. Over time I have learned to be at peace in the midst of the storm, I have learned to trust. (Sounds like practical application of yesterday’s blog.) Anyway…this morning I want to share with you some Scriptures on peace.

Sitting here this morning, I have the doors and windows open. The air is cool, the birds are singing and the dawn is breaking. How beautiful it is to sit in the quiet of the morning and let the Lord speak to my heart.

Peace is an internal condition – there have always been wars or conflict; but peace is the sense of well being in our souls – peace that passes understanding because it goes beyond the natural way of thinking to a place of trust and rest in God and His goodness.

“The rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return there without giving water to the earth. This makes plants grow on the earth, and gives seeds to the planter and bread to the eater. 11 So My Word which goes from My mouth will not return to Me empty. It will do what I want it to do, and will carry out My plan well. 12 You will go out with joy, and be led out in peace. The mountains and the hills will break out into sounds of joy before you. And all the trees of the field will clap their hands. ” Isaiah 55:10-12 NLV

Just like rain causes the seeds to sprout and grass to grow, God’s word causes peace and joy to grow in our lives. God’s word, like a seed, planted in our hearts will bring a harvest.

“May all the children-to-come fear You as long as the sun and the moon last. 6 May He come down like rain upon the cut grass, like rain that waters the earth. 7 In His days may all go well with those who are right and good. And may there be much peace until the moon is no more.” Psalm 72:5-7 NLV

Enjoy the rain today. Before you know it, you will also be enjoying the harvest!

 

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About To Sink

Think about this. You’re an experienced fisherman and you know how to handle yourself on the sea. You know the capability of your boat, the right tack to take through rough waters and how to use the wind to your advantage.

But tonight a storm comes up, one you didn’t see coming. No problem, you’re experienced, probably one of the best seamen around. However, you’re tired.

You’ve spent all day at a conference, an open air meeting,  you’ve heard some things that could be life changing. Things you don’t want to forget and want to use daily to change the way you’ve been thinking and handling things.

But this storm…you’ve got to weather this storm, get some rest and then you’ll start applying what you learned tomorrow.

The weather started getting rough, the ship was being tossed (no, not Gilligan’s Island) and you’re taking on water. Everyone on board is doing what you tell them to do, they are all working together, except for that one guy who’s sleeping in the back of the boat.

That’s right. I said sleeping. He was the main speaker at the conference today and so I guess he must be exhausted but how can he sleep? The boat is filling with water, he’s getting wet and being tossed from side to side but still he sleeps. Doesn’t he care that you’re about to go under?!?!?!

Jesus! wake up. Don’t you care that we are about to sink?

“Jesus was in the back of the boat with his head on a pillow, and he was asleep. His disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re about to drown?” 39 Jesus got up and ordered the wind and the waves to be quiet. The wind stopped, and everything was calm.” Mark 4:38-39 CEV

Jesus was at peace and didn’t let the storm affect him. He was trusting God’s Word.

“Because you have made the Lord your safe place, and the Most High the place where you live, 10 nothing will hurt you. No trouble will come near your tent. 11 For He will tell His angels to care for you and keep you in all your ways. ” Psalm 91:9-11 NLV

There are so many verses like this where God promises to be our protection and provision. Jesus knew He could trust God to be his protection. He wanted his disciples to have that same confidence.

“Jesus asked his disciples, “Why were you afraid? Don’t you have any faith?” Mark 4:40 CEV

He had been teaching earlier that day and told them that the Word is like seed and if you plant it, it will grow and bear fruit. But it has to be protected.

When they got in the ship, Jesus said to them, let us go to the other side. He didn’t say let’s go 1/2 way across and sink. Now here’s the kicker – handling our problems and applying “the Word” tomorrow when things are better and I can really meditate on it could be disastrous.

“The seeds that fell among the thornbushes are also people who hear the message. 19 But they start worrying about the needs of this life. They are fooled by the desire to get rich and to have all kinds of other things. So the message gets choked out, and they never produce anything. ” Mark 4:18-19 CEV

Jesus had sown the Word earlier in the day. He said,  “Let’s go to the other side”. Then thorns or the cares of this life, in the form of a storm, came immediately to choke the Word out. Jesus could sleep because He was care free. Peter and the others were panicked because they were care (worry) full.

What is causing you to be care full today? Find out what God’s word has to say about it,  remove the thorns.

Go to the other side in victory!

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How Much is ALL

Not all of our time in West Glacier was spent working. We did take one day and travel through Glacier National Park. We went on Going to the Sun Road, saw St. Maries Lake and Many Glacier. We stopped at Many Glacier for lunch. The view from the deck of the Lodge was amazing. It was impossible to take in all the beauty.

I kept thinking God made ALL of this. He made if for our enjoyment. All of His creation tells of His glory.

ALL – is an absolute – not some, not part – not by special selection but ALL. The Bible has much to say about all. God loves ALL of us.

“God makes people right through their faith in Jesus Christ. He does this for all who believe in Christ. Everyone is the same. 23 All have sinned and are not good enough to share God’s divine greatness. 24 They are made right with God by his grace. This is a free gift. They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ.” Romans 3:22-24ERV

The righteousness of God, right standing with God, is for ALL and to ALL who will believe because there is no one who has his own righteousness. We have ALL sinned. Our salvation is not predicated on how good we are, our social standing, our financial statement, our academic degrees, political party or our natural citizenship. It is ONLY based on what Jesus did to bring salvation to ALL. Our part is to receive the gift.

More ALL verses to contemplate today.
” Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:” Colossians 2:8-10

All God’s fullness of power and deity are in Christ and when we are in Christ we are complete in Him. He invests His fullness in to our lives as well. That’s just too good to be true you might say. Read this:

” 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 of 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.” Ephesians 3:17-19 CEV

When we understand the love of God by experience, His true unconditional love, we will be filled with ALL God’s fulness! Amazing!! Amazing grace in giving us freely this gift. The Gospel message really is the nearly too good to be true news!! The Apostle Paul prayed that we would know this fullness of God’s love.

He also gave us a few other absolute “ALL” verses.
” I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:13

” I pray that God will take care of all your needs with the wonderful blessings that come from Christ Jesus! ” Philippians 4:19

If you haven’t accepted God’s free gift of grace that brings salvation, all you have to do is accept it with a sincere heart because it’s available to ALL.

” The Lord is not slow about keeping His promise as some people think. He is waiting for you. The Lord does not want any person to be punished forever. He wants all people to be sorry for their sins and turn from them.” II Peter 3:9

Be ALL God created you to be!

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Steps Away

Dave and I were up early this morning, 3:15, to be exact. We had a plane to catch.

 

For the last week we have been with friends in West Glacier, MT. They purchased a cabin that needed some renovating and so we were asked to  help with the projects. We worked very hard but had a wonderful time.

When we all got tired, and we did, the thing that kept us on track was the vision that they have for their property. You see they call their cabin, Steps Away. Yes, it’s Steps Away from the entrance to Glacier Park and steps away from the Village of West Glacier with a rafting company, restaurant, bar, gift shop, post office, ice cream parlor and other fun places.

Our friends plan to offer Steps Away as a home for vacation rental, family reunions, gatherings of friends and they want it to be as comfortable as possible. We were so glad to help.

As we were driving to the airport this morning I was struck with the similarity of getting the cabin guest-friendly and our walk with the Lord. Our friends have a vision for the cabin’s appearance; it has a destiny. But to arrive at that destiny there is work involved. Exhausting work on some days, all culminating with a wonderful end.

You and I also have a destiny. We are being renewed in the image of Christ. Some days the renovations can be exhausting but we keep our focus on the result and move forward.

“The steps of a good man are led by the Lord. And He is happy in his way. 24 When he falls, he will not be thrown down, because the Lord holds his hand.”   Psalm 37:23  NLV

Three Bible personalities came to mind as I thought about our steps being ordered by the Lord. The first is Joseph.

As a young man he had dreams of his God-given destiny. He saw that his father and brothers would be bowing down in reverence to him. As the youngest son this was completely out of character. The oldest son was the one who received honor in the family.

Joseph’s journey to his destiny had his brothers selling him into slavery; serving as a household servant to a wealthy man whose wife tried to seduce him; being imprisoned because of a lie and finally making it to the pharaoh’s court where he was promoted to 2nd in authority. During a time of famine Joseph saw his destiny fulfilled.

God used him to develop a food storage plan that kept all of Egypt and their surrounding neighbors from starving. When his brothers came to him to buy grain, they bowed down at his feet in humble reverence. 

Then there was Mary, the mother of Jesus. She knew her destiny was to birth the promised Messiah. As a young girl this was a hard road to walk. She faced ridicule and criticism from family and friends. Even Joseph dealt with the thought of divorce.

Once the Messiah was born there were diapers to change, possibly colic and sleepless nights. She was his teacher; teaching him to walk and talk. Responsible for his safety and upbringing knowing full well that she had been given the responsibility of raising God’s son.  Some of her steps were hard ones to take, exhausting, but well worth taking to fulfill her destiny.

“You have also given me the covering that saves me. Your right hand holds me up. And Your care has made me great. 36 You make the road wide for my steps, and my feet have not tripped.”  Psalm 18:35-36 NLV

The final Bible character who walked the road to their destiny is Jesus. He was just steps away from His destiny but first he had to leave heaven, be born as a baby, grow into a man and begin His ministry. He had brothers and sisters to help at home, after all He was the oldest son.

He was despised, hated by the Jewish leaders but loved by those who needed healing and consolation. His steps took Him to weddings, funerals, church functions, outdoor meetings. He went places and did things that Jews in good standing didn’t. His steps lead down a rocky road that culminated in his crucifixion.

However, His destiny wasn’t fulfilled until He rose from the dead. His steps took him from heaven and  back.

Look at where you are now. Can you identify with the rough and rocky road? Don’t quit! You are just steps away from reaching your destiny. Each hardship is bringing you closer to who and where God has called you to serve. Take some advice from the Apostle Peter.

“What good is it if, when you are beaten for doing something wrong, you do not try to get out of it? But if you are beaten when you have done what is right, and do not try to get out of it, God is pleased. 21 These things are all a part of the Christian life to which you have been called. Christ suffered for us. This shows us we are to follow in His steps. 22 He never sinned. No lie or bad talk ever came from His lips.” I Peter 2:20-22 NLV

Don’t get tired during the renovation process. Don’t give in to weariness.

I’ll leave you with this final thought.

“ Do not let yourselves get tired of doing good. If we do not give up, we will get what is coming to us at the right time. 10 Because of this, we should do good to everyone. For sure, we should do good to those who belong to Christ.” Galatians 6:9-10 NLV

(Started this in the Kalispell airport and posted it from Salt Lake City. We’ll be home soon!)

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