Category: June2021

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The Trees Will Clap

It has been a windy May and now that we are in June it is starting to subside. I’m glad for that. However, yesterday afternoon’s breeze became my teacher.

“The Lord says, “My thoughts are not like yours.
    Your ways are not like mine.
9 Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways,
    and my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.

10 “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.

12 “So you will go out from there with joy.
    You will be led out in peace.
When you come to the mountains and hills, they will begin singing.
    All the trees in the fields will clap their hands.” Isaiah 55:8-12 ERV

The trees in the fields will clap their hands. I heard the trees clapping yesterday afternoon as the breeze lightly rustled their boughs. I stopped to listen, without complaint, and wondered who the Lord was bringing out of their place of captivity.

That’s what these verses tell us. The Israelites had been held captive and the Lord said “you will go out with joy and peace”. They were coming home and they would hear the mountains singing and the trees clapping at their deliverance.

Was it you the trees were clapping for?

Has sickness or depression held you as a captive? Did the Lord reveal something to you from His word that set you free? In the midst of your circumstance did you experience the joy and peace of being released?

The Lord’s thoughts are higher than ours. When we see only captivity, He sees release. When all we are focused on is the problem, He is formulating the answer. If we say “there is no way out of this”, He is making a way where there seems no way.

And He does is all with His word.

In the same way that the rain and snow moisten the earth and cause the seeds to grow and produce, God sends His word into our lives to soften our hearts, bringing life-giving water to our souls and a change that will nourish us. A change that delivers joy and peace.

Do you understand why I love God’s word as much as I do? His thoughts and ways are higher, much higher than mine, so He sends His Word to change my circumstances and bring me to a better way of life.

Listen carefully. Do you hear the trees clapping for you?

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All’s Forgiven

I hope you never tire of me telling you about the goodness of God. I never get tired of seeing His lovingkindness in action!

My morning Bible time still has me reading about the Israelites and their journey through the wildness on their way to the Promised Land. These people…they are consistently inconsistent.

They profess their love and faith for the Lord and then they murmur and complain. They say they will be devoted to their God and then they build a calf of gold and have an orgy. I don’t think there is a time they go more than a couple weeks without veering off on their own and ignoring what God has said.

But God…but God, is always faithful!

“Then he passed in front of Moses and called out, “I am the Lord God. I am merciful and very patient with my people. I show great love, and I can be trusted. 7 I keep my promises to my people forever, but I also punish anyone who sins…” 8 Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped the Lord. 9 He prayed, “Lord, if you really are pleased with me, I pray that you will go with us. It is true that these people are sinful and rebellious, but forgive our sin and let us be your people.” Exodus 34:6-9 CEV

The Lord declares that He will always be loving and faithful. He will keep His word. He also says that He will forgive their sins and transgressions. He does hold them responsible for their acts of disobedience and that is why He gives them a priest to offer sacrifices of atonement.

He gives them a way to repent and to be restored by His mercy.  He does the same for us.

The Lord has always known the shortcomings of men. He knows that we fall short, and He has given us His plan of forgiveness and grace. 

“All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 CEV

Jesus is that heavenly plan.

The plan of sacrifice in the Old Testament could never completely cleanse the sins and transgressions of men. The blood shed by the animals only covered their sins. But the blood of Jesus completely cleanses us and puts us in right standing with God, the Father.

“The Law teaches that offerings and sacrifices must be made because of sin. But why did Christ mention these things and say that God did not want them? 9 Well, it was to do away with offerings and sacrifices and to replace them. That is what he meant by saying to God, “I have come to do what you want.” 10 So we are made holy because Christ obeyed God and offered himself once for all. 11 The priests do their work each day, and they keep on offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But Christ offered himself as a sacrifice that is good forever. Now he is sitting at God’s right side, 13 and he will stay there until his enemies are put under his power. 14 By his one sacrifice he has forever set free from sin the people he brings to God.” Hebrews 10:8-14 CEV

When we get hung up on how unworthy we are, how many times we have failed, we are focusing on our efforts to be good enough for God. Switch focus! Salvation is never based on our efforts; it is entirely dependent upon what God has done for us!

It is His lovingkindness, His mercy, His grace! It is His blood; He is the fulfillment of the plan. He is our salvation!

The Father’s love is unconditional. His plan is for all. Walk in the grace and mercy that He has provided. It will bring joy and peace to every day.

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Plan Your Day

Monday…a new week is starting, what do you have planned? 

It’s possible that you already have important meetings scheduled. Doctor’s appointments, business meetings, interviews…the list goes on. Or maybe you are getting ready to start your summer vacation and have so many last minute preparations – shopping for the small things, reservations, get the car packed, close up the house.

Does your list seem endless?

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17 TLV

What – do ALL – yes all!

God is so practical and He wants to be involved in every area of our lives. He just makes things better when we partner with Him in every project.  I recently told you how I would pray over my grocery list and I have found that cleaning goes much faster and better when I set my mind on singing songs of praise as I dust and vacuum.

There was a time when doing those things left me in such pain that I would need several days to recover so I have plenty of reason to sing now that I have freedom of movement.

Today, I will be baking in my RV oven for the first time. My experience with other ovens similar to mine was they didn’t bake well. The ends of the pan would be under cooked while what was in the center of the pan would be burnt on the bottom. So I’ve prayed for a good baking experience. I want to share cinnamon rolls with my neighbors.

“Commit whatever you do to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. The Lord works everything out for his own purpose…” Proverbs 16:3-4 TLV

There’s that word again – whatever. Any thing, every thing, whatever we do commit it to the Lord.

Years ago, forty plus years, I sat on a hillside under some live oak trees and heard an old cowboy preacher say that he was thankful that the Lord had planted those trees 30 years before that so we could enjoy ourselves, in the shade, on that very day.  That old preacher saw God’s hand in every good thing. I determined that I wanted to see things in the way he did.

May I encourage you today to look for God’s hand of blessing in everything. Whatever you do, commit it to Him and let the Father cause your plans to succeed.

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Protected By The Light

As I look out the window this morning, I see strands of blue and white lights throughout the campground. It seems so strange in the forest setting but it is an absolute necessity.

We hadn’t been here very long when we had a more experienced camp host tell Dave that he should have a light under the hood of his truck at night and that we should have lights under our RV to protect the wiring of our vehicles from the pack rats.

Really?!

Those little critters love to chew on the wires, and they can do hundreds of dollars’ worth of damage to the vehicles. They are small little varmints, but they are sneaky and destructive. They wait until after dark to do their dirty work; having the area lighted discourages them.

Isn’t that how it is in life?

Little varmints causing havoc.

“But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. 9 And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits.

10 Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.” Colossians 3:8-10 CEV

They are cute little creatures and fun to watch as they dash here and there but their work is destructive. Much like the work of selfishness, anger, dishonesty and greed.

A little child starts early with one of their favorite words, “Mine” and we ignore it or laugh. As the years go back, left uncorrected, their selfishness becomes explosive and out-of-control. 

The same can be said for the “little white lie”. Really, it’s no big deal, right? Wrong. Lying, big or little, destroys the credibility of the one speaking it. It becomes impossible to trust someone who lies.

I think we all need to have strings of spiritual blue and white lights that help deter those destructive actions that would undermine our character.

“Your word is a lamp that gives light wherever I walk.” Psalm 119:105 CEV

The Father has promised that His word will light our path and it will keep us from stumbling. That’s a protection I, personally, want to have.

Let the Lord show you some of the little critters who have been sneaking in to chew away at your heart. Shine the light of His word on those actions and be free from the destruction they cause.

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Behind Closed Gates

The last few days have been filled with much activity. Moving from one campground to the next. Breaking camp and setting up again, all the while wondering how long this temporary relocation will be.

We are here with the hosts of nine different campgrounds. We are safe and that is what is important. There have been many words of encouragement, hugs and conversations regarding our current circumstances.

Do you remember the old western movies when people traveled by wagon train from St. Louis to “the West”? We are neighbors depending on neighbors, assisting where we can – providing extra muscle in lifting heavy bar-b-ques or ice chests, providing an extra stick of butter for a cake or just offering a chair under the awning for a chance to visit.

We are not certain of what each day will bring but we are here together. 

“…But God is your teacher, and he will not continue to hide from you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes. 21 If you wander from the right path, either to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice behind you saying, “You should go this way. Here is the right way.” Isaiah 30:20-21 ERV

Dave has helped me and we believe we have found a place, not far from our campground, where we can drive and get a signal that allows me to post this blog each morning. It has definitely been a trial and error process.  But if this morning is successful then we should be able to continue with this plan for as long as needed.

I want to encourage each one of us to always be ready to share the love of Jesus in each day’s circumstance. It is important that we are prepared to give an account for the peace and assurance that we have in Jesus.

“Tell everyone God’s message. Be ready at all times to do whatever is needed. Tell peple what they need to do, tell them when they are doing wrong, and encourage them. Do this with great patience and careful teaching.” II Timothy 4:2 ERV

It is a joy to share with you all each morning. I’ve missed it the last couple of days!

I am praying for all of you and trust that your faith and trust in the Lord is growing each day.

“ You accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, so continue to live following him. 7 You must depend on Christ only, drawing life and strength from him. Just as you were taught the truth, continue to grow stronger in your understanding of it. And never stop giving thanks to God.” Colossians 2:6-7 ERV

This is a day filled with many opportunities. Follow the Lord’s leading and be a blessing.

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Protected by God’s Hand

Last night I went to bed thinking about how many times and in how many ways God protects. It filled my thoughts all through the night.

Some people step off a curb and break their ankle or hip. Others make a simple drive to the grocery store and have an automobile accident. Kids who are healthy and strong play a backyard sport and are injured. And yet most of us go through each day not knowing that we have been protected from these things and many others.

“The Lord will protect you and keep you safe from all dangers. 8 The Lord will protect you now and always wherever you go. Psalm 121:7&8 CEV

Each morning I pray that I will experience God’s protection and be open for his leading. Each day I pray over my children and grandchildren that they will be covered by the Lord’s loving protection. Each day I am thankful that I don’t need to be afraid because I know that He will keep His word and protect me in all my ways.

The Lord made me this promise long before I was born and I will trust Him to keep His word.

He protected Daniel in the lion’s den, the three Hebrew men in the furnance. His protection covered the Israelites as they crossed the Red Sea. The Lord gave David strength to defeat the giant and Paul was protected in the sea after his ship wrecked.

“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.” Psalm 91:1-6 ERV

What kinds of things cause you to fear? Trust in the Lord – our All-Powerful protection. He hasn’t failed to keep His promises yet and He isn’t going to start now!

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Learning By Repetition

This morning I began thinking about how many things in my life I have learned through repetition.

Some of the first were walking and talking. I learned the notes on my piano by practicing my scales, over and over again. I became skilled in shifting a manual transmission but not on my first drive, it was through repetition.

The first time I tried to french braid my daughter’s long hair it was a disaster. I brushed it out and put her hair in a pony tail. My first attempt at cinnamon rolls was so bad that I called them cinnamon crackers.

With repetition comes increased skill. This week I have been increasing my skill in patience. Patience in learning new things, patience with weak internet signals and patience with others.

I really thought I was a pretty patient person but this week I found there were still some really rough edges that needed to be refined. I am so thankful that the Father is always patient with me even when I’m not.

The Lord has shown me that I need to be more understanding and less frustrated with things beyond my control. It’s my responsibility to maintain a good attitude in everything. Everything!

“Since the day we heard these things about you, we have continued praying for you. This is what we pray:

that God will make you completely sure of what he wants by giving you all the wisdom and spiritual understanding you need; 10 that this will help you live in a way that brings honor to the Lord and pleases him in every way; that your life will produce good works of every kind and that you will grow in your knowledge of God; 11 that God will strengthen you with his own great power, so that you will be patient and not give up when troubles come. Then you will be happy 12 and give thanks to the Father. He has made you able to have what he has promised to give all his holy people, who live in the light.” Colossians 1:9-12 ERV

Patient and not give up!

I won’t give up! I won’t give up as I learn patience. I will let the Lord work through me and not become condemned when I am impatient. I will be patient with myself as I learn patience because He is always patient with me.

If you’re still learning patience like I am be thankful that the Lord is always patient, loving and kind!

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In His Hands

As I sit here praying this morning, there are many of my loved ones that I haven’t seen in quite a while. My heart aches some days just wanting to hold their hand, look into the eyes and feel the warmth of their embrace.

It’s hard being away from the ones we love, isn’t it?

Can you imagine how the Lord must feel? He created us out of His love and His desire for a close relationship has never changed.

This weekend I watched as hundreds of people poured in the campground to celebrate with their fathers. I watched the children playing on the roads, riding bikes, going fishing, walking hand in hand with their dads.

Adult children have been arriving and fathers’ having been telling me “this is my daughter, this is my son” as they check in. The joy on their faces can’t be erased.

Our heavenly Father must feel the same! He desires to give good gifts to His children, to us, and the greatest gift He gives is His love.

He gives strength to the weak, healing to the broken hearted, peace to those who fear, rest to the weary, comfort to the lonely, joy to those who mourn, salvation to the lost and love to the abandoned!

“I look up to the hills, but where will my help really come from? 2 My help will come from the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let you fall. Your Protector will not fall asleep. 4 Israel’s Protector does not get tired. He never sleeps. 5 The Lord is your Protector. The Lord stands by your side, shading and protecting you. 6 The sun cannot harm you during the day, and the moon cannot harm you at night. 7 The Lord will protect you from every danger. He will protect your soul. 8 The Lord will protect you as you come and go, both now and forever!” Psalm 121 ERV

Thank you Father for loving me and being the Best Father, ever!

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Helping Others

What are your strengths?

Maybe you are a great cook or baker. Perhaps you’re mechanical and can fix everything. Do you have an easy grasp of technology? Are you a critical thinker and have great wisdom in ascertaining the solution to problems?

Now, let me ask this question. Do you ever get frustrated with others who don’t have your strengths? You help them out but then get irritated because they just don’t seem to get it?

I have to admit that was me yesterday…I got frustrated. I don’t think the person I was helping realized it but I was. I had to apologize to them for having a “bull-in-a-china-shop” approach. I was wrong.

Aren’t you glad that the Holy Spirit is a gentle teacher?

We should seek to help others with a patient spirit.

“Even Christ did not live trying to please himself. As the Scriptures say about him, “Those people who insulted you have also insulted me.”[a] 4 Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us. Those things were written so that we could have hope. That hope comes from the patience and encouragement that the Scriptures give us. 5 All patience and encouragement come from God. And I pray that God will help you all agree with each other, as Christ Jesus wants. 6 Then you will all be joined together. And all together you will give glory to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:3-6 ERV

I have to remind myself that not everyone it like me, thank you Lord!

I have learned much about working with people from the characters of Winnie the Pooh.

Pooh is amicable and is a friend to everyone. He tries to help anyone who has a need. Tigger just wants to have fun and doesn’t play attention to details and sometimes hurts those he loves most. Piglet wants to do what’s right but needs lots of encouragement. Rabbit just wants everyone to get busy, there’s work to be done. Owl has a story to tell about everything and gives lots of advice. Eyore is moody and depressed and has no self-esteem.

I would like to be like Pooh and see the strengths in all my friends and help them in their weaknesses. But mostly I want to be like Jesus and follow His leading.

“So, as a prisoner for the Lord, I beg you to live the way God’s people should live, because he chose you to be his. 2 Always be humble and gentle. Be patient and accept each other with love. 3 You are joined together with peace through the Spirit. Do all you can to continue as you are, letting peace hold you together.” Ephesians 4:1-3 ERV

Let the Lord show you how to help others today and do it with a cheerful heart!

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Stand Tall

I’m praying that you stand strong and tall today.

While reading in I Corinthians, I found the Apostle Paul’s instruction to us. He didn’t want us to be like the Israelites in the wilderness who complained about God’s provisions and who worshipped the idols of Egypt.

“Even if you think you can stand up to temptation, be careful not to fall. 13 You are tempted in the same way that everyone else is tempted. But God can be trusted not to let you be tempted too much, and he will show you how to escape from your temptations. 14 My friends, you must keep away from idols.” I Corinthians 10:12-14 CEV

One of the biggest temptations they faced was discontentment.

We are susceptible to the same temptation. Murmuring because we think things should be better; we’re being mistreated; everyone else has it better than us. They also worshipped idols. We face that same temptation as well. No, not the gold and stone statues that they crafted but the idols of fame, success, pleasure, education, relationships.

Any of these can draw us away for serving the Lord.

However the good news is this. God knows about these temptations and He has given us the power to resist them and escape their grasp. Jesus didn’t come to make us miserable – not at all.

“A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I came to give life—life that is full and good.” John 10:10 ERV

“Don’t worry and ask yourselves, ‘Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?’ 32 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. 33 But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well. 34 Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself.” Matthew 6:31-34 CEV

Our Father promised to provide all for the Israelites as they journeyed to their promise land. He still promises to be our provider. God is always present to provide as we journey to our promises land. He promises to never leave us or abandon us.

When we spend time on our knees in prayer our Father will reassure us of His promises. With confidence in God’s Word we can stand strong and tall just like the Apostle Paul said.

Take the Father at His word!

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