Category: October2023

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Lighted Path

Recently I sent out a memo reminding our neighbors to take a flashlight if they were out walking after dark.

Living on the edge of the desert there are many animals that live nocturnal lives and it’s necessary that we are aware of our surroundings. We have javelina, coyote, and even snakes. Our home is backed up to a wash so have a series of solar lights lining the back edge of the property. We wouldn’t want to fall off in the darkness.

Light is good. At times, the darkness can be scary.

Have you ever been in a situation when you knew there was something out there – something out there in the dark – and you were afraid? However, when you saw it in the light of day it was only a tree branch or a strange rock formation or a small animal, something insignificant. Maybe you didn’t wait till light of day but instead you got out your spotlight or turned on the flood lights on the porch – when you could see things clearly, it wasn’t scary at all.

Well, that’s how I feel looking at things through the light of God’s word. It tells us that the Lord is our light and our salvation, whom shall I fear?

When we let God light our circumstances, we see that His light is bigger than our fears. We can trust Him and not be afraid!

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? 2 When evil people come to devour me, when my enemies and foes attack me, they will stumble and fall. 3 Though a mighty army surrounds me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if I am attacked, I will remain confident.

4 The one thing I ask of the Lord— the thing I seek most— is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple. 5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;  he will hide me in his sanctuary. He will place me out of reach on a high rock. 6 Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the Lord with music.

7 Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! 8 My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” 9 Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! 10 Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

11 Teach me how to live, O Lord. Lead me along the right path, for my enemies are waiting for me. 12 Do not let me fall into their hands. For they accuse me of things I’ve never done; with every breath they threaten me with violence. 13 Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

14 Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.” Psalm 27 NLT

God’s word will light our path and keep us safe!

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How Do I Know?

A question that many ask is “How do I know the right thing to do”. I think that’s a question often asked more by the younger generation; they don’t have experience to draw from.

However, we older folks are faced with some of the same questions. That’s where today’s verses come in. King David, as a young man, knew it was right to stand for God and defeat Goliath. Later in life, he knew that adultery and murder were wrong but in weakness he did both.

Here are his writings:

“The commandments of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living. 9 Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair. 10 They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey dripping from the comb. 11 They are a warning to your servant, a great reward for those who obey them.

12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and innocent of great sin. 14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:8-14 NLT

Our children learn right from wrong through obedience and discipline. We often learn the same lessons through experience. God’s plan is one of blessing – He wants us to learn through obeying and trusting His word.

“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLT

The Lord wants us to follow His word and walk in obedience to Him, but the choice is ours. Joshua had led the Israelites into the promised land from the wilderness. He had led them in many battles, defeating the ungodly armies in the land of Canaan. As they began settling the land in peace Joshua gave them this instruction.

“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14-15 NLT

As for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Choice – it’s a matter of choice. But how do we know?

“ All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” II Timothy 3:16-17 NLT

God isn’t unfair – He doesn’t leave us wondering what is right or wrong, He says the testimonies of the Lord are true, making wise the simple. If we follow His word we’ll never have to ask, “How do I know”!

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Purpose

Does your day have purpose? Better question – does MY day have purpose? Most of you know that I love my quiet mornings. Time to sit with coffee in hand, computer on my lap and my heart focused on what the Father is saying to me.

In the solitude I talk a little and then I listen.

While we were in Greece, Dave and I had our morning walk and talks. We would walk along the seashore and express our gratitude to the Father for His amazing love, protection, peace, wisdom, direction, forgiveness, grace and mercy.

There’s so much to be thankful for. One of the biggest blessings is that He loves us enough to listen.

This morning routine isn’t of my own making. I learned from the best.

“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord.” Genesis 19:15 KJV

King David gives us insight to his mornings:

“My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.” Psalm 5:3

“But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense And refuge in the day of my trouble.” Psalm 59:16

“I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word.” Psalm 119:47

“Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, For in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.” Psalm 143:8

Jesus gave us this example:

” Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.” Mark 1:35 KJV

“Now early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came to Him; and He sat down and taught them.” John 8:2 KJV

Yes, our mornings should count!

They should set the tone and purpose of our day. There is a song that often goes through my thinking. It was written by Jeremy Camp, Give Me Jesus.

“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,

Just give me Jesus…”

The Bible tells us the greatest commandment is to love the Lord, our God, with all our heart, soul and mind. Praising Him should be the primary purpose of every believer.

Greet the morning with a song for the good things the Lord has done!

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Finish Strong

In my quiet time this morning the Lord reminded me of the importance of finishing strong.

Yesterday I told you about Caleb’s stand and how he said, “God is well-able”. It wasn’t just a slogan; it was his life’s mantra.

“Now, as you can see, the Lord has kept me alive and well as he promised for all these forty-five years since Moses made this promise—even while Israel wandered in the wilderness. Today I am eighty-five years old. 11 I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then. 12 So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said.” Joshua 14:10-12 NLT

At 85, Caleb was still strong and still determined to see the will of God accomplished in his life. He didn’t care about the giants. He didn’t give up on God’s promise. Never give up on a God-given dream or promise.

“ For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.[a] 10 So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 NLT a.2:9 Or in him dwells all the completeness of the Godhead bodily.

If the Father has made you a promise or given you a dream He has also given you the power and the plan to see it come to pass.

“But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” I Corinthians 15:57-58 NLT

We give thanks to God who gives us the victory over life’s situations because of our relationship with God through Christ Jesus. It may not always look like we are victorious but when we give Him thanks, we will see the circumstances change.

Jesus didn’t look victorious when they laid him in the tomb. Peter didn’t look victorious when he was sinking in the sea of Galilee. Daniel didn’t look victorious when he was thrown into the lion’s den. Paul didn’t look victorious when he was stoned and left for dead. At 85, Caleb probably didn’t look like a fighting man in his prime.

But…Thanks be to God who gave them the victory and He has given us victory as well. Paul said in Romans 8 that God calls us overcomers and more than conquerors. So, we will stand strong in doing the work that God has called us to do.

We have victory in Christ Jesus so let’s finish strong and give thanks.

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Well Able

There’s an account in the Bible that we all need to apply to our lives. The Israelites were wandering in the desert. Moses sent 12 men to spy out the land God was leading them too.

Ten men came back with reports that there were giants in the land; it was a good land but…there were giants. Two men had a good report, Joshua and Caleb. They said the land was good and they were confident that the Lord would give them victory over the giants.

“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:30 NKJV

However, the people listened to the report of the ten and missed out on the blessing of God.

God, our heavenly Father, is able!

Able means He has the ability to do or complete the task set before Him. He is able to work on our behalf, but He needs us to work with Him.

Because He is a loving Father he won’t force Himself on us and He won’t force us to take the benefits He has for us. But if we will allow Him to work in our lives we will see His ability working on our behalf.

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you. 20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of. 21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:19-21 ERV

When we know God’s love, His power can work within to bring Him glory.

“18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He is able to help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.” Hebrews 2:18 AMP

He is able to help us immediately when we are being tempted because He was also tempted and suffered.

“God is strong and can (is able to) keep you from falling. He can bring you before his glory without any wrong in you and give you great joy. 25 He is the only God, the one who saves us. To him be glory, greatness, power, and authority through Jesus Christ our Lord for all time past, now, and forever. Amen.” Jude 24-25 CEV

God is able to keep us! He is able to save us!

“But Jesus will never die, and so he will be a priest forever! 25 He is forever able to save the people he leads to God, because he always lives to speak to God for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 CEV

Father, today I give you my availability so that Your abilities may work in me, through me and for me; You are able!

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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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Today

Thinking about “today”. Living in present; the past tries to get us to look back. Looking back never gives us the best view.

The future with its promises and hopes is also filled with what if’s. Today is a gift from God. So, let’s praise Him for who He is!

” Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. 3 Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” Psalm 100 CEV

I know you’ve heard it said before, but it bears repeating. The “present” is a gift from God so we need to unwrap it and cherish it.

“Come, let us sing to the Lord!  Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. 3 For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. 4 He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. 5 The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. 6 Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,
7 for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!” Psalm 95:1-7 NLT

“My friends, watch out! Don’t let evil thoughts or doubts make any of you turn from the living God. 13 You must encourage one another each day. And you must keep on while there is still a time that can be called “today.” If you don’t, then sin may fool some of you and make you stubborn. 14 We were sure about Christ when we first became his people. So let’s hold tightly to our faith until the end. 15 The Scriptures say, “If you hear his voice today, don’t be stubborn like those who rebelled.” Hebrews 3:12-15 CEV

“Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 CEV

Enjoy the gift of today, the present – God’s grace and strength is ours!!

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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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Through & Through

This morning my thoughts went to a Scripture I had memorized as a child in Sunday School. It made an impression on me because of one word. The word was thoroughly.

I’m not sure why I was so intrigued by that word, but I was. And as I sat here this morning that word came up in my heart with the same intensity that it had all those years ago.

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary the following words are synonyms that can be used in place of, but keep the meaning of, thoroughly.

  • completely
  • comprehensively
  • detailedly
  • exhaustively
  • fully
  • roundly
  • systematically
  • through and through
  • totally

Now that you know the background, let’s look at the verses I’m referring too.

“and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” II Timothy 3:15-17 NKJV

Timothy was a young man and Paul, the Apostle, was mentoring him in his walk with Christ. Timothy’s mother and grandmother were godly women who had raised him to know the Scriptures. Paul was reminding him of the importance of that early upbringing.

This is also a good reminder to all of us. It is through the Scriptures that we obtain faith for salvation. It is also through God’s written word that we have the pattern for godly living.

God never intended for us to attempt this lifestyle on our own. No, to the contrary, it is through the instruction of God’s word that we are complete and thoroughly equipped. We are changed from the inside out, through and through, systematically, totally, comprehensively fitted for every good work.

WOW!

On those days when you feel like quitting, giving up and giving in you are thoroughly equipped. in those times when you are discouraged and disheartened you have been systematically and totally undergirded by the power of Almighty God.

“ For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT

We were created as a masterpiece of the Father’s love. He planned for us to do good things.

“ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

I hope this has been an encouragement to you today. You are totally, completely, fully, exhaustively equipped through and through by the power of God’s word!

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