Category: Purpose

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Debt Free

For years Dave and I were like a lot of people, we struggled financially. We knew we needed to be better stewards of what God had given us.

Finally, we came to that place where we are debt free, almost. It’s an amazing thing to watch how God has moved. We don’t have millions but we have more than enough. There is one area of debt that we will always have, let me explain.

Have you ever put together a profit and loss statement? Listing your assests and liabilities can certainly be worthwhile in determining how you should spend your time and your money.

Get down to the bottom line. What do you owe? That’s the question the Apostle Paul was addressing this morning as I read Romans 13.

“You should owe nothing to anyone, except that you will always owe love to each other. The person who loves others has done all that the law commands. 9 The law says, “You must not commit adultery, you must not murder anyone, you must not steal, you must not want what belongs to someone else.” All these commands and all other commands are really only one rule: “Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.” 10 Love doesn’t hurt others. So loving is the same as obeying all the law.

11 I say this because you know that we live in an important time. Yes, it is now time for you to wake up from your sleep. Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost finished. The day is almost here. So we should stop doing whatever belongs to darkness. We should prepare ourselves to fight evil with the weapons that belong to the light. 13 We should live in a right way, like people who belong to the day. We should not have wild parties or be drunk. We should not be involved in sexual sin or any kind of immoral behavior. We should not cause arguments and trouble or be jealous. 14 But be like the Lord Jesus Christ, so that when people see what you do, they will see Christ. Don’t think about how to satisfy the desires of your sinful self.” Romans 13:8-14 ERV

Owe no one anything…nothing except love!

The desire to live debt free is admirable and is one worth pursuing. An even greater goal is to live a life of loving people, not with a human selfish love but with the same love that Jesus shows us. That is the debt we will always carry.

So, let’s look at that bottom line of our Profit/Loss statement again. What do we owe?

May love be our daily debt!

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Open The Door

I opened the door this morning and experienced the birth of a new day. Sitting inside I could only see part of the beauty that filled the sky.

I’m so glad I walked out!

Have you ever been in a place where you knew the Lord was opening a new door for you? But instead of walking through it you hesitated, not sure what would be waiting for you, you paused, needing to be reassured that this was a good thing.

I have held back at times, wondering if this “new thing” was really God’s doing or just my wishful thinking. Even now, I am wondering about some new opportunities that lay before me.

Opening the door and walking out means leaving the familiar – experiencing new challenges, new victories. When thoughts like this come, I find one of my favorite Psalms gives me encouragement and direction. You may find it a bit long but it is filled with hope and promise.

“I will tell of your greatness, my God and King.
    I will praise your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise you every day.
    I will praise your name forever and ever.
3 The Lord is great and deserves all our praise!
    No one can fully understand his greatness!
4 Each generation will praise you
    and tell the next generation about the great things you do.
5 Your majesty and glory are wonderful.
    I will tell about your miracles.
6 People will tell about the amazing things you do,
    and I will tell everyone how great you are.
7 They will talk about your goodness
    and sing about your justice.

8 The Lord is kind and merciful,
    patient and full of love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
    He shows his mercy to everything he made.
10 Lord, all you have made will give thanks to you.
    Your loyal followers will praise you.
11 They will tell how great your kingdom is.
    They will tell how great you are.
12 So others will learn about the mighty things you do,
    about the glory of your kingdom—how marvelous it is!
13 Your kingdom will never end,
    and you will rule forever.

The Lord can be trusted in all that he says.
    He is loyal in all that he does.[a]
14 The Lord lifts up people who have fallen.
    He helps those who are in trouble.
15 All living things look to you for their food,
    and you give them their food at the right time.
16 You open your hands
    and give every living thing all that it needs.
17 Everything the Lord does is good.
    Everything he does shows how loyal he is.
18 The Lord is near to everyone
    who sincerely calls to him for help.
19 He listens to his followers and does what they want.
    He answers their prayers and saves them.
20 The Lord protects everyone who loves him,
    but he destroys all who do evil.
21 I will praise the Lord!
    Let everyone praise his holy name forever and ever! Psalm 145 CEV

The Lord hears us when we call, he protects us, he is loyal and will always be there to help – the door is open!

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Pure Motives

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 had to deal with that many times in my younger years.

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” – these are all wrong motives!

Years ago, I would do things for people just to get them to like or accept me. I tried to buy friendship -what a destructive force that can be! I was so insecure in who I was that I needed constant affirmation 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 more than enough acceptance to last a lifetime.

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. I wanted them to know they were loved and appreciated. A complete turnaround in my motivation.

The prodigal son tried to buy friends and they abandon him when he could no longer foot the bill for their entertainment.

“Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat.” Luke 15:13-14 CEV

Our motivation should be one of expressing love without expecting anything in return.

“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

Jesus was always being criticized for His actions of compassion. He ate with tax collectors, engaged fallen women in conversation, showed compassion and healing to the outcasts. His motive was always pure, one of love.

“Whoever wants to be first must serve the rest of you like a slave. 45 Follow my example: Even the Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people.” Mark 10:44-45 ERV

Let’s serve others with a pure heart, no other motivation is required. We have the opportunity to be an example of Jesus’ love.

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Final Authority

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 like without Him.

God’s Word has brought me forgiveness of sins, health to my body, peace to my soul, healing for my children, enrichment for 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 has made provision for more than just 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; but 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.

Circumstances said 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.

Circumstances said the apostles should lock themselves away and hide at 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 was bleeding for twelve years 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…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

Make God’s word your final authority. It has stood the test of time. It will not fail!

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The Way, The Truth, The Life

I just finished looking for an image to go with this morning’s blog. I was taken back when I saw the image I’m using this morning!

This is NOT an anonymous quote! These are the words of Jesus, but the image is a reinforcement of what I was wanting to share.

In today’s world we have better living conditions, better advancements in health care, better education than the generations before us. But we also have more stress, more acts of violence, more fear and less family stability.

In the “old days” people prayed for rain and the success of the crops, families worked and played together, communities gathered together to help a neighbor in need and children were educated by teachers who prayed and used the Bible as the core curriculum.

Truth was the foundation for society, government and the family.

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. The only way to the Father is through me.’ ” John 14:6 ERV

Truth isn’t subjective, it’s an absolute.

You are either telling the truth or it’s a lie. If you leave facts out to skew the story or sway the outcome, it isn’t truth. Remember the days when people in court had to place their hands on the Bible and swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth? People swore or affirmed their statement by the Bible because it was and is the only standard of truth that has never changed since it was written.

“The way”. Our life is a journey and we can choose the path but when we follow paths of our own making we become distracted, confused and even lost.

“Today I am giving you a choice of two ways…The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live. 20 You must love the Lord your God and obey him. Never leave him, because he is your life.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 ERV

I love that verse. When we choose “the way” and “the truth” we gain life. And when we don’t, we face an enemy who is out to destroy us.

“A thief comes only to rob, kill, and destroy. I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” John 10:10 CEV

When our youngest daughter was a toddler, she woke up crying in the night. I went to her room, picked her up and carried her to the living room to comfort her and rock her back to sleep. She wasn’t content there, so I took her from room to room until finally we came back to the living room where she snuggled in and fell to sleep.

I remember whispering to her, “This is where we started. I knew this was the best place for you. Why couldn’t you trust me and see that?” And then I heard God speak in my heart and ask me the same question.

Why don’t you trust Me to know what’s best for you and to have you in the right place?

WOW!

I wish I could say that I never had to learn that lesson again but that wouldn’t be the truth. However, the longer I walk with Him the easier it is for me to see when I am on a path of my own making and not where He wants me.

Make your foundation “The Way”, committed to “The Truth” and finding “The Life” that is abundant and everlasting. This isn’t an anonymous statement – it’s a promise from the King of Kings.

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Make The Most of It

The last few days we have been doing quite a bit of “camper assistance”. Things get forgotten at home, repairs need to be made, and we are always willing to lend a helping hand.

When our kids were younger, we did quite a bit of camping. It was relaxing, fun and inexpensive. We tent camped. It was a nice tent and as comfortable as a tent could be but still it was a tent.

I had my camping boxes that went on every trip. Each box had all the necessities prepacked. The only thing we really needed to think about was filling the ice chest with the refrigerated food and drinks. We could be ready to go in less than an hour’s time.

We had some fun times; oh, we had the soggy ones too. First time out in the new tent we had forgotten to seal the seams, we had as much rain in the tent as out. Then the adventures of wild animals, canoe trips, floating the river and the one time we brought everything but the tent. I know…but it happened.

No matter how much fun we had and how beautiful the camp site was it always nice to come home. A comfortable bed, dry clothes, and a warm shower. Awwww.

Did you know tent camping is in the Bible? The Apostle Paul wrote about it.

“We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a home for us to live in. It will not be the kind of home people build here. It will be a home in heaven that will continue forever. 2 But now we are tired of this body. We want God to give us our heavenly home. 3 It will clothe us and we will not be naked. 4 While we live in this tent, we have burdens and so we complain. I don’t mean that we want to remove this tent, but we want to be clothed with our heavenly home. Then this body that dies will be covered with life. 5 This is what God himself made us for. And he has given us the Spirit as the first payment to guarantee the life to come.

6 So we always have confidence. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord. 7 We live by what we believe will happen, not by what we can see. 8 So I say that we have confidence. And we really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. 9 Our only goal is to always please the Lord, whether we are living here in this body or there with him.” II Corinthians 5:1-9 ERV

Life on this earth is like camping in a tent. It’s an adventure but not as comfortable as Home.

Going home is something to look forward too with great anticipation. But while we’re in this tent we need to enjoy our surroundings, not complain and make the most of it. Afterall, we have God’s promise of an abundant life.

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Support Needed

A few years back it seemed that we were being asked to support a myriad of causes and it would only cost us $19 a month.

There are social issues, political issues, humanitarian causes, educational, religious, medical, environmental, recreational, cultural and even artistic areas that are asking for our time and support. And each of us have an area that appeals to us more than others but these things cannot be our focus.

Jesus was faced with all the same issues when he walked the earth and he gave this admonition to his disciples.

“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:26 NKJV

To achieve greatness for self or mankind is futile if it causes us to loose sight of the most important calling we have, relationship with Jesus Christ!

There is no Nobel prize, humanitarian award, national acclaim or public recognition that can compare with knowing God and having Him speak your name.

“Then Jesus said to his followers, “If any of you want to be my follower, you must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me. 25 Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for me will find true life. 26 It is worth nothing for you to have the whole world if you yourself are lost. You could never pay enough to buy back your life. 27 The Son of Man will come again with his Father’s glory and with his angels. And he will reward everyone for what they have done.” Matthew 16:24-27 ERV

We can become weary and exhausted from “trying” to fix all the worlds woes. Our own efforts will fall short every time. But there is a place of rest and that is found in Jesus.

“If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29 Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. 30 This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 CEV

Give up trying to gain the world and find rest in Him today!

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Common Sense

Wisdom – a commodity to be treasured. Some call it common sense but it’s far from common.

People seek for knowledge but don’t know what to do with it – not sure how to apply it. The application of that knowledge is wisdom.

Here’s the Bible records about Solomon:

“God made Solomon very wise. Solomon could understand more than you can imagine. 30 He was wiser than anyone in the Eastor in Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone on earth, even Ethan the Ezrahite and the sons of Mahol—Heman, Calcol, and Darda. King Solomon became famous in all the surrounding countries. 32 By the end of his life, he had written 3000 proverbs and 1005 songs.

33 Solomon also knew very much about nature. He taught about many different kinds of plants—everything from the great cedar trees of Lebanon to the little vines that grow out of the walls. He also taught about animals, birds, and snakes. 34 People from every nation came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom. Kings all over the world sent their people to listen to him.” I Kings 4:30-34 ERV

When the Lord asked Solomon what he wanted Solomon didn’t ask for money or strength or power, he asked for wisdom so that he could rule well. God blessed him in that way and added the other blessings also.

What is it that you find yourself asking the Lord for? Do you ask Him for wisdom – direction to finish a project, the ability to lead well, understanding of the unknown? The Lord desires to aide us in our day to day life and He will give us the wisdom we ask for – it comes from Him.

“Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom. 6 But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind. ” James 1:5-6 ERV

I found it “coincidental” that as I was reading about Solormon’s great wisdom that I also started reading Proverbs again. Look at the first few verses there.

” These are the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David and king of Israel. 2 They will help you learn to be wise, to accept correction, and to understand wise sayings. 3 They will teach you to develop your mind in the right way. You will learn to do what is right and to be honest and fair. 4 These proverbs will make even those without education smart. They will teach young people what they need to know and how to use what they have learned. 5 Even the wise could become wiser by listening to these proverbs. They will gain understanding and learn to solve difficult problems. 6 These sayings will help you understand proverbs, stories with hidden meanings, words of the wise, and other difficult sayings. 7 Knowledge begins with fear and respect for the Lord, but stubborn fools hate wisdom and refuse to learn.” Proverbs 1:1-7 ERV

Let me encourage you to spend time each day reading in Proverbs. Learn from the wisdom that God gave Solomon. If we ask, the Lord will give us wisdom also.

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Separated

The last several days we have experienced a real disconnect from cell and internet service. I know you recognize this as a common problem because I mention it when I am delayed with postings, sometimes by days and others by just hours.

But for some reason this time was particularly disheartening. I felt isolated, you see it was my birthday a couple of days ago and I was receiving notifications that I had messages and comments waiting but I had no way of reading them. It made me sad.

I was telling the Father about this yesterday morning and as the sun was coming up I looked out the window and saw this little glimpse of heaven’s beauty shining in. This glow of sunrise let me know that the Father was there and although I was separated from all of you, I wasn’t from Him.

“So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.” Romans 8:35-39 MSG

“I’m absolutely convinced that nothing…absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love”!

Nothing absolutely nothing.

The only thing that separated us at one time was our sin but the blood of Christ took care of that.

“God is sheer mercy and grace; not easily angered, he’s rich in love. He doesn’t endlessly nag and scold, nor hold grudges forever. He doesn’t treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs. As high as heaven is over the earth, so strong is his love to those who fear him. And as far as sunrise is from sunset, he has separated us from our sins. As parents feel for their children, God feels for those who fear him. He knows us inside and out, keeps in mind that we’re made of mud.” Psalm 103:7-14 MSG

Our Father has separated us from our sins!

He made the way for us always to be connected to Him; we are always in right standing because of His grace.

Nothing, absolutely nothing, can or will separate us from the Father’s love!

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Rockets Red Glare

Boy, yesterday we had a real “frog strangler” of a rain! The heavens opened and sheets of water came pouring down. The thunder rumbled and the lightning flashed. It was a real natural fireworks show.

And Dave and I watched it through the windows of our RV. We were dry and comfortable.

But how different it must have been for those early patriots who fought for our independence. They were out in the weather with no shelter to speak of, not like we know today. Musket balls were flying, and cannons were spewing their balls of lead through the air.

Those who have served in other wars have been bombarded, the weapons have improved but the conditions have been just as horrendous. Fighting for our freedom!

Francis Scott Key poetically penned the words to our national anthem while watching the battle at Fort McHenry from a distance. It was 1814 and we were once again engaged in a battle with the British. He had heard the shelling all through the night, the battle was raging and he watched hopefully as the dawn came – was the flag still flying. The hope in his heart flowed through his pen to paper and these are the words he recorded.

I hope you read them as a statement of resolve and not just a song that is sung at sporting events or other occasions.

“Oh, say can you see,
By the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hailed
At the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars,
Thru the perilous fight,
O’er the ramparts we watched
Were so gallantly streaming?
And the rockets red glare,
The bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night
That our flag was still there.
O, say, does that
Star-Spangled Banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free
And the home of the brave?”

Yes, it still waves! Sometimes it is lowered to half-staff in mourning, sometimes it has been flown upside down signaling distress but still it waves and I pray that it waves proudly over this land.

“ and if my people who are called by my name become humble and pray, and look for me, and turn away from their evil ways, then I will hear them from heaven. I will forgive their sin and heal their land.” II Chronicles 7:14 ERV

Today isn’t about potato salad, watermelon, fireworks and bar-b-ques. Today, may we all bow our heads and pray for our nation and its leaders. May we pray for our citizens to open their hearts to their neighbors in love and compassion. May we pray for a healing to cover our land.

God bless America!

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