Category: Trust

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An Audience with the King

I have a very strong image of God, the Father, as my heavenly father. I often see Him in my mind’s eye, sitting with me, as a father does with his daughter. There is a familiarity that comes with the closeness of His love. It gives me great comfort.

Then I come across verses that I read this morning and if brings me back to the fact that my Father, my heavenly Father, is the ruler of the universe. There is no power greater than His.

He reigns in majesty!

“Our Lord, you are King! Majesty and power are your royal robes. You put the world in place,
  and it will never be moved. 2 You have always ruled, and you are eternal.

3 The ocean is roaring, Lord! The sea is pounding hard. 4 Its mighty waves are majestic,
  but you are more majestic, and you rule over all. 5 Your decisions are firm, and your temple will always be beautiful and holy.” Psalm 93 CEV

You have always ruled…always. And He still does!

I remember the words from a movie I like. The king has disguised himself as a commoner so he could live among his subjects. At a climaxing moment in the movie, he reveals himself as king. He makes this statement, “I am king and as such my words are incontestable”!

The words of a king are law and as such they are not to be argued with. What he says is established.

Our Father, the King, has established His word forever.

“The sky and the earth won’t last forever, but my words will.” Matthew 24:35 CEV

The stars are held in place by his word, the seas hold their ebb by his word, the sun rises and sets according to his word. We can put our trust in His word and know that He will not lie and He will not change. His word is incontestable!

That gives me great confidence and hope. The Almighty God, the One who was, who is and who will always be, is the ruling force behind the words I base my life on. There is no one, no force of nature, no government, no other power who can stop His word from coming to pass.

“Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

We are invited to come bravely before the throne of Almighty God and find help. He has extended the invitation. We have full access to an audience with the King!

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Big Smile

Can you believe it? January is over and tomorrow is February. The first month of the year is in the books!

Good, bad or indifferent those days are gone. I hope they were successful and you accomplished what you had planned. My goal was to have everything in place in our new home. I’ve fallen short but 90% complete is better than 50%, so I am satisfied. I know it will only be a few more days and things will be the way I want them.

The thing we haven’t done is stress out over what’s undone; we are enjoying each day in our new home. The perfectionist in me is slowly taking a back seat to the practical me. Dave too. We are allowing ourselves to rest in between projects and not be so driven that we don’t enjoy the process.

That’s why verses like the ones I’m going to share with you today ring so loudly in my heart.

“I will praise the Lord at all times.
    I will never stop singing his praises.
2 Humble people, listen and be happy,
    while I brag about the Lord.
3 Praise the Lord with me.
    Let us honor his name.
4 I went to the Lord for help, and he listened.
    He saved me from all that I fear.
5 If you look to him for help,
    he will put a smile on your face.
    You will have no need to be ashamed.
6 As a poor, helpless man I prayed to the Lord,
    and he heard me.
    He saved me from all my troubles.
7 The Lord’s angel builds a camp around his followers,
    and he protects them.
8 Give the Lord a chance to show you how good he is.
    Great blessings belong to those who depend on him!” Psalm 34:1-8 ERV

He will put a smile on your face! I like that, and this too – give the Lord a chance to show you how good he is. Just give Him a chance…

We don’t often think about it but we can limit God. We can! When Jesus went from town to town healing the sick and taking care of people’s needs the Bible tells us that when He came to his own hometown He couldn’t do any mighty works because of their unbelief.

“Don’t his sisters still live here in our town? How can he do all this?” 57 So the people were very unhappy because of what he was doing. But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their own family.” 58 And because the people did not have any faith, Jesus did not work many miracles there.” Matthew 13:56-58 CEV

We need to be willing to give God a chance; let’s let Him be God and do what God does. Things get all confused when we try to set ourselves up in His place of authority! Letting God be God brings a peace and contentment.

Start February with a big smile instead of a frown. God’s got this!

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Stay Put

This morning I have spent a lot of time praying…so many people and things that came to mind and so I brought them to the Father.

Situations beyond my control; things I would like to see changed, things that concern me and those I love. And as I prayed, I did get the Lord’s peace and I also received His instruction.

“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 NLT

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

Same verse – two different translations. Look at those two words that I put in bold type. Fixed. Stayed.

Last week we hung some pictures on the wall of our new RV. They were affixed to the wall with both nails and museum putty. We want to make sure they stay in place when we travel down the road. Some people say that RV’s go through the equivalent of an earthquake every time they are towed. Things have a tendency to move around and we didn’t want that happening with the pictures.

But this morning, that was the image the Lord gave me about my thoughts. If I’m going to be at peace my thoughts need to be fixed and stayed on my trust in the Lord and His word. Held tight in the earthquake of life’s circumstances.

And if that weren’t enough, the Lord reminded me of my teaching just a few days back about hope being our anchor. Again, an anchor is something that holds us in a “fixed” position, so we don’t drift off course. But here’s one more thought the Lord brought to mind. It’s regarding our confidence in His love.

“and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love.” Ephesians 3:17 CEV

A tree that is deeply rooted in the soil won’t blow over in the wind; it stays in place.

All through God’s word we have examples, word pictures, of the stability and strength that our lives have when we trust, have faith in, stay fixed upon, God’s love for us and the promises of His word!

If you’re having trouble holding on to your peace, then do what Dave and I did with those pictures. Nail them down and stick them in place.

Keep your heart fixed upon the Lord. Make it stay put!

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The Gift of Trust

Up earlier than usual this morning. Couldn’t sleep, lots on my mind. Made my way to the sofa to read and pray…for family, friends, our nation, personal circumstances and things that had to be prayed through by the Holy Spirit.

As I read, the word “trust” repeatedly came from the pages and from my heart. Really, that’s what Christmas is all about – trusting that the gift of His Son would bring us all the salvation that the Father had planned. Trusting in His goodness and love; his mercy and grace.

Trusting that the Father is always faithful!

“ Then the Lord came down to him in a cloud, stood there with Moses, and spoke his own name. 6 That is, the Lord passed in front of Moses and said, “Yahweh, the Lord, is a kind and merciful God. He is slow to become angry. He is full of great love. He can be trusted.” Exodus 34:5-6 ERV

“So remember that the Lord your God is the only God, and you can trust him! He keeps his agreement. He shows his love and kindness to all people who love him and obey his commands. He continues to show his love and kindness through a thousand generations,” Deuteronomy 7:9 ERV

The Father knows we have a tendency to forget things and He never wants us to forget His love and faithfulness so He repeatedly reminds of it through His word.

“God’s way is perfect. The Lord’s promise always proves to be true. He protects those who trust in him. 32 There is no God except the Lord. There is no Rock except our God.” II Samuel 20:31-32 ERV

What a precious gift we have been given! We have the Father’s promise and He is completely worthy of trust – there is no God except our Lord.

“So come near to God with a sincere heart, full of confidence because of our faith in Christ. 23 We must hold on to the hope we have, never hesitating to tell people about it. We can trust God to do what he promised.” Hebrews 10:22b-23 ERV

This morning I needed to be reminded to trust! I found myself wavering, on the verge of worry and that’s when I heard in my heart “I trust You”. May you need to hear those same words today – “I trust You”. The Lord is faithful; His word never fails, He always keeps His promises.

A few days back I told you about my favorite Christmas CD, The Gift, by Kenny Rogers. I want to share just a few lyrics from one of the songs on that album.

“God said, Mary pure and holy
With this baby, I trust you
She said, surely I’m not worthy
And it scares me, but I trust you.

Underneith a shining star
In a manger stall
Mary held the gift of love
God gave to us all.

Precious baby pure and holy
I’m not worthy, but I trust you

Precious baby pure and holy
Will you save me, I trust you
Son of Mary, I trust you…*

Receive this wonderful gift that the Father has given us – open your heart and say “Son of Mary, Son of God, I trust you”!

*I Trust You written by Skip Ewing and Don Schlitz

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On Solid Ground

Where are you standing today? Is your footing sure?

Hiking the hills, it’s imperative that you know where your next step needs to be. The terrain is covered with undergrowth and brush and the rocky ground can cause your foot to give way without any notice.

The same holds true in life.

If you are standing on a unsure foundation undoubtedly you will slip and fall. But when the foundation is sure, you are secure.

“But the foundation that God has laid is solid. On it is written, “The Lord knows who his people are. So everyone who worships the Lord must turn away from evil.” II Timothy 2:19 CEV

Jesus referred to a house on a solid foundation (rock) in a parable and then went on to say that the rock was the Word of God.

“Anyone who comes and listens to me and obeys me 48 is like someone who dug down deep and built a house on solid rock. When the flood came and the river rushed against the house, it was built so well that it didn’t even shake. 49 But anyone who hears what I say and doesn’t obey me is like someone whose house wasn’t built on solid rock. As soon as the river rushed against that house, it was smashed to pieces!” Luke 6:47-49 CEV

I love the old hymn that says the same. It was written by a man named Edward Mote in the 1800’s – it has a very true message for today.

My hope is built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale ,My anchor holds within the veil. His oath, His covenant, His blood Support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found; Dressed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne. Refrain: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.

When we put our hope and trust in Jesus, we will find our footing is secure on the Solid Rock!

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What About Tomorrow?

Dave and I are planners – yes, it’s a blessing and a curse. We make “lists”; first in our heads, then in our conversation and finally we put them down on paper.

We only have a couple more weeks on the mountain. We’ve loved our time here and would really hate to leave except that the cooler temperatures are reminding us it’s going to get cold. After living in Montana where it could get to 25-35 below zero, we have decided we don’t like being cold.

So, thinking ahead to what’s next once we leave our mountain home, we have begun to organize our thoughts and our priorities. It’s a common question amongst camp hosts – where will you go and what will you do when you leave here.

The last few nights we have been sitting by the fire talking, organizing, making our list and to be honest, there is an anxiousness that has started to creep in. Almost a worry about some things. That’s where we were a few nights ago. That angst needed to be banished – it’s not from God, we know that. God’s plans bring peace!

“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. You have enough to worry about today.” Matthew 6:33-34 CEV

When we are trusting God with our tomorrows we can leave worry behind. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, that our Father isn’t capable of handling. Not one thing that will arise in our lives with catch Him by surprise!

“Look how the wild flowers grow! They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of these flowers. 28 God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. Won’t he do even more for you? You have such little faith! 29 Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. 30 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need.” Luke 12:27-30 CEV

There’s an old song I used to sing, “I Know Who Holds Tomorrow”, that’s been running through my head lately. It brings me back to that place of peace that I know the Lord has designed for me.

“I don’t know about tomorrow
I just live for day to day
I don’t borrow from the sunshine
For it’s skies may turn to gray

I don’t worry o’er the future
For I know what Jesus said
And today I’ll walk beside Him
For He knows what lies ahead

Many things about tomorrow
I don’t seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand”

I’m writing this to myself today and if it ministers to you I’m glad!

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

Lord, I give you my today and my tomorrow. I’ll hold Your hand and walk in Your peace!

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Learning to Lean

When I got up this morning, those three words were going through my mind. Learning to Lean…

The first thing I thought of were the times I have been on boats. “Getting your sea legs” is what it’s called. My dad took me deep sea fishing when I was a girl – I got seasick. Really seasick. But later that same day I learned to shift my weight with the rolling of the waves and it wasn’t so bad.

I’ve seen those movies and documentaries where the beautiful couple stands posing on the bow of the boat, and they seem to stand effortlessly, but that’s Hollywood and the stabilizing effect of a large cruise type ship.

We all need to learn to lean.

In the forest around us, there are many trees that are leaning. They have grown that way after being shaped by the wind. Sunflowers lean to face the sun, palm trees lean in the direction of water.

We need to learn to lean also.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

“With all your heart you must trust the Lord and not your own judgment. 6 Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.” Proverbs 3:5-6 CEV

We often think we can handle things on our own. However, our own thinking is finite and subject to error and misconception. When we learn to lean on the Lord and trust His direction our steps will be sure and our decisions will be right.

May I encourage you to lean back in the arms of Jesus – He will not fail to hold us steady!

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Fare Well

Two phrases have been running through my mind – fare well (welfare) and well being. These two phrases are very much akin to each other.

Fare well: in the Old English meant to enjoy a life that was well provided for and later was shorten to become welfare. Fare well was used as you departed from someone, much like our word good-bye. I like that saying, it conveys a sentiment of concern for the other person’s good health and success.

Well being: is very similar to fare well. Again, it has to do with the condition of life. Well-being or being well implies more than just good health. It has to do with the whole man, spirit, soul and body.

When I pray for people I pray for the well-being and their welfare.

“I pray that God, who gives peace, will make you completely holy. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept healthy and faultless until our Lord Jesus Christ returns.” I Thessalonians 5:23 CEV

“With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3 The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4 and protects us from death.
His kindness and love  are a crown on our heads. 5 Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle. 6 For all who are mistreated, the Lord brings justice.” Psalm 103:2-6 CEV

So many in the world think that God is wanting our lives to be filled with woe and agony, that is so far from the truth. From the time He chose Abraham to be the father of the nation and the people He called His own He has desired to bless us. He is our loving and gracious heavenly father.

If you have kids you understand that we give our children instruction and tell them to follow our words. They need to know not to touch a hot stove, to brush their teeth and wash their hands. We teach them to share and be kind and forgiving. We command them to rest, they may not want to take a nap but we know they must have good rest in order to be well and have a good temperament.

God has done the same for His children. He has given us instructions, commandments as it were, to follow. Each time He gave commandments He told his children to follow them and they would be blessed. They would fare well. He wanted them, and us, to walk in His blessings.

Part of my Bible reading took me to Leviticus 26 this morning. I won’t include all the verses here but may I encourage you to read it for yourself. Here’s an excerpt:

“ Faithfully obey my laws, 4 and I will send rain to make your crops grow… Your harvest…will be so abundant, that you won’t know what to do with it all. ..6 I will bless your country with peace, and you will rest without fear…9 I will treat you with such kindness that your nation will grow strong, and I will also keep my promises to you…11 I will live among you and never again look on you with disgust. 12 I will walk with you—I will be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God,…I have set you free; now walk with your heads held high.” Leviticus 26:3-13 CEV

These are the words of our God and loving Father. It is His desire that we fare well and have a life of well-being.

Fare well dear friends!

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Many Wonders

This morning I have a short thought to share with you from the book of Job.

Job was the object of the devil’s destruction. He lost his home, his livelihood and his children. In all of it, he never blamed God or walked away from his relationship with Him.

His friends thought Job had sinned greatly and that God was punishing him but Job maintain that he hadn’t sinned. After many days of their rebuke, the Lord spoke and confirmed Job’s innocence of any great sin.

The one thing that stands out to me from this trial is that Job always saw the greatness of God, his friends made mention of it too. They talked of creation and all that God had made. They talked of the way nature moved in harmony and were amazed by what God had done.

I believe this is where Job found his strength to endure the trial is was in.

“Job, consider carefully the many wonders of God. 15 Can you explain why lightning
flashes at the orders 16 of God who knows all things? Or how he hangs the clouds
in empty space?” Job 37:14-16 CEV

We would do well to follow these words; “consider carefully the many wonders of God”.

When we are going through a trial and feel alone and lost “consider carefully the many wonders of God”. Our God and Father who created all we see is by our side. He has promised to never leave us. He is our protector and provider, He is our strength and our joy!

The other day while we were hiking by a river I saw this marvelous mushroom. It’s called a turkey tail. It’s amazingly different for many of the other mushrooms. Our Father created it. If He would put this much creative thought into creating a mushroom just think of how much thought and purpose He puts into designing our lives.

“I will bless you with a future filled with hope—a future of success, not of suffering.” Jeremiah 29:11 CEV

If you need to be encouraged today, look around and consider the many wonders of God. This God and Father knows the number of the hairs on your head, He knows your name and you are valuable and special to Him!

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Trust is Progressive

As with most things, trust is not a one time experience, it’s progressive.

Any adult who has tried to coax a child or grandchild into jumping into their arms in the swimming pool knows what I’m talking about. The child stands timidly on the side, while you are tell them repeatedly, “It’s ok, I’ll catch you”, knows it takes time for them to trust.

Each time it gets easier for them…trust has been built. There’s a track record that they can count on.

Do you have a track record with the Lord? Have you trusted Him in the small things of life and found Him always faithful? If so, your trust has grown and matured and you have a confidence that He will never let you down.

Perhaps you are standing on the edge for the first time and hearing the Lord say, “Trust me, I’ll catch you”.

This morning I would like to share a few of my favorite trust verses. Write them down, screen shot them, keep them handy. You’ll rely on them again and again. I know I have.

“God’s way is perfect. The Lord’s promise always proves to be true. He protects those who trust in him.” II Samuel 22:31 ERV

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in people.” Psalm 118:8 ERV

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge.” Proverbs 3:5 ERV

Early in our marriage we were really struggling financially. Two small children to care for, Dave was working long hours but there was barely enough to cover household expenses and even less for groceries. I remember the first time I prayed over my grocery list.

My prayer went something like this. “Lord, you know I need to feed my family. I don’t know what I’m going to do. I only have $25 . I need a miracle. I trust You.” And off I went.

I was learning to trust.

I did not deviate from my list. The first item, bread, had a 2 for 1 special. Next was eggs, this week’s price 79 cents a dozen, milk, cheese, potatoes, flour, sugar…90% of the items were on special and if I remember correctly, I spent $23.74.

“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 6:31-33 ERV

I wish I could tell you that from that day forward I always trusted the Lord but that wouldn’t be true. There have been times, more than I’d like to admit, that I have done my own thing, trusted in my own knowledge and resources and have neglected to trust the Lord. The outcome was far from stellar.

But when I returned to trusting in my Father’s provision, He was always there waiting to help.

“So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

Trust the Lord with the small things and soon you will be trusting Him with everything! It’s progressive.

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