Tag: TrustInTheLord

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One If By Land

This morning my thoughts are about “concerning” things. The things that pop into our minds trying to captivate our thoughts and rob our peace?

Pondering those things, a stanza of the “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” came to mind.

“Listen, my children, and you shall hear…

He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,—
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm.”

Now what does that poem have to do with anything?

Everything. It seems we always have a foe to face. Not many are an actual foe like the British were to the colonists during the revolution, but we fight them just the same.

We are ready spread the alarm when lay-offs threaten, when doctors’ reports reveal a dis-ease, a move takes us to an unknown place or death robs us of a loved one. Political unrest, social threats, even the smaller things like the first day of school, changing jobs, driving the freeway or facing a thunderstorm can be unsettling.

There’s a favorite verse of mine, I quote it often, however, this morning I couldn’t remember it’s exact location, so I put the words “perfect concern” in my Bible app to find it. Before I hit the enter key, I stared at those two words, perfect concern.

Our Father’s concern for our wellbeing is perfect! He wants us to come to Him in every situation because it’s with Him we find help. That’s another favorite verse of mine so, let’s look at both of them.

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:7-8 NKJV

“ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

Worry keeps us from trusting God and believing His word. He is always ready to help and handle our concerns. Worry isn’t from the Lord, peace is.

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

There’s that word “perfect” again and this time it’s coupled with the word peace. Perfect peace comes when we trust our Father.

So, if trouble is coming, whether by land, sea, air or just in our minds, we can hang a signal lantern in our hearts and the Lord will come to our rescue.

“He is the living God, the one who lives forever. His power and his kingdom will never end. 27 He rescues people and sets them free by working great miracles. Daniel’s God has rescued him from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:26-27 CEV

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Looking Up

I love taking pictures of clouds. In fact, the other morning, dressed in my jammies, I went out and crawled up on the flatbed of the truck so I could get a good shot of the sunrise.

Dave used to tease that I would probably be taking pictures of the clouds on the day the Lord returns and splits the sky! Oh, I hope so, that would be an amazing photo!

But, while I am always looking up at the skyline, many think that we as Christians have our heads buried in the sand like an ostrich, afraid to see things as they really are.

Not true! Our heads aren’t in the sand, they are in the sky. When our focus is up, we can be in perfect peace even in the worst circumstances.

Peace – perfect peace!

Looking at things the way the rest of the world does blurs the truth and causes you to “try” to fix things by ourselves. Being self-centered is a true recipe for disaster. Being God-centered is a place of peace and rest.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:” Isaiah 26:3-4 KJV

“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 26:3-4CEV

Looking up has been an analogy for salvation throughout the Bible. In Moses day, the Israelites were dying in the desert because of an outbreak of snakes in their midst. This is what the Lord had Moses do.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” Numbers 21:8 NKJV

Hundreds of years later, Jesus made reference to that very same incident when He was talking with Nicodemus, the man who came to Him at night, asking about salvation.

“ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16 NKJV

We followers of Christ have a hope for the future that others do not have. We must remember where our strength and peace come from.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2-3 NKJV

Keep looking up dear friends – that’s where our help comes from!

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Is Your Name Barnabas?

Yesterday morning I was reading about Barnabas in Acts 4. The Bible tells us his name was Joseph, but he was all called Barnabas which means son of encouragement.

Every time I read that description of this man I pause. What a legacy! Encourager.

When I think of an encourager it’s someone who is supportive, someone who builds others up, someone who offers helpful correction and instruction. Then the English wordsmith in me comes out and I look at the root word – courage. An encourager is someone who builds or places courage in another.

We could certainly all use more of that. So many struggles, frightening situations, obstacles to overcome and reasons to run and hide; this world needs more people who emulate Barnabas.

Maybe you know someone who has been going through a really tough time or maybe you see a stranger and sense that they just need a smile or a kind word. It might be your child or spouse; it could be a waitress or checker at the grocery store. I once encountered a lady at the pharmacy one day. I knew the Lord wanted me to speak to her so I asked if I could pray for her, she fell into my open arms and wept as I prayed. That was a God moment!

Keep your eyes open and your heart ready – ask the Lord to use you to bring hope, strength and joy to someone today.

But maybe you’re thinking, I wish someone would do that for me today. I need encouragement – I need a kind word. Take heart. I have good news for you!

“And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.” I Samuel 30:6 KJV

David’s wife and children had been stolen along with the wives and children of his men. His men were so distraught they were considering killing David because they felt it was “all his fault”. David needed someone to encourage him but there was no one so he encouraged himself…one version says he strengthened himself.

“…the men were talking about killing David with stones. This upset David very much, but he found strength in the Lord his God.” ERV

Maybe that’s how you feel today. If you need to encourage yourself today start with this verse. Look in the mirror and read it to yourself.

“You formed the way I think and feel.

You put me together in my mother’s womb.

14 I praise you because you made me in such a wonderful way. I know how amazing that was! 15 You could see my bones grow as my body took shape, hidden in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13-16 ERV

If no one else is there to offer words of encouragement this should put a smile on your face and hope in your heart! God formed you and He saw to it that nothing was missing in your development. He is still with you promising to never leave you or abandon you. You’re not alone!

Now take what the Lord has done for you and give hope to others. Let’s all change our name to Barnabas.

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Guard Your Heart

The last few days at work my computer and printer have been out of sync. They aren’t operating properly and so the CPU is off to the computer hospital. Repairs will be made and very shortly everything will be functioning correctly again.

Isn’t that the way it is with our lives?

Sometimes we get out of sync and when we do, we don’t operate correctly. It’s important that we get a spiritual update to function properly.

“ My son, listen to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them leave your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart. 22 For they are life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body. 23 Keep your heart pure for out of it are the important things of life. 24 Put false speaking away from you. Put bad talk far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight in front of you, and keep looking at what is in front of you. 26 Watch the path of your feet, and all your ways will be sure.” Proverbs 4:20-26 NLV

Life is not without challenges, problems and battles. If we don’t guard our hearts these things could and will break us.

King David was facing physical armies and this was his prayer:

“ When sinful men, and all who hated me, came against me to destroy my flesh, they tripped and fell. 3 Even if an army gathers against me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if war rises against me, I will be sure of You.” Psalm 27:2-3 NLV

Hannah was a woman who had been barren and had endured ridicule and consternation from those around her. She prayed asking the Lord for a child. Her prayer was answered.

“Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart is happy in the Lord. My strength is honored in the Lord. My mouth speaks with strength against those who hate me, because I have joy in Your saving power. 2 There is no one holy like the Lord. For sure, there is no one other than You. There is no rock like our God.” I Samuel 2:1-3 NLV

These are just two of the many in Scripture who guarded their hearts and saw the power of God in their lives.

“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding. 6 Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the Lord and turn away from what is sinful. 8 It will be healing to your body and medicine to your bones.” Proverbs 3:5-8 NLV

We keep our heart and our mind in sync when we trust the Lord. Our mind says worry, get angry, take short cuts, and even gossip but our heart quickly sends out the message “Trust God”.

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NLV

When our heart is focused on the Lord it causes our will and emotions to function properly. Guard your heart!

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Spa Day

Let me share some of my day with you.

I’ve been waiting for yesterday to come. You see I had a very special appointment. For my 70th birthday my family, kids and grandkids, gave me the one thing I asked for – a spa day!

Oh my, I’ve been looking for to it for weeks. Facial, massage, mani/pedi, the works. Believe it or not, I’ve never been pampered like this. I had imagined how wonderful it would be. My appointment was for 11:30, I was there by 11:15.

I walked in and since no one was at reception to meet me I signed in. I sat there patiently for the next 15 minutes. Finally someone came to the reception desk and asked why I was there. I told them I had an 11:30 appointment. Her next words caused my heart to sink, “I don’t have anyone scheduled at 11:30”.

“Surely, there’s a mistake” I said. “I was called yesterday to confirm my appointment”. After this dialogue she assured me that I was in the wrong. I asked if they had another location and she told me there was another location at least 20 minutes away. (I won’t explain how there is another spa with the same name and they are not affiliated but it’s a thing.)

I left there, almost in tears and called the other location to let them know I would be late and explained what happened. The young woman put me on hold and when she came back she told me that I would probably not get my massage, because I was late, but they could do the facial and the mani/pedi.

Big sigh!

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” I Peter 5:7 CEV

Now, it was time to pray. Before any of you think this is too petty to pray about your wrong. The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing and to pray about everything. I resolved not to be disappointed if I couldn’t get the massage I had been looking forward too and to keep my attitude pure.

“God, examine me and know my mind. Test me and know all my worries. 24 Make sure that I am not going the wrong way. Lead me on the path that has always been right.” Psalm 139:23-24 ERV

When I arrived, the masseuse was at reception. She understood my frustration and said this has happened before. She had looked at her appointments and would be able to fit me in if we rearranged the order of my services.

Thank you Jesus!

What I’ve conveyed this morning is not some deep Biblical truth, it’s simple. The Lord cares about us and all we do. He’s big enough to heal cancer and also concerned about the small things in our life like a delayed spa appointment.

Plain and simple the key to walking with the Lord is trust.

The more we read His word, the more we will realize the many facets of His character and as we grow in knowledge of our heavenly Father our faith will grow also.

Each day walk with Him, trust Him. He’s even concerned about a spa day!

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Get Some Rest

I’m aware that some of you are in a rough place right now. Some are dealing with heartache; others are facing the biggest physical challenges of your lives and still others have financial struggles that are eating away at your peace of mind.

Do like Daniel!

“So King Darius gave the order. They brought Daniel and threw him into the lions’ den. The king said to Daniel, ‘May the God you serve save you!’ 17 A big rock was brought and put over the opening of the lions’ den. Then the king used his ring and put his seal on the rock. He also used the rings of his officials and put their seals on the rock. This showed that no one could move that rock and bring Daniel out of the lion’s den. 18 Then King Darius went back to his house. He did not eat that night. He did not want anyone to come and entertain him. He could not sleep all night.

19 The next morning, King Darius got up just as it was getting light and ran to the lions’ den. 20 He was very worried. When he got to the lions’ den, he called to Daniel. He said, ‘Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God been able to save you from the lions? You always serve your God.’

21 Daniel answered, ‘King, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel to save me. The angel closed the lions’ mouths. The lions have not hurt me because my God knows I am innocent. I never did anything wrong to you, King.’

23 King Darius was very happy. He told his servants to lift Daniel out of the lions’ den. And when Daniel was lifted out of the den, they did not find any injury on his body. The lions did not hurt Daniel because he trusted in his God.” Daniel 6:15-23 ERV

The king was the one who was worried and lost sleep that night but Daniel was safe in the lion’s den.

I had a Bible teacher in college who told us that the safest place we could be was where God put us. He said if God called us to be on the freeway at 5 p.m. we would be safer there than sitting in our dorm rooms. He told us to always live in obedience to God’s calling and trust the Lord’s protection and faithfulness.

“I am making a new law. This law is for people in every part of my kingdom. All of you must fear and respect the God of Daniel. Daniel’s God is the living God; he lives forever. His kingdom will never be destroyed. His rule will never end. 27 God helps and saves people. He does amazing miracles in heaven and on earth. He saved Daniel from the lions.” Daniel 6:15-27 ERV

You can rest securely when you are obedient. Your test will become a testimony of God’s power and love to the world!

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A Strong Heart

So many advertisements and commercials encourage us to be “heart smart”. I agree we should, but it won’t come from eating a certain cereal, taking a low grain aspirin every day, or any other thing that man can advertise.

To truly have a strong heart we must take a good dose of Scripture every day.

“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.” I Kings 8:61

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

We should be trusting the Lord always and letting him direct our paths. He will keep us from accidentally running off course and colliding with discouragement, depression, anger and bitterness.

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

The Lord will strengthen our hearts when we feel emotionally drained and unable to go on. He came to heal the broken-hearted.

“ The Spirit of the Lord is on Me. He has put His hand on Me to preach the Good News to poor people. He has sent Me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent Me to tell those who are being held that they can go free. He has sent Me to make the blind to see and to free those who are held because of trouble. 19 He sent Me to tell of the time when men can receive favor with the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19 NLV

What we believe can either cause our hearts to fail or to be encouraged.

“If you openly say, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from death, you will be saved. 10 Yes, we believe in Jesus deep in our hearts, and so we are made right with God. And we openly say that we believe in him, and so we are saved. 11 Yes, the Scriptures say, ‘Anyone who trusts in him will never be disappointed.'” Romans 10:9-11 ERV

Never disappointed – now that’s an amazing promise! I can honestly say I have not attained that, yet. I deal with disappointments some are just temporary, but others remain for a while and really increase my dependency on Jesus.

“ I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 ERV

Our Father desires to fill us with hope, joy and peace. He will as we trust Him, keep your heart strong.

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Basking in the Son

For a number of summers Dave and I drove from Montana to Iowa. On our return trip I loved driving through the miles of sunflower fields along I-90 in South Dakota.

The first couple of years we were on the road before sunrise and when we reached the fields they were still bent low. I remember the first year we came through after the sun had risen. The stems had strengthened and the blooms were facing the sun. It was glorious!

When we moved back to Arizona I planted some sunflowers in my garden. They were a living reminder that I should face the Son and bask in His light.

That’s the way that we grow in the Lord – we bask in the Son.

“Our Lord and our God, you are like the sun and also like a shield. You treat us with kindness and with honor, never denying any good thing to those who live right. 12 Lord God All Powerful, you bless everyone who trusts you.” Psalm 84:11-12 CEV

For years, I tried to be more like Christ; trying hard to do the right things, keeping my attitude in check, putting others first, etc. I wanted to make sure I was reading my Bible, attending church, tithing, serving. Did you notice it was all about me and what I was trying to do?

“Let the wonderful kindness and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you to keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen” II Peter 3:18 CEV

Our growth as Christians doesn’t come from our efforts any more than the sunflowers can control their reaction to the warmth of the sun. My works to be like Him are futile and unsustainable but His works in me produce the growth. Understanding His amazing grace lifts my head and my heart, making me more like Him.

“But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.” Psalm 3:3 NLT

God’s grace covers me when I fall, picks me up, encourages me to keep going and not lose hope. When I began to realize what grace truly was my relationship with the Father and with Jesus began to grow.

Knowledge of His deep unconditional love brought me from a place of working for the Lord to letting Him work in and through me.

Each day I desire to bask in the Son and let His light change my life.

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Imperfect Mothers

This morning when I woke my mind was filled with some of the Bible’s most famous mothers; Eve, Mrs. Noah, Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Jochebed, Naomi, and Mary.

These ladies gave birth to Cain and Abel, Shem, Ham, Japheth, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, Benjamin, Moses, Miriam, Aaron, Mahlon, Chilion, and Jesus.

They weren’t perfect mothers. One gave birth to a murderer, one helped her son steal his brother’s birthright and deceive his father, one we know nothing about, one persuaded her husband to have an affair which caused all kinds of trouble between the man’s two sons.

One gave birth to the children who would leave the Israelites from Egypt but her youngest son had to be given up and raised by another woman who adopted him and taught him the ways of false gods.

One mother moved with her husband and sons to a foreign nation where they lived as outcasts and when her husband and sons died in that country she lived to return to Israel alone, broken and bitter. Her consolation was a daughter-in-law who refused to leave her alone, Ruth.

And finally, we come to the mother of a perfect Son, Mary. But, Mary wasn’t a perfect mother either. Her son’s siblings had doubts as to His divinity and at times they thought He had really lost touch with reality.

All of these mothers were women with faults; women like we are today. They had worries and concerns for their children. Their daily life was taxing, it was hard. They made mistakes. However, God blessed them with children who would change the world.

God has given us the opportunity to raise world-changers. We don’t have to be perfect but we do need to be committed to pray. Even now, my children are 48, 46 and 37 and I pray for them daily.

“I, the Lord, will teach your children, and they will have real peace.” Isaiah 54:13 ERV

Each morning I say, “Thank you Lord for teaching my children today and giving them peace. Let them see that You love and care for them.”

Are they world-changers? Yes, they are! Do you know their names? Probably not, but they change the world of their friends and the people they associate with and help. They change the world of their families and God has been good to keep them safe even in dangerous professions.

Am I a perfect mother? Not hardly. I know the mistakes I have made and those are regrettable but God has assured me that I have been forgiven and I know my children have forgiven me too.

I want to encourage mothers, young and old, we have a calling from the Lord. Pray for your children to have hearts that are soft toward the things of God and never give up hope. Afterall, Moses was eighty years old before God called to him from a burning bush in the desert. There’s still time for Him to reach your child.

“Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way.” Proverbs 3:5-6 ERV

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Dependence

Sitting here this morning I find myself staring at my empty coffee cup. It’s an uncommon occurrence. Beside my cup is an empty coffee maker, another rarity. You see, in a few hours I will be having some routine lab work and I need to go fasting – and yes, that means my coffee also.

I like wrapping my hands around that cup, feeling the warmth, smelling the aroma and then savoring the flavor of that first sip. I admit, I am dependent.

Dependency is often construed as a weakness. From a very early age we strive for independence. Have you ever been around the toddler who tries to dress themself only to put their shirt on backwards and their shoes on the wrong feet, all the time proclaiming “I do it myself”?

Then there’s the teenager who thinks they can do it all – without any help from you, thank you very much. Wanting no guidance, instruction or help. We outgrow our teens but we take that independence with us into the job market. Independence causes us to bow our backs when being given instruction or assigned a task that has us working as a team.

We like being independent but that same quality, left unchecked, can leave us feeling alone and left out. We put off an attitude that we don’t need anyone, we are self-sufficient and so we hold others at arms length.

Sometimes we do that with God. We go about life on our own until we are faced with a life-challenging, heart-breaking circumstance and then we cry out “God where are You?”

Dependence.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
    His mercies never cease.
23 Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
    therefore, I will hope in him!”

25 The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
    to those who search for him.
26 So it is good to wait quietly
    for salvation from the Lord.
27 And it is good for people to submit at an early age
    to the yoke of his discipline:” Lamentations 3:22-27 NLT

I have always found the Lord to be faithful. He is my loving and gracious heavenly Father. He wants me to depend on Him. He provides His strength in my weakness; His forgiveness for my failures; His character replaces my selfishness.

“The Lord always keeps his promises;
    he is gracious in all he does.
14 The Lord helps the fallen
    and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
15 The eyes of all look to you in hope;
    you give them their food as they need it.
16 When you open your hand,
    you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
    he is filled with kindness.
18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,
    yes, to all who call on him in truth.” Psalm 145:13-18 NLT

Dependence.

Back to that empty coffee cup. It’s part of my morning worship. It’s me sitting alone with no distractions, offering my praise and gratitude, making my petitions, laying down my cares at His feet. Sharing a cup of coffee with my Lord and I make myself completely dependent on Him!

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