"Daisy's in Fall"

As I look out my living room window, the leaves are making their majestic wordless announcement that autumn has come. Crayola may have identified these colors, but they'll never be able to recreate the splendor. Prolific writers, poets, painters and musicians have used their talents to try and display autumn's cornucopia of beauty, yet they fall short of what I get by walking along wooded paths or sitting beside the canal amidst the infantry of trees. Experience always triumphs with the sights, smells and tastes of fall.

Personal experience also triumphs in the realm of the spirit. Jesus never intended for us to be outside observers of His salvation, "readers only" of His grace or mere onlookers of His mercy. His Word is not meant to remain a collection of black and red letters on white pages. John wrote in 1 John 1:1"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life..." And because of his rich experience with Christ, we are all richer for it. I just listened to a tremendous teaching from Britt Merrick, who is walking through a devastating experience with a heart passionately in love with God and His Word. I'd like to share it with anyone who has some time to listen...you will be richer for it as well.

When My Heart Is Overwhelmed from Reality on Vimeo.

This is his daughter's website for those who'd like to see pictures and follow her journey through cancer. Pray For Daisy

God's Prescription for Fear

Daughter fed, watered, changed, and napping. Check.

Husband fed, laundered, given TLC, Aleve, warm rice bag and propped on couch correctly (his back is out). Check.

Fish fed, tomato plants watered, kitchen cleaned, laundry folded, groceries put away, bills paid, phone calls returned. Check.

Where's my coffee? There...double check.

Email says...oh my. Forwards about crime, news reports about Islam, the government is doing WHAT? They found the body where? Urgent prayer requests for who? Ugh...

"Lord? I'm so thankful the Holy Spirit knows how to interpret my groans. I also thank You that I know You in these unbelievable days. I can't quite wrap my mind around all of this atrocity in the world. I know what your Word predicts...but it's so hard some days to read, hear, and watch all of the lies, deception, greed, murder, abuse...and then be touched in different ways from the suffering, pain, weariness, and such in those that I love. Please speak to me Lord. I want to hear from You."

Psalm 18:4-6 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears.

Such were my thoughts only moments ago. I opened up my devotional and had to copy it here for anyone that may have a day similar to what I was having. And if you aren't, you STILL will be blessed by this incredible truth for days that lie ahead. God bless you...

Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because if you are distressed by them, what do you do different than other men? Other men have not your God to fly to; they have never proved His faithfulness as you have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear: but you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess?

Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would, doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances. The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God; they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do?

Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure. Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, "Stand still and see the salvation of God." For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. How can you glorify God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God's high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and rely in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, "let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

Now how excellent is our God? How excellent is His Word? How excellent is His name in ALL the earth!!!

It's a Daily Thing

I love mornings like this. Though tomatoes and strawberries are growing out my back window and a hummingbird darts furiously around a feeder, the perfume of autumn is preceding fall's arrival. I love the colors, smells, tastes and textures of fall. Many link this season with New York's seemingly eternal winter close behind, but I rather soak up each day of autumn and deal with winter when it announces itself.

That in mind, I had a moment to pick up my Christian's Daily Challenge devotional and would like to share with anyone who cares to read. It just seemed to piggyback on this light fall fragrance in the air...

"I must walk today." Lk.13:23
"Give us THIS DAY our daily bread." Matt.6:11

Apprehension sometimes comes from looking too far ahead. How few of us really live in the present! Most of us are perpetually saddened by looking back upon our past, or filled with apprehensions from looking forward into a dim and shadowy future. We are crippled in our exertions because we fail to seize vigorously upon the present. Let us learn to live now. What peace of mind it produces, what weight of character-"I do one thing at a time."

A Christian can no more take in a supply of grace for the future that he can eat today to last him for the next six months, or take sufficient air into his lungs at once to sustain life for a week to come. We must draw upon God's boundless stores of grace from day to day, as we need it.

Hearing the Voice of the Lord

As jelly-covered fingertips pulled on the back of my hair in a seeming salon attempt, a little voice whispered, "Ohhh, I love you mommy. Petty hay-uh." I could wear blackberry jam highlights anywhere on those words. Eight years after Dr.'s reports seemed to finalize the impossibility of my ever being a mother, this little toddler, playing tug-of-war with my hair strands, speaks words these days I thought I'd only hear in my dreams. I smile constantly from the joy and laughter she has brought into my life. I never get tired of listening to her speak...never.

But I have to admit, I've had the Lord in my life for much longer and to describe what HIS voice does to my heart, mind and spirit, is not even comparable to my sweet little girl. He's absolutely everything to me...and to hear Him speak is life-changing.

I watched a video of a recorded interview with Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy and Ruth Bell Graham, the other day and was stunned to hear her say that she only reads about a paragraph of the Bible each day. She went on to explain the reasons for this and then shared how the Lord seems to speak to her through His Word more than any other way. I love that. It made me jump to her website where I found a free Bible study resource entitled "Learning To Hear His Voice." There is a 9-page worksheet with an accompanying video clip to help anyone learn how to read the Bible, understand what it says and then listen for the Lord as He practically applies the Word to your heart and life.

I watched the video twice and was so deeply touched, I had to share this with anyone who may benefit. Though you may already do this kind of reading and application, it's a great resource to send along to others.

CLICK HERE to go to Anne's website for the free resources with the video link at the bottom of the page.

God's Waiting Room

When I added several nights of interrupted sleep due to shouts of "Mama!" every other hour, plus days consumed with non-stop demands, abnormal physical labor, and several emotional conversations, it equalled absolute exhaustion. By 7:00 p.m. the other night, I ached from head to toe and started to fall asleep sitting straight up on the couch. I had a flashback of my Dad falling asleep in his chair years ago; mouth hanging wide open and full throttle snores that sounded like a southern thunderstorm. I slithered off the couch with a vague memory of toothpaste and pajamas, but darkness hit halfway down to the pillow. I slept undisturbed until the next morning.

It's amazing the difference when our exhausted body receives the rest it desperately needs. Clarity of thought, better perspective, lighter emotions, and renewed energy are just a few of the positive changes that can come. This morning, the Lord reminded me of a verse I think I could actually recite in my sleep.

"But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew [their] strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint." Isa.40:31

By "waiting" on the Lord...one simple, decisive action...the Lord has said that His people will have:

• Renewed strength. Are you feeling weak today? If it be physical, God will never ask us to do more than we are physically able to. He is the same Lord referred to in verse 11 of this chapter-a Good Shepherd that carries "lambs" and gently leads those with little ones. He's understanding and leads at a pace we are able to follow. Verse 29 promises "HE gives power to the weak and to those who have no might, He increases strength." Are you going through a trial today and need emotional strength? Whatever area of life we feel weak in, He longs to show Himself strong on your behalf (2 Cor.12:10, 2 Chron.16:9)
• Mounting up or soaring like an eagle. This is a study in itself. Do you need a better perspective on your life? Do you desire to be able to soar above the storm clouds like an eagle does?
• Running without weariness. Is this not the pace of life for many today? While I often think being younger would be the solution to my exhaustion at times, Verse 30, reminds me "Even the youths shall faint and be weary," This weariness is a particular word that comes from the type of fatigue from hard work or continual labor. When we give out, whether over and over repeatedly or with great effort, the result is this type of weariness. Even the most "fit" people have a limit. Whether we are talking emotionally, physically, intellectually, spiritually, etc. As life in the Bible has been likened to a race, running it without weariness reflects an endurance that is supernatural.
• Walking without fainting. The word faint is slightly different than weary, but it is a type of fatigue. In one area of scripture, it is "grief." Before I had reached verse 31, I had read verse 26 repeatedly:

Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these [things], that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that [he is] strong in power; not one faileth.

It's the greatness of God's might, strong in power, that not one of those individually created and named stars and planets, fail or is missing (NKJV). Each one of those inanimate creations of God has His attention, a unique glory (1 Cor 15:41) and is kept by His great power. The reality of that thought helped me this morning. I hope it helps you too.

Anyone else wanna join the Lord's waiting room? We never leave the same...

How Does Your Garden Grow?

It's been a small millennia since I last wrote an entry here, so I'm mainly posting for my own benefit. In my reading this morning, Jesus was having a dialogue with people who believed they were very spiritual with a rich, Godly heritage. They believed in the One True God and doubtless, they adhered to the religous ordinances established by Him and according to the scriptures. In a sense, I'm with them.

"If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples...but you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you." John 8:31b,37b

They had murder in their hearts. A desire to do Him harm. There was anger building within them that they would not acknowledge. They ignored His truthful diagnosis and focused on arguments to protect their reputation. Their defensiveness surfaced in their words. "How dare you accuse us...?!" Jesus spoke to them about their spiritual condition - they barricaded themselves behind their outward form of religion and history.

This came close enough to me that I had to stop a little while and muse. I'm well aware that Jesus said if we have hatred in our hearts, it's the same as murder. I don't have hatred, but I have fought bitterness and anger against others recently. Like a poison ivy seed planted in my heart, it will spread, infect and wrap itself around what God desires to be His throne with love growing instead.

I could actually take that one verse..."but you seek to (whatever sin I'm struggling against) , because My word has found no place in you." There's the weed killer. The accurate diagnosis for any of our sins. His word does not find a resting place in our hearts. Heb. 4:2b "the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." So many Bible studies, so many sermons, so much fellowship, and still...the petty things I allow and make excuses for in my life. God's grace amazes me. Jesus continued to tell them the true issue in their heart and there was time for them to repent and make it right. We don't know who turned and softened versus those that continued in their pride and self-deception, but we will some day.

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves."

James 1:22

Time for some gardening...

Can They Pick Us Out?

As I pulled into the parking space, I glanced up into the mirror and said, "Maddie, let's pray before we go inside, ok?" "NO!" came the response over a protruding bottom lip and furrowed eye brows. I quickly calculated the risk factors of this mood and nearness of nap time versus how much time I had left to buy birthday gifts. I decided the gifts necessitated the risk and I'd fly like the wind.

After a quick, Nehemiah style prayer for help and God's grace for my STRONG-willed toddler (emphasis on purpose), I dashed across the parking lot, through the front doors and plopped her into a shopping cart. You know the story...not five minutes into my expedition, Maddie began exercising her vocal chords while arching backwards angrily in the cart with such strange contortions, I thought "gymnastics might be in her future". Then I noticed it...

I could pretty much tell who were or had been mothers versus those who probably had not. Not 100%, but up there. One woman leaned across the aisle with a piece of Bubble Yum saying "Can she have this? It might help!" "No, but thank you. She's not two yet and she'd swallow it." Madigan saw an attempted transaction of a treat denied, so when the woman's hand withdrew, her decibel level increased. "Ohhhh, I wish you'd try it!" the woman said as she shoved the gum back in her purse and u-turned in the opposite direction. The next passerby gave such a disapproving scan, I almost blurted out, "If you just ignore her for a few more minutes, she'll stop!" Having way too much experience with child abuse cases, I didn't feel like risking being arrested if I used the spoon on my daughter's hand in public. Yes...I thought of going to the bathroom with her...after I got home.

But when I finally got to the shortest of two very long checkout lanes, I looked down at a pair of gorgeous, chestnut brown eyes blinking at me from a 3 year old girl. Her mother looked up and said "You know, mine just had an explosion on the other side of the store, so don't feel bad." I guess it was all over my face. The lady behind me chimed in with condolences and a sweet, Mother Goose figured lady in the next aisle nodded knowingly behind a tender smile. Ahhhhhh...my soul breathed a sigh of relief as I found myself encompassed by a crowd of "been there, done that" moms. An attendant quickly opened a new checkout lane and everyone hand-motioned me through first.

I was thinking, it should be just as easy to identify those who are the Christians in this world than those who are mothers in a store. Jesus said that the entire world will be able to identify us by our love. John 13:34, 35-"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." The love we have for one another and a passionate love for our God. It should be easy in a world filled with the kind of people described in 2 Timothy 3-selfish, proud, pleasure lovers rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power.

Wouldn't it be great then, when you find yourself in the midst of a trial or circumstance that has you stretched beyond your limits, you look up and find yourself surrounded by other Christians with tender smiles, encouraging words, and reassuring glances with willingness to help? Your eyes see other eyes that let you know they've "been there, done that" and can't wait to offer you the same comfort? I wanna be like that.

Don't think I'm gonna shop anytime soon though.

Our Tour Guide

Our church has one of the best tour guides when we go to Israel. Amir is a born-again Jew with a love for the Lord, the scriptures, and his native country. He has a fairly good singing voice and would often break out into Hebrew worship. I never sensed it was out of pride, just spontaneous love. The last time I was able to go to Israel, we were making our way through the lush, rolling hills of the upper Galilee during the poppy covered spring, and he stood in the bus with his convex chest and out-stretched arms rhetorically asking, "Isn't God's country the most beautiful place in the world?!"

Years as a tour guide helped him to know every mile of this nation and its history better than I know my own neighborhood. On a different day of the tour, we began to approach a military checkpoint and I saw Amir close his cellphone, stand with a creased forehead, down-turned eyebrows and give us detailed instructions of "do's and don't's". As the bus rolled to a stop, we were boarded by several armed soldiers who began to examine us and our bus thoroughly. My eyes were not on my husband...

They were glued to Amir. He knew the land, the people, the language, the dangers, served in the IDF (their military), and he'd just received current information that no one else had but him. We safely proceeded and Amir told a few of us later that he'd received a heightened security alert from the military and extra precautionary measures were being taken.

The scripture on my coffee cup this morning was Ps 32:8 "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." If I count on a tour guide for guidance, wisdom, direction and protection in a foreign country like Israel, how much MORE do I need to depend on the Lord in this country that is not my home? Our heavenly Father knows this worlds history current events and future. He has a relationship to the land as its Creator, sustainer, counter of its grains, and waterer of its flowers and grass blades. He knows the beauty of His creation that He'll draw our attention to often and He knows the precautions we need to take in its pitfalls and danger zones. He also knows every occupant in the land-their thoughts before they think them and the plans that are devised in every heart.

Jesus is such a wonderful guide for us that He's known as our Good Shepherd. He's promised to instruct, teach and guide us, but one thing is needful. "...I will guide thee with My eye", says the Lord. Eye contact is a prerequisite. In this particular verse, it's not His mouth or speech, but He invites us to look at Him. I know the difference between talking "at" Him and talking "with" Him. The difference is in my love level. He knows that if there is love in a heart, there will be eyes that long to look into the eyes of the one that heart adores. It's why He tells us, Ps 33:18 "Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy." Ps 34:15 "The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous". He loves us with a depth that defies description or understanding, but true nonetheless.

May the eyes of your heart stay more fixed on the Lord's never-closed nor diverted eyes than I did Amir during our brief tour.

Lazyboy Recliners and Reality

I've erased my comments about the following video too many times to count. When in doubt, I don't...so I'll let you watch, "ponder", pray and whatever else the Lord shows you to do. Despite what you're about to see...remember this devotional from Spurgeon today,

"God is a Sanctuary For His People"

Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord God; Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, and although I have scattered them among the countries, yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries where they shall come. (Ezekiel 11:16)

Banished from the public means of grace, we are not removed from the grace of the means. The Lord who places His people where they feel as exiles will Himself be with them and be to them all that they could have had at home, or in the place of their solemn assemblies. Take this to yourselves...God is to His people a place of refuge. They find sanctuary with Him from every adversary, He is their place of worship, too. He is with them as with Jacob when he slept in the open field, and rising, said, "Surely God was in this place," To them also He will be a sanctuary of quiet, like the Holy of Holies, which was the noiseless abode of the Eternal. They shall be quiet from fear of evil. Wherever the Lord has planted His people, though they feel alone, they are never alone but safe in the sanctuary of Himself.

What more do we need? O Lord, fulfill this promise and be ever to us as a little sanctuary! Now on to the 2 minute video...

Momentary Glimpses

Despite my battling illness on two fronts, the heat wave of 55 degrees was a royal invitation to come out of hibernation. Maybe "cabin fever" would qualify as a third illness, but there were no hurdles I was not prepared to jump. With a freshly fed baby, loaded diaper bag and upbeat worship music in the background, our salt covered van became heaven's chariot to remind me what life looked like outside of igloo walls in NY.

Whenever I drive I always tilt my rear view mirror in order to see the baby as well as out the back window. She's at the age where conversation is becoming a constant, with intermittent times of singing the alphabet song or Psalty's greatest hits. As I sat at a stoplight and glimpsed up in the mirror, I was struck by profound truths in mere seconds.

"Past roads glimpsed through dirty glass memories,
Future paths beckon in tinted window possibilities,
Reality stares in reflections of the present."

The Lord seemed to show me so many applications of His Word in that one glimpse that it filled my entire day with thoughts of Him and the scriptures. I'll leave it in His hands to expound to you individually if He'd choose. But I'm sure at least one verse is right at the edge of your thoughts as you read...

Home Inspections

For many years I worked as a home inspector for insurance companies. The essence of my job was to have specially trained eyes that looked for places on the outside and inside of a home that may be potentially hazardous, areas in need of repair, and then submit a report about its overall condition-from the foundation to the roof. The insurance company wanted to know if they should cover the property based upon the risk of future claims. It ruined my ability to ever again look at a house and see nothing but the beauty of it. When my husband and I looked at the home we have now, in interest of buying it 7 years ago, we got into the car afterwards and he asked me, "So honey...did you like the kitchen?" I was stunned. I'm the wife and yet had zero recall of that area. I remembered the heating ducts, copper plumbing, insulation issues, the drainage problem and the foundation.

I was reminded of this when I came across that familiar passage in Matthew 7:24-27 today. Jesus was a master carpenter and he was concerned about the foundation which people built their "dwelling places" on as well. He was able to see past the outward distractions of lavishly holy veneers and hypocritical garnishes. The "white" exterior that glistened from the world's sunlight reflected death to the eyes of the True Son (Matthew 23:27).

Mt 7:24-27 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."

The Lord says we are all builders busy about constructing our lives, but we fit in only two categories: either builders on a solid rock foundation or unstable sand. There WILL be times of torrential downpours that beat upon all of our lives. Times when the shifting and forceful winds of change and circumstance will push against us and try and knock us down. There will be times where we feel flooded and overwhelmed in the midst of life's trials. Jesus had only one concern-the foundation. If the foundation of a life is secure and built correctly, nothing that comes against that life will shake it, knock it down, or bury it. It will withstand it all in great victory.

Who would NOT want to live in a house with that kind of guarantee? How much more if it applies to our very own lives? Only one thing is needed. The Carpenter of our soul says "Listen to Me and DO what I say." That's it. If we read His Word, listen to Him in prayer or in Bible studies, it means nothing until we DO what we have been told to do. Obedience=Solid Rock foundation.

John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Ps 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the Rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

I'd love for the Lord to inspect my life and find that there are no cracks in my foundation or holes that make it vulnerable. If there are...there is always a remedy in the cement of repentance and sealant of obedience applied with the power of the Holy Spirit. God bless you today.

Word + Heart + Patience = Fruit

After yesterday's retreat and recalling a few lessons the Lord taught me while on the mission field, I stumbled across a devotional this morning that I haven't seen in years. The entry was one that He had spoken directly to my heart in further preparation to leave the country. I'm going to copy it here and pray it blesses you wherever the Lord may send you today.

Luke 8:15 "But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."

An official of a mission board, who knew it takes more than just desire to make a missionary, was appointed to examine a candidate for the mission field. He told the young man to be at his house at six o’clock in the morning. The young man complied and arrived a six o’clock sharp. The examiner kept him sitting alone in the room until ten. Then he finally came in and said abruptly, ”Young man, can you write your name? A little taken aback by the simplicity of his question, the man paused. Before he could get a word out, the examiner blurted, “What, you don’t know what it is?” The mission board official put him through a series of questions of that nature and then went to report to the mission board.

“Okay,” he said, “he will do.” I tried his patience for hours and hours and he did not break down; Then I insulted him and he did not lose his temper. This candidate answered with patience, fortitude, and gentleness. His faith was vindicated by the very quality of his character. He will make a good missionary.”

Whether we realize it or not — we all are in the mission field. Our patience is bound to be tested in ways we’ve never imagined and we’ll most likely find it unfair and unkind at times. But standing strong in the Lord in the face of offensive treatment and enduring seasons of long-suffering is a testimony in and of itself — and that will win souls!

Are you weary from the walk? Get your second wind! Count it all joy! You have endured much and you will see victory! Not only here on earth but when we meet the Lord!

The Lord is Our Banner

I wiped the sweat from my forehead, took another swig of water, and ran onto the basketball court. There were only seconds left to play in the game and our team was down by one point. As the referee held the ball, the noise from hundreds of screaming fans with elephant feet stomping on the bleachers ricocheted off the brick walls at a deafening level. The coach had lost his voice trying to yell above the crowd, so his hands waved furiously to get my attention and call a different play. Our opponent had sent in all of their biggest players. The referee's whistle pierced through the confusing clamour and I glanced up quickly to the stands.

There was my mom. Though a thousand voices shouted, I could hear her voice. Though a thousand hands were waving, clapping, playing drums and shaking pom-poms, I could see my mom wave directly at me, give me the "thumbs up", and mouth the words "you can do it!" She was always my biggest fan. Every sport I played, whether I played well or poorly, I could always hear her voice through the crowd and see her cheer despite any obstacle. She hasn't changed over the years. As I felt the ball hit my hands, the clock started its countdown and I aimed for the basket with a giant in front of me...

Psalm 60:4 "Thou hast given a banner to them that fear Thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth." The Israelites were going through a time of great affliction when this psalm was written and the Lord knew they needed a rallying point. A banner was like a sign or flag representing that army (or their leader) raised on a pole in the midst of a battle to encourage the troops. As the soldiers would be fighting, one of the main strategies was to try and capture the opponent's banner to cause confusion, discouragement, and communicate that defeat was near.

So it is for us as Christians. The Lord has shown us that we are in a spiritual battle with eternal consequences...and only seconds left on the clock. 1Tim. 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called." 2Tim. 2:3 "You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier." But the Lord also knows...in any war, there are wounds that come. We have the term "battle weary" today as soldiers become weak, tired and weary from continual fighting. There are stresses, fears, and such extreme discouragement that come specifically from the battlefields that only soldiers can know of.

Therefore, the prophecy of Isaiah 11:10 says "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse (Jesus), Who shall stand as a banner to the people; For the Gentiles shall seek Him, And His resting place shall be glorious." If you are not on "leave" but thick in the battle these days, Jesus is our rallying point. He is our Banner that was lifted up on a "pole" to bring us all into His ultimate victory. Through the clamor of the world, amidst the yelling of many voices, over the stomping of distractions and various people giving directions...look up to the One Who is your Captain.

You'll see His scarred wrists and His mouth will speak words of love and victory. His rest is and forever will be glorious. The celebration at the end will be unprecedented and everything we endured here on earth will seem unworthy to be compared to what awaits us. I think of all the smaller battles that Christ has wrought victory in my own life and the greatest one was for my heart. I was conquered by Christ's love. That's what Song of Solomon says...Song 2:4 "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love."

Heb 12:1 'Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

Thankful Drivers

I loved this picture when I first saw it. I was able to download it freely and actually converted it into a black and white photo. Then I pulled only the red color out from the tree on the left, printed it, framed it and hung it in our guest room. Looking at it now brought something to mind.

It makes no sense to me why the designers of this road made it to twist and wind like a snake...it's not as though this was a mountain with cliffs requiring the curves. Why not make it a straight shot? Shortest distance between two points is a straight line! I like to drive that way...efficient; get there; don't get nauseous or wear out the tires going back and forth. Saves fuel. It makes no sense to me when I look at it.

But of course, what do I know about highway design? I'm not the engineer that had to calculate for the safest gradient with a knowledge of the terrain, calculate the safest speed as well as lane and shoulder width, horizontal and vertical clearances, and stopping distances for those deer that come out of nowhere. Yet, I would want to drive right down the center, breaking traffic laws by crossing the solid yellow lines between the two lanes. I'm certain I know less than the designer...but at times, I think I know best and want to make progress my own way. I don't think I've ever praised the Lord or thanked Him immediately when I get pulled over by a Trooper that was watching. I do remember getting pulled over for a speeding ticket and with that small delay, I missed a very big accident just a couple of miles down the road. I thanked the Lord then.

I should thank Him that He's the Designer of the road I travel all the time; whether it's full of nauseating twists, hidden turns, boring stretches, dark tunnels or cautionary speed bumps to slow me down. The Holy Spirit is a great Trooper in life. Pay attention to not cross the solid yellow lines in scripture, stay watchful and pray about your "speed limit."

Pr. 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Rom.12:16d "Do not be wise in your own opinion."

Pr 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

Isa 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it...

Strolling Down Memory Lane

I was missing my buddy Mary (Barrett) tonight. By now, I'd be itching to go down to Florida for the visit I always longed for but never made. She'd have rehearsed the temperatures to me during a nightly stroll with her dog Chopper and I'd say "Some day Mary."

I looked back over a few of the YouTube videos she made while they recorded her last CD coming out soon and I just love this one. It was the day before recording ended and 11 days before she went home with Jesus. The lyrics she is singing here are incredible. God made her a living testimony of His grace and power to the end. May you have a day full of Mary's exhortation-rejoicing in whatever may happen and whatever sorrows you bear. God bless you.

Weddings

I love going through old pictures. I notice that hairstyles always seem to change (no repeats on Beehives held up with 2 cans of hairspray nor "shags" that should've only been for carpet) but clothing styles just seem to make periodic loops. My niece from Chicago and her husband were visiting over the weekend and she'd asked to see my old wedding pictures. After doing virtual gymnastics through crawl spaces and weight training in our arctic attic, I finally found the lone box of photos. Ugh. I see my tanning history in them and now don the wrinkled remains and leathery moles as an unattractive invoice. Oh well.

As I smiled at the pictures of a husband I barely knew then but am madly in love with today, I remembered how terrified and excited I was. Due to a near Halloween-level makeover in the past, I opted out of having someone else put on my makeup for my wedding day. Big risk with no insurance, but at least I had some control over the result. I leaned over the mirror at church cautiously adhering to the kindergarten rule of "staying within the lines" and put on a blouse over my wedding dress...just in case.

I was almost at the end of the whole procedure, when my hands began to shake from hearing the whispered alarm, "We're ready for you" from my nerves-of-steel wedding coordinator. Out from my fingers lept the black eyeliner and like a slow motion movie, I watched it fall against my shirt, then skateboard down the front of a long section of my spotless white wedding gown.

I sat there stunned at the black blemish from any wedding nightmare. There was no one to help, no microwaveable dry cleaner, not even a Shout wipe within my vicinity. The door behind me slid open a second time and I heard the music preparing the people for my arrival. I threw off the shirt and prayed a spasmodic "Oh God, help Scott not to notice!" and began my journey down the aisle, arm-in-arm with my dear stepfather.

You know the story. Scott never noticed the black roadway my eyeliner created down the front of my dress. In all of the photographs, the white of the dress was too brilliant to see the slightest blemish. The wrinkles of abuse were seeming reflectors of the silvery flashes from pictures being taken every few seconds. Nothing could rob the joy, nor taint the beauty of the day God created for Scott and I.

I was praying for the Lord's bride last night. Thinking about how excited and anxious He must be to come and call us to the wedding feast with Himself. Remembering the scriptures of His singing over us and knowing that if I could cry for joy in heaven, I would...weddings always make me cry. Especially when I know that the blackness of my sin, the stains of my iniquity, and the tears from transgressions that SHOULD litter the white garment I wear, has been washed by His blood and made brilliant by His pure perfection...it makes me cry. He sees nothing but the love of His life. A spotless bride. Nothing in our past, present, nor future, will rob the joy, nor taint the beauty of that day that God created for us...the fulfillment of our long awaited wedding day to Jesus.

Zep 3:17 "The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

Hos. 2:19 "I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy; 20 I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness, And you shall know the LORD.

Success and Failure

When I was in college, a requirement for graduating with a psychology degree was conducting research and writing a fairly lengthy report. Though I wasn't walking with the Lord, adoration for children drove me to keep my job as a pre-school teacher while carrying a heavy school schedule. I decided to do my research paper on the 35 four-year old's in my pre-school and designed a study entitled "Learned Helplessness."

I divided the kids by gender and gave each of them an "impossible" task which they had to complete in order to get a reward. They were given 3 different puzzles that had a few pieces that did not fit. The boys responses were aggressive and violent. By the 3rd puzzle, they were angry and frustrated, throwing the puzzle on the ground, breaking pieces, or hitting things with their fist. The girls would end up crying or sulking, usually giving up after the 2nd puzzle and ignoring the 3rd. The 4th puzzle was designed to be extremely easy and they would be able to complete it successfully...if they tried.

I wish I remember exactly how many persevered and finished the fourth puzzle, but there were only a few. (Please don't worry about what happened to the kids-they were told at the end about the puzzles, given rewards and reinforced to the approval of "self-esteem" professors at the university.)

Repeated situations where success was impossible caused anger and emotional outbursts to some, while others became so discouraged they quit trying all together. Difficult marriage problems? Conflicts with teenagers? Employer never satisfied? Past attempts to serve the Lord brought heavy discouragement? Past financial mistakes? Failure...don't we hate that word?

I was talking with someone not long ago who had to shut down the family business. They loved the Lord and honored Him in every aspect of their business, but by having to close the doors and losing an extensive amount of money from their hard-earned savings, "failure" was stamped across their heart. More like...engraved deeply. How much tenacity and perseverance they have for future endeavors, only God knows. But I do believe this about our God.

There are no "failures" in the family of God. Once we're adopted He has stamped across our hearts "conqueror." Rom. 8:37 "...in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." He redeems our mistakes, bad decisions, detours, or circumstances that the "world" calls failure, with an aim to use it for a great testimony for His own glory and our eternal good. Sometimes, we've brought problems upon ourselves by acting out of the will of God....and in that, the Word says " Heb. 12:11-13 "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed." The Lord is a faithful Father-our responsibility is to be trained by our mistakes. If we learn from them, He has promised to heal us and bring spiritual fruit from our lives with peace.

At other times, when there has been no fault of our own but we seem to be met with failure on every side, but the Lord has promised, Rom. 8:28 "And we know that ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Whether we see it or not, understand it or not, God has a plan. Jer. 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." The world's measurements of success and failure is never God's standard. The way others view our lives, even Christians, is infinitely limited in sight or purpose. Whether mother, father, spouse, friend or foe have been disappointed in their expectations of you, the Lord is committed to you for a lifetime in love and support and failing is not a part of His vocabulary unless you forsake Him. Deu. 31:8 "And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed."

No matter what has happened in your world, don't give up. Of all the things to learn, don't learn how to be helpless. Persevere. Be tenacious. You're more than a conqueror THROUGH Christ who strengthens you. Continue forward despite numerous setbacks. You have a Bible filled with promises that GOD will never fail to fulfill. Hear Him cheering for you?

Ps 46:1 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

Rom. 8:31 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?"

"My Name 'Jehovah' Was Not Known To Them"

There are several things that have happened within the last year, as well as the last 24 hours, that have caused my heart to continually repeat, "I trust You Lord." I can't think of how many times I have said, with a somewhat self-righteous attitude, "Of COURSE I trust the Lord! Though all men forsake Him, I won't. He is Christ, the Son of the living God. Where else could I go? Only You, Lord, have the words of eternal life!" On and on the list could read of things I've said so easily when life was only slightly tumultuous. Days of temporary trials with ample recovery time. But I personally believe these are the days where "rubber will meet the road" for us all. What do we truly know and believe about our God?

In Ex.6:3, God spoke to Moses and told him that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were limited in their understanding of Who God was. They knew Him by the name "God Almighty (El Shaddai)" but they did not know Him by the name "Jehovah (the Self-Existent One)." There was an aspect of God's character that was going to be revealed to the generation Moses was with, which was entirely unknown to those who walked with God before them.

Changes in times and seasons can push us into a need to know God in a new way. When yesterday's understanding does not meet the need that we face today. When I was first saved, my earthly father passed away soon after from prostate cancer. There was a false sense of security I had by having a dad to fall back on if I needed something...even though our relationship was not very good. It was the week of his funeral when I began to pray for the Lord to show me He was my Abba Father. After many years of singleness and a brief, yet horrendous failed marriage, I began to cry out for the Lord to show me how He was my True Husband. I knew it in my head and learned the scriptures in Bible study...but I needed to KNOW Him as my Beloved Husband in a very real sense. I have found Him to be a faithful Deliverer, Redeemer, Great Physician, Shepherd, Shield, Rock, Friend, and so on...as He has allowed me to confront trials, obstacles and circumstances that precipitated my prayers to know Him better.

As I awoke this morning, I was overwhelmed with grief from being unable to reach my mother in KY who is in the midst of this treacherous ice storm. She's never been through one before and was not prepared ahead of time. Her heat, garage door, computer, etc. all depend upon electricity which will be out for a long time. While I watched her local news on the internet, they announced they were operating on a generator and were going to shut down. Even the cell phone towers out. The south is not prepared for snow and ice like the north is. The roads are now impassable with emergency crews unable to help anyone themselves. She is alone with no family close by.

"Rubber meets the road." What do I believe and know about God?

I believe He is an "ever present help in time of need." I believe He is able to reach anyone at anytime without limitations, barriers or impassable obstacles. I believe He is there with her supplying His grace and power and will work all of this out for the good. It's only the details I don't know yet. There is no hindsight....but with God, it's always 20/20 vision. He is El Roi..."the God Who Sees". I know Him by that name from past experience.

But I admit, I am looking forward to growing in my understanding of His name in an even deeper more personal way. Circumstances are pushing me to pray for more of Him. My heart echoes, "I trust You, Lord...with all my heart."

Sherri Youngward's "Scripture Songs" CD

Isa 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Do you ever wake up earlier than you'd like because your mind's alarm clock has betrayed you? It happened the other day. The "snooze" button of my thoughts was broken, so I surrendered and grabbed some coffee, Grandma Rose's blanket, my hot neck wrap and started to pray. It didn't take long for me to discover that my vocabulary went on vacation and left my heart with no words to give to God. So thankful He understands my groans and heavy sighs (Rom.8:26).

I reached over to the radio knowing my new favorite CD was waiting to be played and turned the volume way down low. The words of Psalm 1 began to flow from Sherri's new "Scripture Songs" CD and the heaviness in my heart began to lift. The next song was from 1 Cor.13, then 1 John 4, Psalm 23, Philippians 4, and on the songs went...each with their own unique melody and tempo...but comfortingly familiar. What better words could be memorized in song than pure scripture?

The final song is named "Heaven" with the first four verses of Revelation 21 sung like you are halfway there, peering over the edge of this earthly realm to our glorious destination. It's where I launched off into prayer with the Lord finding the vocabulary of my heart had arrived through the music. This is what Sherri writes about the last song:

Years ago, my friend Debbi asked me to come sing to a woman who was in her last moments on earth. I sang at the foot of her bed, and Debbi climbed up and softly read Scriptures to her about heaven. Though the frail woman could not use words, her countenance spoke clearly. This song is for those who might wish to climb up next to a loved one and speak softly to them about heaven. Or maybe you are the one who needs to remember—that God will wipe away every tear...

Sherri is another one of my close friends and if there's one thing I know about her, everything she has and is wants to bless God and point people to Jesus. She's poured her heart into this project (along with some others like Danny Donnelly) while using life-giving lyrics. I've placed a direct link to her website if you click on the CD above.

Jehovah-Rapha: The Lord That Heals You

Of all of the names that the Lord refers to Himself by, Jehovah-Rapha, or the Lord Who heals, is one that Satan has certainly done all he can to twist, distort and cause confusion with. As a young girl, I often traveled with my well-meaning but misguided father to packed out church services with so-called "faith healers." Why those men never go to hospitals where the sick are, rather than making hurting people come to them, always puzzled me. But I digress... The fact is, God heals sometimes and other times He says, "My grace is sufficient for Thee." There are those moments He seems to cut through crowds to physically touch one person while the rest look on with a deep longing for the same kind of touch. Gods ways...that's not what I could possibly explain. I'll just share a very personal experience where God chose to heal in a special way.

My neck was first injured when I lived in Chicago and a young man (strung out on drugs) jumped and beat me when I was around 20. Therapy was not possible and the Dr.'s prognosis was life-long pain and future arthritis. In my early 30's, I was playing volleyball and dove for a spike landing on my neck - this time, herniating a disc. For more than a year, I spent several occasions bed-ridden in pain until it finally ruptured and caused me to undergo surgery. Then in my 40's, I got miraculously pregnant and had a very chunky, tall baby which aggravates my neck to extremes at times.

Last June, with a one-year old busy girl that was not walking (didn't happen until 16 months), my neck went completely out of place. I felt it disobediently slide to one side and pain shot up my head and down my arm. The only way I got the slightest amount of relief for the next few days, was to cock my head to one side and look at everything a bit...tilted. Very hard to have a baby...a non-walking, need-to-be-picked-up baby...at this time. I continued to pray remembering that the Lord gave me the verse Deut. 33:25b "...as thy days, so shall thy strength be" when I was pregnant.

Finally one morning, the pain woke me up out of sleep and I went out to the living room to pray. My head was pounding so hard it made me nauseous. I had a Lidocaine patch on that was not helping and I took pain medication that didn't take one of the many knives away that seemed to be stabbing my neck. After about 10 minutes, I could no longer sit and laid down on my side. Like a rocket, as my shoulder put pressure into my spine and neck, the pain went through my head, down my back and arms and I cried out loud "JESUS, help me!" Just as quickly, right into my thoughts the Lord answered "Lay still and don't move. Relax and trust Me." I didn't move and my entire body was as tense as...oh, a mouse at a Cat Convention I suppose. I had to force myself to make my muscles relax and let go while they longed to spasm. The more I let go, the greater the direct pressure on the area of pain, the more tears began to stream down my face and then..."Pop, pop, pop."

My neck completed popped back into place. The knives fled and I sat up at once. I started to praise and thank the Lord when I heard Him speak to me again, "Shannon, there are times in life, not just physically, where I see you are hurting, wounded, or something is out of alignment and causing much pain. You may try to numb the wounds with your own patches on the situation. You may try and medicate in your own ways to take away some of the pain. You may learn how to partially function with the ache by leaning on your own understanding, but you will look at life through a tilted, limited view. Because I am the Lord that heals you, trust Me when I put pressure directly on that area of pain and want you to let go. It may hurt more at first as you face it, but I have eternity in mind with love in My heart. I Am also the One Who has promised to make the crooked places straight(Isa.45:2)."

It wasn't about my neck. He heals us...physically, emotionally, spiritually, socially...in every area. There IS a balm in Gilead (Jer.8) and His name is Jehovah-Rapha. God bless you...may we learn to trust Him more.

Do You Know His Name?

I just wrote a letter last night to someone which included the statement "We do not have a foundation of trust with one another". I needed to write someone back who does not know me personally and has had a rough background, so the potential for misunderstanding was definite. I'm sure that every one of us has had our trust broken by another person at some point in our lives. Many of us have had it repeatedly broken to the point where we may be tempted to not give that gift to another person. Trust seems to have an umbilical cord straight to our hearts...when it's broken, our hearts are broken.

Psalm 9:10 "And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD (Jehovah), have not forsaken those who seek You."

Don't you love this verse? It is plump with promises and an echoing exhortation. For the person who has learned through personal experience the reality of the Lord's name, they will find a safe and secure place for their trust. All others may...and will...fail us and break our hearts, but the Lord never fails us.

In a time where the news proclaims every day, a story about another leader who has failed, deceived, stolen, lied, or broken multitudes of people's trust through self-serving motives and greed, we have a Lord that we can 100% trust. The KEY is knowing His name. As most of you know, our God has many names, so in future blog posts, I am going to briefly reflect on some of the names of Jehovah. To write about all of the names of God would take eons and Jesus will have taken us home by then. I also won't pull you through some deep Bible study, but hope to take a fresh gaze on Who our Lord is through His name with by-products of trust and greater love. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Eternally Inseparable

While attempting to subdue my belligerent hair this morning, I rehearsed a catalog of things to say to a friend who is walking through a very dark trial right now. Every one of them seemed trite, insincere and foolish in contrast to her suffering. As I began to pray, the Lord reminded me of my conversations with Mary the last couple of months of her life.

She had an entire gamut of things said to her by well-meaning people, but they had no idea what it was like to endure the pain she was in, nor the weight of the darkness that would come upon her at night, nor the sudden reality that she was going to die and leave behind many loved ones, some of whom were still unsaved. Sometimes, with right motives we attempt to put ourselves in someone else's place to empathize and offer encouragement, yet we forget that there will ALWAYS be a limitation to our understanding what they are going through...even if we've gone through something very similar. It's because we are all unique, with different backgrounds, ways we handle pain, thought processes, etc. This is the wonderful thing about Jesus.

He faithfully revealed Himself to Mary in the tenderest and most loving ways while she suffered. In the depths of His love for her, He didn't remove the pain but He gave her the grace to endure. He did not always extinguish the darkness that would blanket her nights, but He gave her the faith to trust Him in the midst of it. When she had overwhelming headaches from the chemotherapy, Jesus showed her He understood head pain when the crown of thorns was pressed deeply into His skull. When every breath was an agonizing effort and her nebulizers and inhalers were not helping, He reminded her that His every breath came through agony on the cross, with a nail through His feet and lungs near collapse.

On and on the revelations of Jesus came because He knew men's words could never meet the needs of His child. I know there are times we suffer when God seems mute. Those times have great and necessary lessons in each of the silent-filled days...but He is a good Father and is able to meet us exactly where we are. I wonder if Jesus' words in John 12:26 had a secondary application: "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be." As we follow Jesus in heart, when our physical service cannot continue, does He not still call us inseparable? Us with Him and He with us...our Immanuel...never leaving us, forgetting about us, or faltering in speech not knowing what to say. Like it says in 1 Samuel 3:10 "Then Samuel answered, 'Speak Lord, for your servant is listening'."

Ps 139:3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

May His words be yours today and may your ears be open if He speaks. Bless you.

Prayer Quote

“In prayer, I must wrestle like Jacob, thirst like
David, hope like Elijah,
be persistent like Bartimeus, and cry with tears like my blessed Lord.”
- Alexander Smellie

Just wanted to share this with you today. God bless your time with the Lord...

God's Possibilities

Oh, I love Sundays. (Not ice cream...it's too cold.) I love driving to church in the morning, praying with Maddie for the service, the worship and the people who will be there, then pulling into the parking lot shouting "we're here!" while her little hands start clapping in the back seat. Scott and I pray that she develops a heart like David's in Psalm 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple."

I remember praying about this scripture and thinking how marvelous it would be to be able to serve the Lord full-time, yet I never thought He would actually allow me that privilege. Much less, being able to serve alongside my husband...and even less than that, that my husband would be a pastor.

I never knew the plans God had because I was so consciously aware of my own insecurities and limitations, rather than understanding God's capacity and His sufficiency. The past convinced me I was disqualified for any future use...I had no understanding of the true extent of the grace and mercy of God. I wrongly interpreted many of God's "pauses", times of not being used by the Lord noticeably, as indicators of His displeasure, rather than a multitude of other possibilities.

Inadequacy is a requisite in ministry. Incapacity is God's opportunity. Weakness is an invitation for God's strength. Moses' stammering lips and difficulty speaking were a gift, though he perceived it as an obstacle too great for God to use Him as a spokesman. Gideon was hiding for fear of the enemy when God called him "a mighty man of valor." Mary called herself a female slave (handmaid) while heaven proclaimed her the mother of God.

It's good to walk in an awareness of our "smallness" rather than having a pride-filled estimation of ourselves. But don't ever let the past or the present cloud your hope in God's possibilities for the future. Nor view your own physical, emotional, intellectual, financial, or social limitations as mountains too high and obstacles too strong for God to overcome. It's easy to say "yes" to that in our heads...but believe in your heart...our God is limitless in His possibilities and power. His desire is to still get glory from your life and to grow deeper in your relationship with Him...or you would be in heaven with Him today. So may God bless you, keep you, and encourage you today.

Isa 40:4,5a "Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed."

2Co 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

1Co 1:27-29 "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence."

Sun, Moon and Stars...

I was so blessed to open up my One Year Bible and start at Genesis 1. Isn't it true that we gravitate towards fresh starts and new beginnings? I have to admit, it was time for the Rose Bowl parade and I love our annual family tradition of "oooing and aaahhhing" the floats made with 100% flowers and seeds. My mother-in-law turned me on to it and now high-definition TV makes the details of each float a visual feast. But...I needed quiet time with the Lord. After walking through a darkly canopied, "wilderness" experience these last couple of years, I crave the Lord's Word, His Presence, and His soft voice as never before.

As He promised, He's a faithful rewarder to those who diligently seek Him (Heb.11:6). There, tucked between verses I have read over and over again for years, day one of creation - Gen.1:3 "Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light." It's not until the fourth day that the sun, moon and stars were created.

In our life times, we have only known the sun to be the sole source of day and night, morning and evening. The comfort I found this morning was in the fact that God didn't NEED the sun to provide light, but He created it as a vessel of His glory that is used continually to touch our lives. If the sun were gone, as it was before it was created, God Himself is fully capable of providing light, darkness, day, night, morning and evening. He is All-Sufficient, the Self-Existing One.

He doesn't NEED me to provide food for the birds off our back deck because there is two feet of snow on the ground today. He doesn't NEED me to tell my neighbor that there is a God Who sent His Son Jesus to die for her sins. He doesn't NEED us to give a tithe to the church to help spread the gospel and support His work. He would send food for the birds, speak to my neighbor's heart through some other means and provide finances from a multitude of other sources if I stopped. But He allows us to be a part of His plan in this world and be a recipient of the joy that comes through giving and to actually receive an eternal reward when done for His glory. He has no NEED for vessels of His glory, but I crave to be one...

So if the sun went out today...do we have The Son, the True Light of life? If there is no physician available to help...do we have Jehovah-Rapha, the God that Heals? If there is no way to reach a lost child, parent, neighbor or people...do we have prayer that is an unstoppable vehicle to deliver help from God to whomever may be in need?

I love that He made light, said that it was good, and has only used a small star called the sun to be the secondary provider of light for us. The Word tells us that one star differs from another in glory in 1 Cor.15:41, right?

Daniel 12:3 And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.

Shine on friends...He doesn't need us, but He sure loves to use us!