Update on the Wallet

Now don't faint.  I know it's just been a few days since my last blog post.  But when God get's moving, things happen fast.

Wednesday afternoon I arrived home (thanks for the last minute ride from Enterprise, Debbie!)   and saw a huge pile of mail on the recliner (thank you, Janae, for seeing it safely inside!) I was too tired to look at it much, but saw a letter from the police department and tossed it aside, thinking it was just a copy of the final report on my wallet.

Thursday morning, my plans changed, and so I started laundry and sorted through the mail.  I opened the police report, only it wasn't a report, but a notice  to pick up evidence!  I raced up (okay, I might have slightly exceeded the speed limit once or twice) to get my wallet.

Enough to say that it was intact (minus the cash) and all my cards were in it.  But no pictures (why?  What reason would they have to leave everything else, but not the pictures of my children and grands?).  I did hand back someone else's social security card, and two gift cards which were not mine.  (I thought, briefly about keeping them, after all, I was out $40! But then I decided I couldn't keep anything that wasn't mine.  They may never know,  But God would.  

Lesson learned:  temptation comes in many ways and forms.  But temptation is not sin.  Giving in is the sin.  Some days are better than others.  It's easier to resist when we are prepared.  

So, I"m going to state the obvious:  Be prepared!  Take time to read the word each morning.  Make that a priority before all else (speaking to myself here!).   Talk to God.  Ask Him to guide and protect your heart throughout the day.

Psalm 119:11 "I have stored up Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You."

Aren't you glad that God has given us a hard copy of His heart, mind and soul?  Don't you love that we have this as a sword and shield?  I'm happy that we can read and discover His beautiful plan for us.  

 

Recently, a woman I thought I was helping, stole my wallet.  I was crushed!  I was angry, and disappointed, in myself, for not discerning her intentions; in her for misleading me and taking what wasn't hers.   

In the big scheme of things, it was an inconvenience.  I had to replace some documents, and in a hurry, it disrupted my routine and showed me how vulnerable I could be.  It took many hours to discover what I had to do to report the theft of my wallet, to remember what was in it and to follow up on the theft.  Several trips to agencies to replace important cards, calls to put alerts on my accounts, and the list went on.  God is good, and it went smoothly. My life is back on track!  I was able to make my flights the next weekend without dragging my lifelong accumulation of documents with me.

But the worst of it was the deep humiliation of the deception.  In the end, she only got about 40 dollars.  It seems she wasn't in it to steal my identity (we are still watching this one!) But I was embarrassed to find I had been tricked.  I did not listen to the inner warnings.  She wasn't what she seemed.

Before she bailed out of my car at the destination, I handed her a card with some websites on it to study the Bible.  Maybe she just threw that with the wallet.  I'll never know.  But did her intentions negate my good intentions?  I'm going to emphatically say, "No!"  God is in the little things too.  (And an emphatic, "No, I won't be taking any more requests from random strangers," as well.). I'm going to use every opportunity I have to share Jesus with the world.  

This is just a little thing, in comparison to what many experience.  But perhaps God is strengthening my spiritual muscles to endure something worse.  I'll never forget a ladies day many years ago, and the theme of the day was "The Storms of Life."  One of the other speakers made this statement,  "The struggle you are going through today is preparing you for something harder." (Thank you, Iris.)  I did not want to hear this.  I tried to dismiss it.  But the more I thought about it, the more I realized she was right.  

At the time, I was looking back on what we had been through.  Some difficult times had been endured.  Moves I did not want to make, the loss of a much-wanted and loved child.  I thought I had been through all I could put up with in this life.  But God knows us.  He goes through those times with us,  walking with us through the fire, through the flood.  Slowly and steadily, as we continue to look to Him in faith and do that 'next thing', He strengthens us. We are stronger in our Christian walk.  Sometimes it is a short and intense time of persecution and suffering.  Sometimes, rather than a 'sprint', it's a marathon which we cannot see the end of in this lifetime.  

I love the words of this passage in Isaiah chapter 43:1-3;

    But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,

    And He who formed you, O Israel:

    “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;

    I have called you by your name;

    You are Mine.

2 

    When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.

    When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,

    Nor shall the flame scorch you.

3 

    For I am the Lord your God,

    The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

Isaiah is speaking to the Hebrew children.  But I believe the principle is still true for His children.  God has promised never to leave us. (Hebrews 13:5)  He does not promise we won't go through fire and flood.  He promises to be with us in this storm.

I just pray that my light continues to shine, no matter what the intentions of those around me.  I want the world to see that it is "Jesus in me."  I'm not living down here for myself.  It's important that others are pointed to the One who is the answer to life.  He is the life.  Without Him, it is worthless.   

    "I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of                                                                                                                                                         the Lord In the land of the living." (Psalm 27:13)

He will give us rest and eventually the reward of life in heaven with him.  1 Peter 5:10 reminds us,

    "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, 

after  you  have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you."

May you find the peace that passes understanding in  Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.  

Overcomer

John 16:32-33 “Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Jesus’ earthly life is coming to the end God had planned.  He is trying to share with his disciples truths they will need to carry on and teach others.  Yet He knows they are struggling with understanding this on many levels.  God wanted his chosen followers to know that life was about to get harder than they could imagine.  Instead of being easier, they were about to be challenged at the very center of their culture. The people they counted on, family and synagogue, were going to betray and persecute them.

Sometimes we experience the same today.  We may be right there with the disciples who, having spent 3 years learning at the feet of Jesus as he turned water to wine, cripples into sprinters, raising the sick into workers, yet we *still* cannot quite grasp his nature as “God with us!”  We may have walked with God for many years, or just a few months, and here comes the inexplicable, the unexpected.  Our family or friends turn on us.  Disaster strikes our home or our business fails.  Death, illness or financial failure cripple our life and we begin to struggle and question.

My momma always said, “Forewarned is forearmed.”  Jesus is giving his followers (and us) the ‘heads up.’  “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”  1 Peter 5:8. Don’t be surprised when persecution or trials come.  It is part of the perfecting process.  But we know we can overcome whatever the enemy sends our way.  Jesus has traveled this path and stood firm In the face of trials.  We have a savior who not only withstood the trials of life, but overcame them.  He paved the way, he overcame for us, so that we, through His saving grace, can also be overcomers.  But how does this translate into our lives as believers?  Romans 12:21 reads, “Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good.”  We are called to live differently.  I have been watching the first season of The Chosen, and when Jesus calls Matthew, Simon says, in essence, ‘Not him!  He’s different!’  Jesus reply is, “Get used to different.”  He turned their world upside down, and ours will be also.  We aren’t called to fit into this world, but to make it different with his love, good works, and truth, all to His glory!  We might not have an easy walk, but we have a victorious one.  1 Corinthians 15 is full of encouragement, but look at verse 57, “but thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  

Next time you get wound up, thinking, “Is this all there is?” Why no, it isn’t all there is.  It’s not even close.  We don’t have to wait for heaven for God’s love to comfort and encourage us.  I’m right there with David, who wrote, “I would have fainted, unless I believed I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13

Jesus doesn’t just have the answers, he IS the answer.

If you have questions or comments, leave me a comment!  I'd love to discuss this more with you!

A Song In Your Heart

 Hello, again!  Thank you for this opportunity to share some thoughts from God’s word. I edited an older article, shared a year or so ago with some of my sisters, and I pray you find it useful as well.

Thinking back in my earliest memory, I have an image of myself standing on the end of the pew at church, clutching a hymnal and singing, “Bringing in the cheese, Bringing in the cheese..." after everyone else had finished.    My childish mind changed the words to something I could understand.  I love cheese and had no idea what sheaves were, so I just made it so. 

Next memory;  I’m standing on the floor behind the driver's seat of my parents old car.  We are flying down a dusty country road, and I’m belting out songs at the top of my voice, one after the other. . . Jesus Loves Me,  Count Your Many blessings, on and on I sang.  

Fast forward to one more memory.  This one is during my college years.  I attended a youth rally in Seattle and I learned the 5th Psalm, verses 1-3, set to song;

                

                Give ear to my words, O Lord.

Consider my meditation.

Harken unto the voice of my cry,

My King and my God.

For unto thee will I pray

My voice shalt though hear in the morning.  

O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer 

Unto Thee and will look up.  

I believe this was when ‘singing the scriptures’ became a great love of mine. This love of singing Bible words has continued and grown through the years. 

For me, the easiest way to talk to God is through song.  Like the shepherd boy David, I  love to sing.  It was simple for me to translate my love of music into my Christian walk.  But what about those who didn’t?  Those who were perhaps told in music class, “You be a listener.”  Or perhaps when the music teacher heard them, gave them the triangle and asked them to watch quietly and  intently for her nod.  :)  We just aren’t all made the same.

I know the joy of sharing whats in my heart with God.  Imagine my grief at looking out and  seeing more than a few of my sweet sisters sitting mute during ladies days or during worship.  I look over those assembled and wonder at the mouths that sit silent!  I’ve asked many why they don’t sing.  Answers range from, “I just can’t sing,”  “I have allergies,”  “I croak like a frog.,”  “My neighbors won’t appreciate my voice,”  or the most perplexing, “I hate to sing.”  

Forgive me, but this prompts another memory of  a wooden sign I saw on my music professors desk, it read:  '"If only the bird with the loveliest song sang, the forest would be silent.”  (John James Audubon.)  

What does this have to do with  worship? What does this mean to us as individual worshippers?   Did God just randomly choose this form of worship or did he  have a purpose in what he asks of us?  

We understand that not all of us grew up with musical parents or opportunities.   God is not interested in our ability to impress our fellow worshippers with our talents.  He is in the business of hearts and souls.  Keep that in mind as we read the following passages and discuss them.  

Let's read Colossians 3:1-2, 

        “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things 

which are above, where Christ is, seated at the right 

hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, 

not on things on the earth.”  

Where are the eyes of our hearts to be turned, but up?!  Set your hearts-eyes on God the Father and his son Jesus.  Stop worrying or thinking about our own abilities or gifts.  Focus on Him.   It makes all the difference in the world when our eyes are set above. When we focus on God and His plan for us, it changes everything.   Stop thinking, "What will others think?" Or even, "What do I think?,"  and respect God's wants and  our hearts and minds can be at peace  in giving him due praise and honor.  

I’m going to skim some of the next verses and just point out that we are new in Christ. . . we are to put off the old nature of sin and anger and uncleanness.  These are no more a part of our life.  Let's jump down to verse 12 (still in Colossians 3) here I’m going to quote from the English standard Version:

12) “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, 

compassionate hearts, kindness, humility meekness, and

patience, 

13) bearing with one another and, and if one has a 

complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the

Lord has forgiven you, so you must forgive.  

14) And above all these put on love, which binds everything 

together in perfect harmony.

15) And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which 

indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful.

16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and

admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms

and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your

hearts to God.

“Put on then…”  it’s the idea of clothing ourselves, our hearts with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience. . . .there’s the heart again.  It’s at the center of it all. . . What is in my heart?  I want to focus on the compassionate heart.  Websters II New College Dictionary defines compassion as a noun, from the Latin ‘to sympathize, to suffer”  The Greek word is “oiktirmos” which is: compassion, pity, mercy

as in :  a) bowels in which resides a heart of compassion

  b) emotions, longing, manifestations of pity.

If we think of what this means, it will cause us to rethink our ideas of compassion or pity and not just voice our thoughts, but realize we must act on them.  If I manifest something, it is going to be visible to others in my character and actions.  It’s not just my view of my voice.  I honestly don’t think God cares about the sound  of my voice as much as the manifestation of my heart.  

One of my favorite verses, learned from my mothers instruction:  

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring 

the issues of life.”  KJV Proverbs 4:23

God goes on in the next section to encourage us to put on, above all else, LOVE, which binds everything together in “perfect harmony.’  It’s beautiful how his very words here, inspire us to act out our faith in real time with our brothers and sisters in perfect harmony.  Now, our ears may say one thing, but our hearts will say another.  And I dare say that our practice in righteousness will win out over the physical! This love is the agape form, and it tells us that our fellowship with our brothers and sisters will show itself to them, as well as to God in our desire to please our Him.

We move on to see that peace will rule in our hearts.   We know that living in this world we will have persecution and tribulation.  But he promises us peace in our hearts.  Let it rule!  I like the idea of the authority that peace has here.  In a world that’s out of control, peace in our hearts is the answer. . . .But then we also have some other responsibilities.  That may be an difficult word sometimes.  It means I must drag myself out of bed each morning and tend to the responsibilities of the day.  And in my spiritual life, those are not burdensome, or heavy.  Because God has promised us help and hope along the way.  Remember the words in verse 16?  You knew I was getting there eventually. . . Let the words of Christ dwell in you richly. . . here is another adverb, don’t neglect them!  It tells us how his word is to live in our hearts.  . . Richly!  You know, I pulled out my dictionary again.  it means;  “having great value or worth;  magnificent, luxurious, abundantly supplied.”  Now physically speaking, we love luxury. . . lots of the good stuff, bubbles in the bath, sand by the sparkling sea, chocolate, coffee, or whatever your thoughts run to . . . Money in the bank?!   Now, apply that thought to your time spent in the word.  would 'richly' define your knowledge and time spent in the word, with the word around God’s word?  If not, determine today to change that.  Here is your motivation;  God asks you to!  Don’t we want to please God?  I do and I hope you do too!

Now we are coming to my personal favorite part ". . . . in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts  to the Lord."

First let me mention that there is the heart again, it’s the instrument God wants us to use to glorify him and to encourage one another.

Lastly, I’d like to point out that there are  two focuses. . . both spiritual.  We are told to sing to the Lord. . . that was easy wasn’t it?  

But we are told to teach and admonish one another in our singing.  I know what you are thinking, “Wait a minute!  I’m not a teacher.”  Yes, you are.  You teach in so many ways through your actions and your words.  And now you know that one of the purposes of singing is to teach one another.  You are participating in the teaching of the church when we sing together.  Do you see, now, why it bothers me to see those who sit, not singing?  It’s commanded here.  I am no scholar nor an English major, But I do know  when you can put the word “YOU” in front of a sentence and reading it makes sense, it’s an imperitive, which means strong suggestion or command.  There is no doubt we ‘must’ do it.  But not as a compulsion, for we act as loving, obedient children.  We want to please our Father and help our brothers and sisters to be more Christ-like each day.  

One more thought I’d like to share,

“Do not fear, Zion

Let not your hands be weak,

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.”  

Zephaniah 3:16b-17

God never asks us to do something He himself is not willing to do himself.  Jesus came and lived on this earth, experiencing everything we do in this life. God asks us to teach and admonish through our singing from the heart.  And here he tells us that he, too, rejoices over us, his faithful ones, with singing.  Doesn’t that just make you smile? Perhaps you want to sing?  

These words are not meant to guilt you into doing singing.  I hope you understand the encouragement and admonition you find here is out of love for my sisters and my God.   Search the scriptures daily to see if they are so, and I pray you find the song in your heart.  

Jesus Is the Answer

Long ago, on the day of our marriage, Rodger and I heard these words, “Jesus doesn’t just have the answers to life, He is the answer.” While many of the other words and memories have faded or been forgotten, that truth has stuck with me.  

Life’s problems seek an answer. As Christians we are uniquely equipped with the answer. Now maybe I’m over simplifying this, but I don’t think so. We forget so often that heaven is our home and we should have the eyes of our hearts and minds set on that home.  

In the meantime, we have to live in this old world. Sometimes it is sweet, and we press our lips to the heads of sweet babies and drink in the love and beauty of God’s creation. But then disaster strikes; that sweet baby has a rare disease, the love of our life is tragically taken away, our secure, recession-proof job is cut, our bank account shrivels or disappears, and on and on the disasters of life attack us, These disasters and troubles leave us reeling and stunned. If our hope is set on the One who made us, we can stand firm in our faith, knowing on Whom our hope is set. We will grieve and cry. We may even have occasion to be depressed and down-hearted. Life is not something that happens to others. It happens to Christians. But our hearts and minds will be set on knowing God will deliver us. It might be today, or tomorrow, or in heaven, but ultimately He will do so.  

Jesus provides the center, the “enoughness," if you will, the realization that our shortcomings, our problems are all resolved in the truth found in Jesus.  

We are told over and over in scripture as Christians the world will hate us for standing for Christ. Our very lives, lived for Him, are repugnant to them. Also, life on this earth simply offers no guarantees. Paul’s second letter to Timothy states, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (3:12) Wow! What a promise!  But read over in 1 Peter 5:10, “After you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has call you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” 

I just spent a lovely afternoon with a dear friend who also happens to be my grandchildren’s other granny. As we talked about the recent and sudden loss of her husband, she told me “I have no regrets.” That simple statement of confidence touched my heart. She spoke of her grief and the difficulties of sorting through a lifetime of memories in preparation for selling their home. They spent long days working together in their business or sitting at their front window, talking about their life and sharing some memories. They had no idea what December would bring. It did not take away the pain of loss, the shock of having to do this alone. But she has the confidence of his faith in Christ.
I share this to say that we as Christians face many of the same trials as anyone living on earth. We face more for simply being Christians. But we do this with the hope of eternal security, knowing the blood of Christ covers us and He is waiting at the gate for us.  
An illustration which occurs to me is this photo I'm sharing. It is of a running/walking track we often take. When we enter a race, which my husband and I are known to do on occasion, all the entrants run the same course. But those who are prepared finish 
the race. Everyone runs the same hills and the same path, but not everyone gets to the end at the same time with the same ease. The prepared are better fit for the finish line.  
Don’t loss your perspective when things get rough. Have the confidence of knowing that life is temporary and heaven is eternal for those who love him and obey the gospel. Prepare yourself by putting on the armor of God. Light your lamps and prepare for the steps to heaven. When you are mistreated, remember He was mistreated and paid for our sins. Share this joy of salvation with those around you. Hang on to the Answer! 

(This was written and posted for a devotional page, June 2021, but is my original work.) 

Finding God in the Mess

 

Good morning!  I was encouraged to get back to blogging by circumstances.  It's a place to share thoughts, encouragement, inspiration, in the messiness of everyday life.

Life doesn't always go according to plan.  That goes without saying, doesn't it?  My kids in the past jokingly called me "Captain Obvious."  I like to make sure that my point, no matter how transparent, ia acknowledged by those I'm speaking to.  

Here we are, coming out of the mess of the pandemic, and life is not what we were expecting at this time.  If you, like me, thought that it would take weeks or even a few months, raise your hand!  I totally did not think that we'd still be using sneeze guards, wearing masks in public, and  'social distancing.'  But here we are, working our way to a new way of doing things. 

Look around the world today.  It is spiraling out of control.  Even those we expect to uphold the foundations of moral and ethical behavior are setting a low-bar.  We are constantly disappointed by those in authority.

Many today think that we can then not obey the authorities, that it's okay to go our own way.  We start to believe that God's word is not relevant for today.  Oh, my dear sisters, don't give in to this line of thought. God's word transcends the ages and He is able to relate that word at any time and place.  His word is ageless. 

I'd like to encourage you to read God's word and pray for wisdom.  James 1:5-7 encourages us to seek Godly wisdom, through faith, believing He will answer.  He promises stability for these uncertain times.  Hebrews 3:1-13 encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus Who was faithful, so that we might also be counted faithful.  He writes later in Hebrews 11:6 that it is impossible to please God without faith.  

The world is whirling out of restraints.  It wants freedom, but true freedom and peace, hope and joy come with submitting ourselves to the Almighty God, Creator of Heaven and earth.  He promises us these things in abundance and a heavenly home, if we learn to love and trust Him completely.  

May God guide you as you seek after Him.  <3 

Blessings!

Denise

Changes

Change is inevitable.  Life is a journey and we cannot see the road ahead.  We plan, we plot, we strategize and organize.  Then some element changes, throwing the entire plan into chaos.  

How we respond to that change makes all the difference in the outcome.  What happens when our well-thought out plan is no longer workable?  Do we throw up our hands and give up?  Do we lament and moan and weep over it?  Do we begin working on Plan B?  None of these is a 'wrong' answer as long as we don't get stuck in one too long.  How important is it for us to grieve the loss of our first plan?  It's important and necessary even to mourn for what isn't going to happen, or even the loss of what could be.  

Rodger and I planned for me to be a 'stay-at-home mom.'  He never liked coming home to an empty house when he was a kid.  But I think that the stronger motivation was having one of us to be there for our children.  We planned on a family (I remember his idea was maybe 2 or 3) and he wanted me to be focused on the needs of that family.  He wanted me to primarily be there to meet the emotional and physical needs of that family.  It sounds outdated to many, I'm sure, and to be certain, in the 80's and 90's not a popular idea.  Financially, it wasn't easy, but we were dedicated to that commitment and so as our family grew I looked for ways to economize.  I remember taking a survey once and one of the questions was:  Do you have enough to eat (yes, yes we did.)  The next question was:  Do you have the kinds of food you want?  (No, it wasn't always what I wanted, but we did have what we needed.) 

Fast-forward about 3 decades and life has thrown us a few curves.  Our plans didn't turn out just as we imagined.  We have moved three times in the past ten years.  We are living far from most of our children and grandchildren.  I am happy to say most days I can deal with it.  I can be contented with our lot in life.  God is a faithful God.  He has provided our needs, sometimes in mundane ways and sometimes in surprising ways! He provides encouragement through His word and through the unique ways He chooses to bless us.  He promises to stand by us.  He doesn't promise grand mansions or lots of beautiful things, in the worldly sense, but He does promise never to leave us.  We can depend on Him to keep that promise.  

Back to the changes:  With our children nearly all grown and gone from home, I have gone back to work part time.  God has provided a job I love (working as a library assistant,) a loving, supportive church family, a husband who loves me and has coffee waiting for me when I wake in the morning, and tea when I get home from work.  Oh, and does the dishes when the kitchen gets out of hand!

Thanks be to the God of heaven, who does not change!  I am thankful He is dependable and faithful!

Dwell on this thought and these words this week:

     "Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have, 

       for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Hebrews 13:5

Read that entirely in context for such love and encouragement comes through His word!