HE WALKS AND TALKS WITH ME

Teach me Your way, O LORD;

I will walk in Your truth;

unite my heart to fear Your name.

Psalm 86:11

 When just a very little girl, I always sat with my Mother in church.  She didn't sing like most people as I came to know that she sang alto.  However, with everyone else singing, I sang soprono with most of the others.  The very first hymn I ever learned by heart was IN THE GARDEN.  I first memorized the chorus and to this day, I can find myself humming the melody of that precious song.

The chorus had a special beat to it from my young standpoint.  It was almost like one could sway, arms flying as if moving in the wind.  The chorus says:

And He walks with me

And He talks with me,

And He tells me I am His own.

And the joy we share, as

we tarry there,

None other, has ever, known.

It might be hard for folks to think of me as being immaginative but it would be true.  Early one sunrising morning, this chorus really brought all of that out in my almost four year old body.  

 Mr. Prock owned our corner grocery store.  He and his wife lived across the street, about four doors down.  No one was stirring in our house so early in the morning with pajamas on as well as my house slippers, I left the house to go down to the Prock's house.  You see, they had the most beautiful flower garden you could have ever seen.  It had no fence and a part of it came right up to the sidewalk.

I walked into their garden and with a flurry of emotion and song, moved about the small paths of the garden singing my favorite chorus.  Mrs. Prock heard me and came outside to see what I was doing.  I really think she had been watching because she had called my Mother.  Mother came and saw me in my dew-dampened pajamas and soaked house slippers.  She reprimanded me for such an outburst but I think I detected a slight look of humor on her fact.

I still love that hymn, because it speaks so well of our relationship with the Lord....the privilege of walking and talking to us, assuring us of His presence at all times.  The joy comes when we tarry with Him every time we have an opportunity.  We don't have invade anyone's garden.  With Jesus, every place can seem like a beautiful garden.  He will always walk and talk with us no matter where we are.

Thank You Father for sweet memories, especially spiritual outings with You.  Help us to really enjoy special times with You, unplanned and enjoyable...a rejoicing time.  In Jesus....Amen

PRECIOUS HANDS

My Father, who has given them

to Me, is greater than all:  and

no one can snatch them out of

My Father's hand.

John 10:29

In some recent days, there was something that came to my attention I hadn't given much thought to.   I had worn a ring on my right hand for some time that I really paid little attention to.  All of a sudden, I had an episode with that ring on my finger.  One morning I was awakened with some pretty terrific pain on that hand.  I struggled to get the ring off but with all the swelling, it wouldn't budge.  I went to my neighbor to see if he could sever the band in some way, releasing the ring which he did.  For a few days, I still felt the pain that hindered me in any number of ways in using it.

I have thought since the recovery of the hand, about our bodies, so wonderfully created by God.  Most of our bodies we never give a thought to such as:  swallowing, eye blinking, breathing, hair growing, toes that assist with our walking, joints that bend and the myriad of things our hands do at our bidding.  

Because of the incident with my ring,  I found myself handicapped in doing many of the usual things I do with them, even typing on my computer.  My right hand didn't want any pressure brought to bear on it, but still had to make use of that hand despite the pain.

I'm so grateful that there is never damage to God's hands.  He doesn't only hold us securely in His hand but according to Isaiah 49:16, we see:

See, I have inscribed you on

the palms of My hands;

your walls are continually 

before me.

We are not only held securely by our Father, but our name is etched in His hand.  Our hands may give us some problems and become hard to work with at times, but His has us securely wrapped in His powerful ones.

Thank You Father for the security we have in You.  Satan may come at us full force at times but he'll never be able to pull us from Your hand.  Thank You for the spiritual safety we have in You.  In Jesus' name...Amen    

LOVE THOSE THREE'S

Then He said to them all, "If

anyone desires to come 

after Me, let him

deny himself,  

and take up his cross daily

and follow Me."

Luke 23:24

Anyone who has been in Sunday school or Bible study classes could tell you that I tend to watch for key words in Scripture as well as phrases.  There are just some interesting things that catch my eye mostly while doing my own private reading or study.  I realize folks have said as long as I can remember that seven is God's perfect number.  I'm not about to question that as there are many reasons for taking that view.

I've never paid much attention to the "sevens" in Scripture but have really noticed some three word groupings that I have found interesting.  For instance:

Father   Son   Holy Spirit

Ask   Seek   Knock

Sun   Moon   Stars

Ham   Shem   Japeth (Noah's boys)

Faith   Hope   Love

Walk   Stand   Sit  (Ps. 1)

Peter   James   John

Abraham   Isaac   Jacob

I'm sure there are many more that could be listed, but the three's came to my thoughts because of the above verse I found in my personal reading.  Jesus was having a serious session with His disciples.  He's mentioned again that He is going to die and be raised the THIRD day.  Jesus, despite the news He gives His disciples, He is still encouraging them to stay focused on Him and mission.

In essence, I can't believe Jesus wouldn't even in this day, request the same of you and me.  He gave them three things to do that are each dependent on the others.  The order is a tough one both then and now.  If we REALLY want to follow Him, three things are required each of which is very difficult...deny self, take up whatever cross we are called on to carry and DAILY follow Him.  Wow, that's some job description, but not impossible if we are relying on His Holy Spirit.  

What a joy that the very Son of God desires our followership...what a privilege to be called to walk in His way.  Even a cross we are called to bear can be a blessing if we have denied self and have the desire to follow Him without hesitation.

Help us Father, to have a strong desire to follow You no matter our circumstances.  We can only do this in Your power and through You loving, guiding hand.  Thank You for the privilege of Your calling in our lives.  In Jesus name..Amen

I

GOD HAS A PLAN

For I know the plans that I

have for you, declares the

LORD, plans to prosper

you and not to harm you,

to give you hope and

a future.

Jeremiah 29:11

I'm sure my ladies Sunday school class would tell you a statement I often make and that is that God always has a plan in our lives.  I recall seeing teenagers go forward at invitation time of a church service desiring to know God's will (plan) for their lives, especially in the area of ministry.  For some reason, as we age, we lose sight that even where we are in live that God always has a plan for each of us.

That plan we once thought to know when younger could have been to know one's future occupation, college to attend, person to marry, where to live, etc.  All of those, many of us have already hurdled.  We tend to forget or perhaps ignore the fact that God has continuing phases of His plan for us.  Some of those revealed plans we may like or not like, but it's still His plan.

We should consider that God's plan and planning is always perfect,  We might highly disagree with that when we find ourselves in some difficult places, but He's correct in every way, every time in His planning.  We must also believe that His plans are right on time, according to His own schedule and timeliness in our individual lives.  His planning for us isn't just when we are seeking in our youth what we want to be when we grow up.  God's plans are ongoing no matter our stage of life.

We may not understand (disagree) with God's plans for us at times.  When working six years in a slum area in a Christian center, I couldn't figure out why one day, like a clap of thunder, I knew I had to leave that position that I thought I would spend the rest of my life doing.  It hurt and I had NO means of support in making that move.  In a little over a week, I had a new job, apartment, close to the chuch I attended, and almost next door to a Kroger store.  In six months, I had my first date with Brian.  There's no way, I could have anticipated how God was going to work His own plan for me.

I have known folks out of jobs with no work in sight.  They've done everything to apply and go for interviews to the point almost of insanity.  In it all, where is God?  Even in the hardest of times, God has a plan for each of those lives.  Nothing may make sense in the moment, the God is in charge and knows what He's doing despite our discouragement.

We've all gone through the serious illnesses of family members and friends.  God seems to be almost silent, especially if one such person passes away.  We may ask our questions about it all but we don't stop to consider that the greatest plan God can work in our lives is to take a loved one or even ourselves to be with Him.  That's what I would call THE divine plan of all time.

In times of figuring out God's plan or in being a part of it, we are to do what we can to stay close to the grand Planner through being in His Word, being people of prayer and staying active spiritually.  Our spiritual walk, despite missing a loved one, not having a job or just facing life's difficulties will keep us strong and learning more about trusting the One who knows and loves us best.

Dear Father, there's so much to this life that at times makes no sense.  Even when we know that You know best in all things, our trust may tend to waver.  May Your Spirit work a strength in us that is unbelievable, giving us a stronger hope as we contemplate future days.  We love You so much.  In Jesus' precious name...Amen

TEACHERS PAST

Train up a child in the way he

should go, and when he is old

he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

 A friend and I were talking today about past Sunday school experiences.  She taught children 30 years in Sunday school and loved it.  I had another friend prior to our move who had taught in a Sunday school department so long, she was then teaching the children of some of the students she had taught in time past.

The older I get, the more I tend to look back to my own Sunday school days and the dear ladies who taught me through those primary years and others on through high school.  I especially now like looking back to those times  those teachers who taught me and my friends.

I'm sure they had their times when they were weary in well-doing but still showed up to try to tame some wild children.  They couldn't have envisioned what some of those children would become in later life with lessons learned that helped shape young lives.

I've spoken of a dear lady who even encouraged me to help her with VBS when I had outgrown it in age.  She had me teach memory work to about 25 restless junior girls and boys.  I found that I really liked doing that and that teacher friend knew I had enjoyed it.  At the end of that week, she came to me and simply said that she felt someday I would be a really good Bible teacher.  Didn't sound possible at the moment but for over 65 years, that's what I've been doing.

I think we fail to look back at folks who invested themselves in our lives and got very little thanks for their dedication.  They may have wondered some days if it was worth the effort.  After all, even Sunday school teachers are human.  I see how each of those folks had an influence in my life.  I couldn't tell you one single lesson they taught that I now remember.  However, they left in me a love for the B-I-B-L-E and I received love and care from them they could never have known I needed.

I wish I could send them a note today of gratitude but they are all in Heaven now.  Their faithfulness to the task I hope has rubbed off on me.  You and I owe such folks a debt of gratitude for their investments.  We are left to carry on in whatever service for the Lord we have been called to do..it would delight those faithful folks if they could see for a moment that they DUN GUUUD. 

Thank You Father for those teachers whose every name I recall.  Through them, I came to love You and others in the Bible.  I learned principles through them I couldn't have received anywhere else.  Thank You for that church basement where all the classrooms were and for that wonderful smell  in it that I'll never forget.  In Jesus' precious name....Amen

 

GUARD YOUR HEART

It's amazing, especially as one ages how we are reminded often to take care of our hearts.  There are any number of things that can affect these human hearts of ours.  Conditiions can begin very small, almost so small, they can be ignored.  Any number of things can occur with the heart from a healthy tick all the way through the negatives to even a heart transplant.  We are told the things to do to insure heart health from diet, exercise to even some prevention-type medications.  If we want to continue living and breathing, we are careful and alert.

The odd thing is that spiritually, at times, we don't even consider the condition of our spiritual hearts.  We begain asking Jesus to come into our hearts.  That's what I was told when I got saved.   Even at age 10, I knew there wasn't going to be a man climb into my heart, but the joy of Jesus in my heart, couldn't just stand still.  With ongoing maturity, it still feels at times like my spiritual heart wants to burst with joy and love for Jesus.  

Problem is, we can end up with some pretty serious conditions in these hearts that can stunt our spiritual health.  Scripture tells us that what comes out of mouths is the result of what is going on in our hearts.  We live in a culture that has led us a long way through the years regarding sin and the damage it can cause.  As the world goes, so will go our hearts if we aren't alert to any "infections:" that might take place.  Mark 7:21-23 reminds us:

 For from within, out of the heart of men,

proceed evil thoughts, adulteries,

fornications, murders, thefts,

covetousness, wickedness, deceit,

lewdness, an evil eye, pride,

foolishness.

All these evil things come from within

and defile a man.

Mark is reminding us  that what comes from our words, has its source to be found in the heart. Praul would remind us of those things to put in the place of all that rot.  He speaks of a worthy goal for all of us that would contribute to keeping a clean, spiritually health heart.  He speaks in Galatians 5 of the delightful fruit...love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, godness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, that can take the place of the debilitating sins Satan presents.

We probably get our hearts checked when we go to the doctor.  We can stay home and keep an honest check on our spiritual heart condition.  The Holy Spirit will be happy to help us back to the spiritual health He desires for us.

Father, may our heart's desire through the empowering of Your Spirit to be people who desire to have clean hands and pure hearts that honor You in every way.  May we serve You well with love and purity.  In Jesus' precious name...Amen

BEWARE THE ANGER

Make no friendship with an angry

man, and with a furious man do

not go lest you learn his ways and set

a snare for your soul.

Proverbs 22: 24,25

Not sure if anyone is paying attention, but we are living in the midst of a culture made up of alot of very angry people.  We see them in politics, varied demonstrations, but see them even in our own lives.  It could be that others might be seeing this issue in us as well.

We are given a real caution in the above verses.  First we are given a NO when it comes to a friendship with someone who seems to be angry alot of the time.  The why follows the what and who...anger is catching, contageous even though we might not think so.

Anger can  the produce most unfortunate of consequences.  I'm thinking of some friends who taught at a Christian college.  A student approached the couple with the grand announcement that she and another student from the college were engaged.  She was hoping for their congratulations.  However, the couple knew the young man very well and wasn't too terribly exited for the girl.  He was known for his hot temper and tendency to having an overall spirit of anger.  I asked this friend of mine what they said to her.  One of them simply took out a slip of paper and with pen wrote on that paper "Proverbs 22:24,25" and handed it to her.  Unfortunately in a few years, the young lady paid dearly for deciding to go ahead with the relationship.

There may be times to feel a certain anger but it can be done without sinning.  Scripture tells us that it is possible.  The above anger is one of temper, sometimes loss of emotional control and at times loss of physical control.  Jesus cleaned up the temple on occasion with a righteous anger while the rest of His life we see a Man, always in control of Himself in every situation, especially with all the confrontations with political and spiritual big-wigs.

May we, with Holy Spirit power, learn to keep in control of our thoughts and actions that will glorify our Father.  Second hand anger is always a threat, that is being angry because someone else is.  May our temperament reveal Jesus in our lives as much as possible.

Father, forgive me for the times I've been angry when it wasn't necessary.  There have been times I've been boiling inside but You know that as well as I do.  May I keep my focus on you with help from Your Holy Spirit to maintain a spiritual calm in my life that will honor You and serve others.  In Jesus' precious name...Amen

 

THE GRAND PLAN

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.

Isaiah 29:11

Ladies must become very bored with me when I suggest to them that when God works in our lives, He always knows what He is doing.  In our individual lives, God has  a  grand plan.  He's so smart and knows every detail of our lives.  He knows what is best in our every situation.  

God's plans are perfect, down to the smallest detail.  There are times when things come into our lives that we can't imagine what is going on.  However, if we are in tune with our Father, we've got to know that He is in charge of our lives.  At times, we don't get choices, much as human parents would deal with their own children. 

When God has a particular plan for us, it will always be a custom fit.  His plan for us will be personalized and precise.  Some plans may seem the same for several believers all at the same time, but God's planning for you and me is a custom fit...designed for we individuals.  You see, God sees each of us in a very personal light.  What works for one person, would never apply to another.  What I love about this thought is how God views each of us in a very personal way, away from the crowd...one on one with Him.  This way, there can be no confusion as to God's plan designed just for me.  Some plans can be tough, but we realize how personalized His plans are. 

God's plans are very timely and  He is very prompt in His timing of events.  So many times, I have wished God would move a little faster in solving a concern of mine.  Sometimes, I am waiting for an answer regarding a particular situation but God's answer is rarely in sync with my expetations.  He sees so much further down the road than we can see.

What God's plan has in store for us is nothing but perfection.  Going through some difficulties may not ring with perfection but God does everything pure of motive and with our best interest at heart.  He makes no mistakes, especially in His relationship with each of us.  He can be trusted with our very lives, even when we don't understand what is going on.

Father, I often don't understand some things happening in my life but know you are at the wheel of my circumstances.  I know Your plans for me in this life will always be for my good and Your glory.  In Jesus' name...Amen 

THE RIGHTEOUS MAN

The righteous man walks in

his integrity; his children

are blessed after him.

Proverbs 20:7

Father's Day is a bit touchy for me.  The children and I used to make a big deal of it with Brian even though he didn't much want any fuss.  He didn't like the pastor asking the dad's to stand up in church on this holiday although he did it.  It might have lookied a  little odd if he hadn't done it.

Brian was a husband any woman would  have loved to have.  He was loving, thoughtgful and one of the dearest Christians I had ever known.  When I saw the above verse, I thought about him because of that word INTEGRTY.  He was a man of integrity from the top of his head to the soul of his feet.  The only lie (I put that lightly) he was known to tell was to our children when they would ask his age.  His answer was always the same....23.  When the children got old enough to do some addition noting that I would have been many years older than him, he would explain by telling them that I had adopted him.

Church attendance was never a question.  If we had company on a Sunday, they either went with us or stayed home while we went.  One time, I was ill over a weekend and we had two little girls, hardly kindergarten age and a younger baby boy.  I remember him preparing the diaper bags and took off with all three to church even though they would have been separated in the nursery facilities somewhere.  How he  got in three lines at the end of the service I'll ever know.

I must say from my standpoint that I grew spiritually under his leadership.  He practiced his faith and service.  He was a student of the Word and was my extra commentary source when preparing Bible studies of any sort.  

Someone asked me one day what I missed about Brian having gone to Heaven.  I told her that it was everything, but miss his influence in my life in so many ways.

I guess this is too personal for a blog but many others I know could write some of the same things on this day.  I'm a blessed wife that God would bring such a person into my life.  All dad's aren't alike and can't be compared.  Dad's become much of who they are because of their family of wife and children.  God knew Adam would need an Eve but also knew ahead of time that we Eve's would need our Adams.

Thank You Father for the privilege we have of the loving and godly influence of our men on Father's Day.  Perhaps even just as blessed are our children who have benefited in so many ways through strong dads.  In Jesus' name...Amen

DON'T QUIT!

 And let us not grow weary
  in well doing  
for in due season we shall
reap if we do not lose
heart.
Galatians 6:9

We are right here at the onset of the summer months.  Folks are making all sorts of plans for coming days.  Many will travel to places of interest, get together with family members who may live at a distance or just plan events closer to home.  Perhaps it's the hot weather and general climate of things but somehow, these three months seem so much different from the other nine.  Yes, climates, holidays and so many things make our seasons different, but the summer months are just something else.

Spiritually these months can pose some risks.  They aren't different in physical ways but spiritually, we can experience a slow down in feelings we either don't notice or don't understand.  It's during these months we can quit doing some things that are normal for us the rest of the year.  We can lose faithfulness in our church attendance, in our Bible reading, in times of prayer and in being of service to others.  It's like for some that many things are put on hold until September.  We can't quit those things that are an in-depth part of us.  We should plow on without quitting.

There may be some things, however, that might merit our quitting-ness. 

Hot weather often brings on anger and negative attitudes.  Be it anger, complaining, selfishness, there are those things we should in God's power quit.

Just as children go to chuch camp in the summer, perhaps we can plan our own spiritual times for these months...a new book to read, a different Bible to study and mark up, getting out into nature frequently even if it's sitting in the car by a mountain stream, putting a jig saw puzzle together or doing a craft project that isn't too complicated.  The key is to keep God a part of all we plan.  I've done this before and found it refreshing.  I didn't do all those things at once but made some changes for the sake of variety.

Above all, we just can't quit on Jesus.  For sure, He didn't quit on us when circumstances were worse than a hot, steamy day.  He didn't quit on us and we mustn't quit on Him no matter the season we face.

Father, we love you even though a times we may not show it as much as we should.  You are so faithful and loving to us and that hasn't stopped.  You never quit on us and may we be consistent in our love for you.  In Jesus name...Amen