Monday, June 27, 2016

Change...Don't You Hate It?




For I am the Lord, I change not...
Malachi 3:6a


Anyone who knows me knows that I hate change. There are times I don't like changing channels on the TV and may not like changing sheets on a bed. I don't like changing lanes on a highway nor changing the supper menu at the last minute. Changing clothes in the middle of the day ranks with changing jobs or locations. I just don't like change even though it has been one of God's key instruments in my life ...yes...for change.

There are changes that come into our lives that change everything in our comfortable settings. A new baby in the family changes things as does the next and the next. A wedding in he family changes a lot of things for us. For instance, I have a sweet, dear friend. She's a very special lady in my eyes. I met her a few years ago while working on a committee together. She is the wife of a pastor of a small, loving church. She is one of those people who jumps in with all fours to do anything that needs done and no job is too menial for her. There isn't a lazy bone in this lady's body. She also is a gifted teacher of women and Bible study leader. In recent days she has seen to the details of her only daughter's wedding. I can attest to the fact that such an event can drain a mom in so many ways even though the occasion is a joyous one.

Not too long ago, she mentioned on Face book that her husband has accepted a new pastorate in West Texas so a move is imminent for her in coming weeks. She keeps her smile, trust in her dear hubby and yes, in the Lord knowing He does all things well and will bring her through all of the emotional highs and lows she is presently going through. This will be a huge emotional change for her as well as change of location. I don't know of anyone who I believe can handle it any better than this dear friend. Why?...because in it all, I see her focus being on Jesus when it should be for her and for us all

Change is never a real positive thing for women. We like our comfortable lives and surroundings. We like to keep our children and friends close. We like the feel and smells of our comfy homes. We even like our doctors, grocery stores, and other establishments we've gotten so used to. Most of all, we dearly love our church family and the ties there, especially for a woman who teaches other women the Word of God. During a recent trip to Texas, I got to return to the church we left to come to Tennessee. I was shocked at all of the friends who greeted me...some I had sat with in the choir, some I taught in Sunday school, others I taught in a home Bible study and then there was a general assortment of friends. I hadn't been back in four years. I must admit to you that after leaving, I found some privacy in a bathroom and wept. No one but teachers will ever understand the heart a teacher has for those she has shared the Word of God with in classes of various types.

I look at Scripture and find three ladies who really knew change in their lives. There are many but these three come to mind....Sarai, Esther and Ruth. Sarai's husband walked in one day to announced they were moving. He didn't have a lot of details about the move, only that the God he didn't really know had given him the instructions. The average wife about that time would probably have told him to go take a nap and try again. She didn't and went along with it. So much would have been missed if she hadn't. You see, we don't see down the road to what God sees and how His plan to change things could change a world.

Think of Esther...a young Jewish woman rounded up with a lot of other young women because the king was looking for a new queen. Talk about change...instead of the usual chores, she found herself bathing in a bubble bath, being anointed with precious oils and being attended by all sorts of maids. It doesn't appear she really wanted to be there and her presence was a mystery to her. Unknown to her was the fact that she would play a vital part as new queen in saving her own people. She could never have guessed what such a drastic change in her life would bring about.

Ruth is another young woman, a Moabite who had married to a son of Naomi. However, Naomi's husband and sons died leaving her with two daughters in love. One decided to say in Moab, but Ruth decided to go back to Naomi's homeland...a strange young lady in a strange land. But we see how God used her in the lineage that produced the Messiah. I'm not sure it could ever have dawned on her until Heaven what that change in her life brought about.

There is a major change that occurred in Scripture that we don't really know much about except for the result of that change. I can't imagine that change Jesus went through leaving Heaven to come to earth. Talk about a change.... Oh we hear of, read and sing about Jesus coming to earth, but I have to wonder when Jesus' Father perhaps said, “it's time for You to go,” the change He went through for us. None of us have experienced a change like Jesus had to endure. He came from perfection, glory and His Father's presence in that place to come to the dirt, grime, sin and problems of earth. Such changes I can't comprehend, but one thing I do know...He did it for me.

There is another really big change that is yet to occur. That change will be when all we Christians will be changed upon the second coming of Jesus to receive us to Himself. There is no other change that will be able to top that one. It will be a change that we don't mind in the least.

Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not
all sleep, but we shall be changed
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at
the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and
we all all be changed.
I Corinthians 15:51-52


As much as I have disliked changes that have come about in my life...large and small...I have found that wherever a change takes me, God meets me right there in that place, at that time. You see, He's everywhere in all of our life events. He can be trusted with those changes that tend to make us the most uncomfortable and there we meet up with His comfort

My Father, You never forsake us. You always meet us where we are no matter the events of our lives. Thank You for loving us so much that You choose what is best for us even if we don't understand the reasons. Keep us trusting you in the dullness of dailies or the challenges of change. We love you. In Jesus' name....Amen

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Thirst...For What?




As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul thirsteth for God, for the
living God...
Psalm 42:1,2a

Ever been thirsty...I mean REALLY thirsty? I think of times I have experienced thirst. Always after mowing our lawn, I headed for a faucet or an outside hose. When hiking on trails in the mountains, one can become very thirsty. Brian and I took quite a hike a couple of years ago and forgot to bring water bottles. Coming back down the trail, I was so thirsty I was light headed. I couldn't go another step without water...my thirst was beyond explanation. We were high enough on the mountain that I didn't fear the mountain stream, a tiny one that trickled a few feet from us. I took off my moccasin and begged Brian to dip it in the stream and bring me water. I shook out the moccasin, but that shows you how desperate I was. When I told our daughter Jennie about it, her immediate response was, “MAAAAM” why did you do that?” She's an outdoorsy person so that gave her the willies.

In John 4, Jesus met up with a Samaritan woman at a well. Jewish men didn't speak to or associate with Samaritan women let alone find themselves alone with one. He took the opportunity to talk with her about thirst. As she approached, He simply said, “Give me to drink.” In their conversation, they got around to the real purpose of His conversation with her. He introduced her to a water she knew nothing about. It was/is a water that was living. He assured her if she drank of that water He offered, she would never thirst again. We know what He was talking about. He was speaking of the water that upon acceptance would spring up into everlasting life.

A human being can go without food for many days, but the human body HAS to have liquid on a regular basis for the body to function as it should. The human body can break down and even die if it goes without fluid for a period of ten days or perhaps a few more than that. It is vital and necessary whether we think so or not. When going through the wilderness, the Israelites had gone without water for a time and demanded that Moses do something about it. Riots can occur over the scarcity of water and Moses just about had that on his hands. Fortunately, God provided with the cooperation of Moses. They didn't have to drink it from a moccasin, but did drink of water from a rock.

I believe our world is thirsty...terribly thirsty and I include Christians in this need. There are those who know nothing about that water that heals spiritual thirst, the living water the gives eternal life. We know of people of false religions and cults who have tried to drink of the world's theories and philosophies, but they are still thirsty. In many cases, their thirst leads them into terrible problems as they seek their thirst to be quenched. This unquenched thirst can lead to violence, abuses of different types, addictions and the list could go on and on. Until one drinks of that living water, problems and difficulties will only increase.



We Christians are at fault when we don't drink of that water often enough. Oh, we have drunk from it enough to know of eternal life, but not enough to be fully quenched and satisfied. I read some words of prophecy in Amos 8, verse 11 and it says:


Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God,
That I will send a famine in the land,
not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water,
but of hearing the words of the Lord.


We know that spiritually we will grow through the food and water provided in the Word of God. I've gone through times in my life when I was so hungry and thirsty for the things of God and yet was too busy or lazy to go to the Book that would satisfy my needs.

It's interesting that God spoke of the days to come when He would send a famine in the land. I believe we are presently in the middle of that famine in our country. It's a famine being experienced by people who refused the wooing of God for salvation. It's also a famine in the lives of Christians who have become so casual in their spirituality that they don't even sense that hunger and thirst. Some go through the motions...attending church, seminars, socials, and all those things that could make one feel they are a part of a spiritual country club. There is little commitment to the things of God.

It's summer...hot, humid...a good glass of ice water tastes good and is so refreshing. We are also in the heat of our days spiritually. We aren't deer lapping up water from a stream, we are children of God who should daily be thirsting for the living water of God. Jesus spoke of that water to the Samaritan woman, and thus to us in our world today.

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give
him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him
shall be in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life.
John 4:14

So my friends, no matter the weather or circumstances, let us take a nice, deep drink Jesus provides and eat of the food of His Word. Both will satisfy like nothing else the world has to offer. By the way, being hungry and thirsty for the things of God doesn't necessarily mean we have been slack in our attention to spiritual things. Even though I eat and drink regularly, I still find myself hungry and thirsty again in a few hours. Continuing to have a thirst and hunger for the things of God is healthy and a good indicator that we are doing something pleasing to Him.

Father, I thirst for more of You in my life...more of Jesus and of Your Spirit. Thank you for the ways you draw me near to Yourself. I know You are the answer to my spiritual hunger and thirst. Keep me close to You...keep me hungry for You and Your ways. In Jesus' precious name....Amen








Sunday, June 12, 2016

Misunderstanding God



The Lord thy God in the midst of thee
is mighty;
He will save, He will rejoice over
thee with joy;
He will rest in His love, He will joy
over thee with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17


Every year, I try to select a verse that I can carry with me in a special way for the coming months. The above verse is a verse I have chosen on several such occasions. I love this verse because it is such an encouragement to me personally. It came to my mind today when I e-mailed it to a dear friend of mine who left today for a well deserved vacation. She's had a really tough year from last September until now and I want in the worst way for her, in these days away, to see and sense the sweet and tender side of our Heavenly Father.

Perhaps this wasn't your growing up experience, but when very young, I can recall hearing about God watching me all the time just to catch me in wrong doing. God would then pull out his huge book, turn to a page with my name at the top, and would proceed to write the date and offense I had committed. After all of that, God, I was told, would put a big black mark against me on that page. Sometimes, adults say the most damaging things to children to make their point, especially when it comes to spiritual matters. I viewed God as a big, mean old man just watching everyone with a critical eye...I didn't see love or concern even though I sang “Jesus Loves Me” every Sunday at Sunday school

At the age of nine, I was given a new view. This view was of Jesus (who I had sung about in Sunday school) who was God's Son and of all things, had come to earth to die for me. The additional information I had was that God in love had sent Jesus to do all of that. It was a little hard for my child's mind to sort out, but began to accept it all by faith even if I didn't understand it all. By the way, we never will.

When I want to curl up in God's lap, I think of when I held my own children. Perhaps they were ill, maybe they were scared for some reason or just needed comfort and closeness that any child needs from time to time. I would first do all I could to ease any physical discomfort they might be experiencing. In other cases, I would speak of my love for them or say some things to cheer or encourage. When they were very young, I often sang a spiritual chorus or hymn to them. They may not even as adults remember some of that, but I remember doing it. Parents can't always be authoritarian, but provide safety as much as possible. Very often, as they observe their fathers, they will judge God their Heavenly Father by their own daddy.

The above verse is one of many that becomes my safe and sacred place with my Heavenly Father. I see in this verse everything I need from Him on a daily basis. Scripture speaks in more places than can be listed of God's love and tender care. This verse is just a special capsule of what has helped me to continually come to a right understanding of God my Father. I'm not saying I know all about Him...no one does. We do, however, need to get past some misconceptions of Him so that we can come to a point of really enjoying being God's child and His being our loving Father.

In the above verse found in the last chapter of Zephaniah are a few things I love and just adore about my Heavenly Father. In these things is His perfection personified. He has no ulterior motives, but just wants us to know how much He dearly loves us. Everything He does is out of love and this verse expresses some of those things.

  • He is MY God...I take this statement in a very personal way as He intends it should.
  • He is in my midst...I'm never out of his loving, protective sight.
  • He is mighty...My Heavenly Father is strong and cannot be defeated.
  • My Father will save me...Later, He sent His Son to see to that.
  • He rejoices over me with joy...How like a loving parent. He takes great joy in me.
  • I can rest in the security of God's love.
  • He sings over me with joy....Yes, God sings and sings over me. WOW! God sings!

Look at that list. That verse should bless and encourage you and me to the hilt. You and I can curl up close to our Heavenly Father and He is all those things in our lives. What wonderful promises are there for you and me.

One might say, “Well, that's in the Old Testament and we are New Testament people.” Let me suggest to you that one of my joys in reading in the Old Testament is seeing the character of God in all sorts of life situations. God never changes in His character no matter where we read in the Scriptures. That's what is so wonderful about having a consistent Heavenly Father who never changes.

We must have a healthy respect for who God is. He can't tolerate sin in the world and in us. He will deal with it as a parent would/should deal with a child's wrongdoing. His dealings will be just...He can do nothing less. With all the love He showers on us, our natural response should be to love Him so much that we don't want to disappoint Him. When we do sin, it should be automatic for us to confess our sin and seek His forgiveness. I'm not suggesting that we have an unrealistic view of God, our God who is perfect, holy and intolerant of sin. We should, however, come to enjoy Him...His love and care for each of us.

I cant' help but wonder though, what God's singing voice sounds like as He sings joyfully over me. Someday I'll know...on the other side.

Father, forgive me for not enjoying Your presence as I should. I want to love You freely, with no inhibitions because that's how You love me. Thank You for all You do for me even with every breath I breathe. Help me to relax and love You with ease and to be excited about our relationship. I love You and love Your songs even if I can't quite hear them yet...in Jesus precious name...Amen


Sunday, June 5, 2016

CHECKUP TIME


...God has revealed them to us through His
Spirit, for the Spirit searches all things, yes,
the deep things of God.
I Corinthians 2:10

It is often suggested that we have a physical checkup yearly. Some folks do that in one form or another. One may have eyes checked yearly while many women have yearly mammograms. If a person has a chronic condition such as Diabetes, she may need to see the family doctor more than once each year. For the most part, however, people shy away from having regular checkups done. They are bothersome, sometimes nerve wracking, expensive or just frightening. Despite the reasons for not seeing a doctor, a checkup can often help a person avoid the terrible effects of an oncoming condition that might be treated successfully in beginning stages.

Although one's family doctor usually sees to the physical aspects of a patient, we as Christians also have our Great Physician. We don't have to leave home to see this Physician, nor do we have to pay Him anything out of pocket. He, the Holy Spirit, is in you and me. He is with us constantly and although He has power to heal physically, He diagnosis our spiritual condition on a regular basis as He speaks through His Word, bringing spiritual things to our recall. He also uses our circumstances to often redirect our steps. It's always good when our own family doctor gives us good news that all is well with our bodies. How much better, if the Holy Spirit can give the same report on our spiritual conditions. I love the following verses that speak of the Spirit's working in us.

EYES: We have perfect spiritual sight when we rely on the Holy Spirit. Every path is very clear by Him for our best...no glasses or contacts needed.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way
which thou shalt go I will guide thee
with mine eye.
Psalm 32:8

EARS: The Holy Spirit speaks in clear tones to you and me. Physically, an accumulation of ear wax can block our hearing process. The Spirit shouldn't have to speak through any blockage you and I have built up that doesn't please Him. Sin and things of this world have a way of dimming our spiritual healing.

But as it is written:“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
nor have entered into the heart of man the
things which God has prepared
for those who love Him.”
I Corinthians 2:9

HEART: The previous verse also speaks of the heart and all the Spirit wants to say to it. However, for a Christian, a huge danger can be that of a hard (stony) heart. God's people in Old Testament days had reverted back to their old ways. They were following the ways of the heathen, but despite their rebellion against Him, He made a promise He would clean them up as a nation. His procedure of bringing the people back to spiritual health was:

                                        I will cleanse you from all your filthiness
                                                     and from all your idols.
                                             I will give you a new heart and put
                                        new spirit within you; I will take the heart
                                        of stone out of your flesh and give you a
                                                                heart of flesh
                                                            Ezekiel 36:25b-26



LEGS: The Holy Spirit might convict us of the way we are walking with Him. Is our walk in Christ one that brings Him honor and glory or are there some things we need to change? Perhaps the Holy Spirit would have us walking in a different direction than has been our custom. Ezekiel also speaks to what God wants to do with our legs:

I will put My Spirit within you and cause you
to walk in my statutes, and you will keep my
judgments and do them.
Ezekiel 36:27

God's prescription isn't one we can purchase in a drug store. He simply wants His Spirit recognized and functioning in us enabling us to walk in obedience.

TASTE: Since having a serious fall about four years ago, resulting in a head injury, one major thing affected for me has been my taste. I can taste things, but there are some foods that are simply revolting to the point I can't eat them. My doctor has told me that my normal sense of taste may return, but it may not, so I eat most things that taste normal to me. Our great Physician has something in mind for our spiritual taste that He highly recommends.:

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:8

BREATHING: In our day, many people suffer with breathing problems of some kind. Sometimes allergies of various types cause great suffering for people mostly in the fall or spring when there is an abundance of pollen in the air. Our ability to even breathe began with God when He breathed His very breath of life into man.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of
the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life; and man became a living being.
Genesis 2:7

You and I have the very breath of life in us because of God's breathing into that first man. Humankind has been breathing to live since that time. Living in a sin cursed world often causes disease that affects our breathing. The above verse from Genesis just reminds us of how dependent we are on our great Creator of life.

Physically we are wonderful beings. Only our God could create the human body with all of it's miraculous functioning. We also have this miraculous spiritual being within us that is made complete by the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit...the Spirit who leads us in wonderful, healthy ways.

In Him we live and move
and have our being.
Acts 17:28


Dear Father and Wonderful Creator...You have created us with so many intricate members of our bodies that all work together to make us whole, valuable and functioning. Help us to take care of our amazing body, not only physically but spiritually as well. Thank You for being our loving and caring Creator and Father. In Jesus' precious name...Amen