ALL THINGS

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.
Romans 8:28

After some days in the hospital this last week, I found this verse from Romans had more meaning for me than in a great while. I'm not quick to throw this verse around in a casual way as some might. For many it's become a too-casual catch all for every event of life. This verse does apply to our every circumstance, but it must be a sincere application.

Going to an emergency room because of a bad reaction to a medication seemed innocent enough....in and out...right? No way in this case. An over zealous physician on the spot decided I had had a heart attack which couldn't have been further from correct. However, in an emergency situation, when those two magic words (heart attack) are are mentioned, things go into full swing. After the events of the next three days, I got to learn first hand what all does and needs to happen when there is a suspicion of a heart event. I've now seen all of the blood tests, EKG's, medications, sonograms and yes, a heart catheterization. I found myself on a medical merry-go-round I could not get off of. I did my best to explain over and over what I had come to the hospital for, but my information fell on deaf ears.

Don't get me wrong, I was surrounded by loving, caring and dedicated people. The nursing staff and two other doctors who all came my way were blessings beyond explanation. I loved the housekeeping ladies who liked to linger in my room for chats. My nurses in the wee hours of the morning were sweet and efficient seeing to my every need. So what's the problem?...ME! I don't think I had ever been in a situation quite like this where things were moving so quickly, making little sense to me although I was perfectly conscious and aware of my surroundings. In this situation, I had NO control over my circumstances.

I'm thinking of friends of mine who at times have found themselves feeling like I did at that moment with nothing making sense in their own worlds that were spinning around them. I think of a friend suddenly widowed...a husband in seeming good health gone to heaven. I think of couples dealing with older children who seem bent in keeping parents in a constant state of fear and turmoil. I've had several friends return home from a doctor's offices after hearing news no person wants to hear...stage IV. Recently in our area, hundreds of people were affected in the worst of ways because of the fires that ravaged through the mountains and into a busy tourist town. Many lost everything...even loved ones...in just a matter of hours. That's an event those folks are still picking their way through.

Our verse speaks of “ALL things.” Just the term “all things” really doesn't give us much in the way of specifics because there are some things we feel need explained to some degree. “All things” is pretty broad...there are surely exceptions. As I was wide awake in my hospital bed after the heart cath, for the life of me, no explanations for what had just happened dawned on me in anyway. There are just some things we accept because we bottom line trust Jesus that He knows what He's doing or allowing..

Feeling a little on the down side and yes, still asking some questions, one of my sweet VERY young nurses (aren't they all) came into the room. We had done quite a bit of talking, but this time she seemed to have a determination to really speak something into my life she felt I needed in that moment. She sweetly said, “Mrs. Lanoue, I am a believer. I believe you are wise and love Jesus. You've probably taught ladies for years with God-given wisdom and I have no right to say anything spiritual in nature to you.” She then went on to sweetly explain to me how in her young life she had learned there are things that happen over which she had no understanding or control. She went on to tell me that in many of those times, she learned no matter the circumstances, she had to just trust that God always knows what He's doing and has purpose in every event of our lives.

As I was listening to her, I wondered how often I have said those same things to any number of women going through tough times. Now I had a sweet, young nurse teaching me all over again those very same things that I needed to hear, that I needed to hear from the Lord through her. In her entire medical career, she'll probably not remember that moment, but I will and more important, God will.

Sooooo, I don't have to know all the details of every circumstance that occurs in my life even when I think I know what's best at the moment. When I love my Lord, and am called to serve Him, ALL things are going to work according to His purpose and I can rest in that through Eternity.

Dear Father, forgive me for forgetting You are near, dear and working on my behalf no matter my circumstances. Forgive my humanity and may my circumstances serve as life lessons for me in future days. Thank You for Your healing touch in my life and for loving me through it ALL. In Jesus precious name.....Amen

HANDS ARE HANDY

My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me:
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall
never perish, neither shall any man pluck
them out of my hand.
My Father, which gave them me, is greater
than all; and no man is able to pluck
them out of my Father's hand.
John 10:27-29

It's been amazing for some time how amazing our bodies are in their functioning. In God's creation, He thought of every possible and intricate thing regarding these bodies of our all that work in concert for us to function efficiently in so many ways. There are a multitude of things our bodies do without our thinking that work in concert with each other to keep us healthy and functioning.

One area that fascinates me are human hands. I must admit I didn't give my hands much thought until I broke my right wrist ago several years ago. I was painting my new office at work. Brian was with me when I fell off of a chair and banged my right wrist on the desk. I have never had a break in a bone before nor since that time. I asked Brian to go to the reception room and get a magazine that I put around the wrist that would do until we got to an emergency room.

At that time, a plaster cast was placed on my right arm from the elbow down into my hand. Suddenly I realized I was going to spend several weeks functioning with my left hand. I wondered how I would cook, bathe, drive safely, and feed myself. It is humiliating having to have your husband cut your meat, hence we didn't usually eat anywhere but burger places. A huge concern for me was that in my new job, typing was required because of all the reports that had to be written. With practice, I got to where I could type 45-50 words per minute with my left hand. I had to learn to do a lot of things left handed. It's amazing to this day that I still tend to do some things left handed.

Hands are mentioned often in Scripture. We read of the guiding hands of God. Also we read of people who lifted up “holy hands” in worship. Hands were often mentioned in the context of work. We are challenged in Scripture regarding our hands....”have clean hands and pure heart”...”stretched out hand”...to name a few.

I take such comfort in the fact of all my hands can do, and all God's hands do, One of the biggest blessings to me is what I see in the opening verses. Two wonderful promises are given by Jesus...”neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” He didn't stop there, but went on to say, “and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” What a double promise is given in those verses, but I wonder if we ever think of the safety and intimacy of being that close to Jesus and the Father.

When our daughter Jennie was about two years old, we made one of our treks to the Smoky Mountains and went on the Laurel Falls trail that is paved. Many families take their children on this particular trail. With Jennie being two, but a very sturdy walker, Brian still put her on his shoulders most of the way up the trail, but allowed her to walk as much as she wanted to on the way down. The stipulation was that she had to be holding her Dad's hand at all times if she was walking on the trail. There were times she wanted to pull away a run, but Brian had her in hand. That's where she stayed until we got to the car.

I'm not sure where we were going to go the next day when Brian took Jennie's left hand. She resisted almost to the point of tears. She said, “It huts.” We looked and sure enough the back of her left hand was bruised, noticeably so. Brian had held that little girl in the safety of his grip. It would have taken a lot for anyone to come along and grab Jennie. They would have had to take Brian's arm with them.

God does even more. I don't know how He gets all of us into His hand, but Jesus said that's the way it is. I wonder how many times we try to get away to do our own thing, but His grip tightens on us. He tries everything to keep us safe in every way, but we still try to go our own way. God will never let go of us where our salvation is concerned. If I choose to do some of my own things, I'll be the one with the bruises. I am safe not just in my salvation but being in His will. He's given me the privilege of making choices. Should I err, His hand is still near to pick me up and restore me to the safety of His presence.

As women, we use our hands for such a variety of things...wash dishes, cook, wash and fold clothes, apply band-aids to ouchies, button buttons, zip zippers, comb hair, change diapers and on and on the list goes. It would be impossible to begin listing all the things the hands of God does on our behalf. We so often don't even think of all the little things He does for us...so many things that keep us encouraged and moving through everyday living. Jesus holds us close to Himself where we are safe and should feel very secure, much like a Dad holding the hand of a two year old on a mountain trail.

Thank You Father for Your loving care of us. There's so much You do we don't realize or recognize. Keep us close. In Jesus Name...Amen

WHO AM I...TO YOU?

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Matthew 16:15
...Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me...
John 21:15,16,17

The prospect of going to college was so exciting for me. It was to be my first time away from home and away it was. I left Southern Illinois to attend a small Christian college that was located right in the middle of the state of Kansas. I had never traveled anywhere even near the border of that state.

A really nice thing the school did ahead of time to break in us freshman girls was to assign to us a senior female student...a big sister. We wrote letters back and forth getting acquainted with each other. My sister's letters were long telling me about herself as well as introducing me to college life. We exchanged pictures of ourselves, but even pictures aren't sufficient to introduce people to each other. When arriving on campus, my big sister had left a gift basket on my desk for me. She had already let me know she wasn't around the dorm very much what with an overload of classes and working almost full time. However, when we did meet, both of us had the same reaction and said almost the same things to each other: “I feel like I've known you for a long time” and “I would have known you anywhere.”

In recent days both in my own personal thinking and study, I've thought a lot about how well I know Jesus. With all of the advantages we have had through the years in getting to know Jesus better, I'm wondering how well we really know Him. I realize we only have the Bible as far as actual written information about Jesus. Throw in Greek and Hebrew translations that do give us a little more insight into word meanings and phraseology, and it all still comes back to the Word of God.

With having studied a lot in the New Testament Gospels, I'm always interested in Jesus' interactions with people. All of His teachings are priceless, but there are what I would call “significant moments” where it may not appear there is much importance to an event, but in such events, Jesus' words can ring down through time. In the Gospels, I think the above two questions in our two Bible verses, posed by Jesus, are important questions for you and me to to answer within ourselves with some clarity and love for Him. Both questions were answered by Peter even though only one was posed to Him personally.

By mid-Matthew, Jesus had been preaching and teaching for awhile. It's hard to tell how far Jesus was into His ministry, but He was beginning to be known. At this time, Jesus was very cautious about becoming famous. In His mind was His own timetable. He knew what awaited Him down the road...a cross. He had much to do with little time. Fame for Jesus was not a friend at that point. Jesus and this band of 12 had ministered to hundreds of people and there was bound to be talk. If people were curious about Jesus, in all probability, they would talk to the disciples about Him. The disciples told Jesus of those men of God of the past that folks had mentioned. But then He asked THE question to only the disciples....”Who say ye that I am?” I would imagine there was a bit of a pause with the men looking at each other. Good old Peter spoke up as he was accustomed to doing. His answer was priceless to the point that Jesus told Peter he could only have received that knowledge from God Himself. Peter had responded: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Good job, Peter...right on.

After Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, He met with the disciples according to the last chapter in John. He questioned Peter three times regarding his love for Him (Jesus). He wanted to know if Peter loved Him. Some say Jesus asked Peter three times because he had denied Jesus three times. We don't know that, but Peter seemed puzzled being asked the same question three times. Each time though, Peter assured Jesus of his love for Him. Unbeknown to Peter, Jesus knew of some great opportunities that would be in the beginning of the new church and further missionary efforts that would contribute greatly to the Kingdom.

Let me say that I think these are two of the most important questions Jesus asked in the course of His ministry. Jesus had every right to ask them and today, He has every right to ask you and me those same two questions. Those two questions really go hand in hand. You and I have to come to terms with who we believe Jesus is. I'm not sure how verbal we could be if asked the question by anyone on the spot and that's because we just don't think about Jesus often enough. We could give the usual answers I guess....He's my Savior, my Friend, my prayer answerer, etc. Those really are quite elementary answers for many of us who have KNOWN Jesus for many years. How deep does our relationship with Him go? Have we gotten beyond the pictures on the wall of of our primary Sunday school rooms of Jesus that gives us only basic information.

Without having an initial encounter with Jesus, our own salvation experience, there won't be a relationship. Our salvation opens the door to an ongoing relationship with Him. We should be able to look at Jesus with more of a profound love for Him today than we've ever had. Perhaps one of the reasons we Christians today have problems with witnessing is because we really don't love and know Him like we should.

When we get to Heaven and meet Jesus for the first time in person, will we honestly be able to say, “I would have known You anywhere.” I realize we'll see the scars on His hands and feet. Those will be obvious indicators as will His wonderful presence be obvious. Jesus has often come to me through others He has used to minister to me in some way. Jesus will know us, no doubt, but will He look at me with disappointment. I hope not. He wants a close relationship with us. When ladies have told me how they don't feel close to Jesus anymore, my question is always, “Who moved?” I want a strong, loving and close relationship with Him. He's doing His part...am I doing mine? How would I answer today....”Glendarae, who do you say I am?”....”Glendarae, lovest thou Me?” Try those two questions using your name. It's rather convicting.

Dear Father, I love and appreciate all You do for me ..things I don't even think about. Jesus, I love You and am so grateful for the ways You work in my life through Your sweet Holy Spirit. I want to serve You faithfully and come to know You better than ever. In Your precious name....Amen

KNOWING JESUS

He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
Matthew 16:15
...Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou Me...
John 21:15,16,17

The prospect of going to college was so exciting for me. It was to be my first time away from home and I do mean AWAY. I left Southern Illinois to attend a small Christian college that was located right in the middle of the state of Kansas. I had never traveled anywhere even near the border of that state.

A really nice thing the school did ahead of time to break in we freshman girls was to assign to us a senior female student...a big sister. We wrote letters back and forth getting acquainted with each other. My sister's letters were long telling me about herself as well as introducing me to college life. We exchanged pictures of ourselves, but even pictures aren't sufficient to introduce people to each other. When arriving on campus, my big sister had left a gift basket on my desk for me. She had already let me know she wasn't around the dorm very much what with an overload of classes and working almost full time. However, when we did meet, both of us had the same reaction and said almost the same things to each other: “I feel like I've known you for a long time” and “I would have known you anywhere.”

In recent days both in my own personal thinking and study, I've thought a lot about how well I know Jesus. With all of the advantages we have had through the years in getting to know Jesus better, I'm wondering how well we really know Him. I realize we only have the Bible as far as actual written information about Jesus. Throw in Greek and Hebrew translations that do give us a little more insight into word meanings and phraseology, and it all still comes back to the Word of God.

With having studied a lot in the New Testament Gospels, I'm always interested in Jesus' interactions with people. All of His teachings are priceless, but there are what I would call “significant moments” where it may not appear there is much importance to an event, but in such events, Jesus' words can ring down through time. In the Gospels, I think the above two questions in our two Bible verses, posed by Jesus, are important questions for you and me to to answer even if just within ourselves with some clarity and love for Him. Both questions were answered by Peter even though only one was posed to Him personally.

By mid-Matthew, Jesus had been preaching and teaching for awhile. It's hard to tell how far Jesus was into His ministry, but He was beginning to be known. At this time, Jesus was very cautious about becoming famous. In His mind was His own timetable. He knew what awaited Him down the road...a cross. He had much to do with little time. Fame for Jesus was not a friend at that point. Jesus and this band of 12 had ministered to hundreds of people and there was bound to be talk. If people were curious about Jesus, in all probability, they would talk to the disciples about Him. The disciples told Jesus of those men of God of the past folks had mentioned. But then He asked THE question to only the disciples....”Who say ye that I am?” I would imagine there was a bit of a pause with the men looking at each other. Good old Peter spoke up as he was accustomed to doing. His answer was priceless to the point that Jesus told Peter he could only have received that knowledge from God Himself. Peter responded: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Good job, Peter...right on.

After Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, He met with the disciples according to the last chapter in John. He questioned Peter three times regarding his love for Him (Jesus). Some say Jesus asked Peter three times because he had denied Jesus three times. We don't know that, but Peter seemed puzzled being asked the same question three times. Each time though, Peter assured Jesus of his love for Him. Unbeknown to Peter, Jesus knew of some great opportunities that would be Peter's in the beginning of the new church and further missionary efforts that would contribute greatly to the Kingdom.

Let me say that I think these are two of the most important questions Jesus asked in the course of His ministry. Jesus had every right to ask them and today, He has every right to ask you and me those same two questions. Those two questions really go hand in hand. You and I have to come to terms with who we believe Jesus is. I'm not sure how verbal we could be if asked the question by anyone on the spot and that's because we just don't think about Jesus often enough. We could give the usual answers I guess....He's my Savior, my Friend, my prayer answerer, etc. Those really are quite elementary answers for many of us who have KNOWN Jesus for many years. How deep does our relationship with Him go? Have we gotten beyond the pictures on the wall of of our primary Sunday school rooms of Jesus that gives us only basic information.

Without having an initial encounter with Jesus, our own salvation experience, there won't be a relationship. Our salvation opens the door to an ongoing relationship with Him. We should be able to look at Jesus with more of a profound love for Him today than we've ever had. Perhaps one of the reasons Christians today have problems with witnessing is because we really don't love and know Him like we should.

When we get to Heaven and meet Jesus for the first time in person, will we honestly be able to say, “I would have known You anywhere.” I realize we'll see the scars on His hands and feet. Those will be obvious indicators as will His wonderful presence be obvious. Jesus has often come to me through others He has used to minister to me in some way. Jesus will know us, no doubt, but will He look at me with disappointment. I hope not. He wants a close relationship with us. When ladies have told me how they don't feel close to Jesus anymore, my question is always, “Who moved?” I want a strong, loving and close relationship with Him. He's doing His part...am I doing mine? How would I answer today....”Glendarae, who do you say I am?”....”Glendarae, lovest thou Me?” Try those two questions using your name. It's rather convicting.

Dear Father, I love and appreciate all You do for me ..things I don't even think about. Jesus, I love you and am so grateful for the ways you work in my life through your sweet Holy Spirit. I want to serve you faithfully and love you even more. In Your precious name....Amen

OURS FOR THE TAKING

Peace I leave with you,
My peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I
unto you.
Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid.
John 14:27

It wasn't until the '60s that I recall people making a V sign with their first two fingers. Many said that it stood for victory. However about that time, it also became a peace sign. I can still recall seeing hippies in the streets of large cities with their riots and sit-ins, many making that sign and yelling, “Peace.” Looking at the setting, it was beyond me how they came up with the word “peace” in the middle of all of the confusion and wrong doing.

Our country is always trying to broker or mediate peace between countries who are at war with one another. Peace treaties can be signed until Jesus comes, but the simple fact is that without Jesus, there can be absolutely no peace between nations. The same is almost impossible even between individuals. True peace can only be made between those who know and love Jesus.

The above verse was brought to my attention a few months ago and saw it in a totally new light. In John 14-17 there are so many precious promises. Jesus spoke in these chapters His last lengthy discourse prior to His going to the cross. Jesus had eaten the Passover meal with His twelve disciples. Just prior to His sharing His last thoughts with them at some length, Judas had been dismissed by Jesus to go and complete the dastardly plan he was a part of in the betrayal of Jesus. That plan and betrayer was spoken of in the Old Testament so it had to be a part of whole scenario.

I've often viewed these chapters as Spiritual Growth 101. What a blessing...so much to absorb...so much to apply IF we want to be everything for God He expects of us. These chapters are chocked full of spiritual sustenance for you and me to partake of. I have loved Jesus' precious promise of peace. If we aren't people of peace, it isn't Jesus' fault. He told us to not allow ourselves to be troubled. Jesus wasn't specific as to what types of trouble. His comment was all encompassing. The only way peace can be accomplished is if we as Christians are people of peace ourselves. Jesus was clear in making His peace available to each of us. It's a peace that takes care of inner turmoil that can so easily keep us upset.

We will not have a country of peace until we have a people of peace. Jesus knew that His peace was the only peace possible. He knew that the world has it's way of providing peace that has failed over and over. Our peace won't come from pills, alcohol, money, fancy clothes, cars, mansions or popularity. All of those things will fail. Only Jesus can give true peace and it's ours for the taking. I can understand unsaved individuals not being people of peace. They don't know where to get it or from Whom. We Christians have no excuse.

I noticed a few months ago, something unusual about the opening of Paul's epistles.. Very quickly into the first chapters of his epistles, Paul gives a special greeting that can be found consistently in his writings. He will usually say, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father....” Sometimes he puts “mercy” in the middle of the two words but his greetings always include “Grace and Peace.” By the way, they are always in that order...never “Peace and Grace.” It wasn't too hard coming up with the reason for the order of those two words. Without the grace of God, there can be no peace. With the grace of salvation in our lives, we are then equipped to be people of peace. This is the main reason for the failure of peace treaties between people or countries. Peace is of God. If unsaved people are trying to broker a peace treaty for their countries, it won't be a lasting peace, only a cease fire for a time.

We are living in a divided country politically, financially and philosophically. However, none of the three is our major problem right now. We are a country in need of God. He is the only One who can bring us together as we follow His will. Until folks accept Jesus as Savior and Christians determine to walk in obedience to God's Word, we will be a fractured society. Jesus is the answer, yes, the only answer...He is our peace.

Help us Father to be people of peace. With Your Son's peace there should be fewer conflicts, arguments, and misunderstandings in our lives. Help us to be people of peace first within ourselves and then hopefully others will see that peace of Jesus in us. In Jesus' precious name...Amen