LIVE IN THE MOMENT

And God said unto Moses,
I AM THAT I AM:
and he said, Thus shalt
thou say unto the children
of Israel,
I AM hath sent me unto you.
Exodus 3:14

The title of this blog came to me recently through a casual comment someone made. In observing folks through recent years, I'm seeing we are a generation that either tends to look back pondering our history whether it was positive or negative, or much of our generation is living for the future.

There isn't a therapist on earth capable enough in their profession to tackle past issues of most of us. All of us have issues from our own histories back to childhood to the present that haven't been pleasant or encouraging. Then we see the ads on TV about the necessity of planning our futures...savings plans, insurance policies of every kind, retirement financial planning and that doesn't include our calendars. Our calendars remind us of coming events, many necessary to see to such as medical and dental appointments, holiday events, birthdays, etc.

In it all whether past events or future ones, what gets lost for most of us is “right now”...”this moment.” In the book of Exodus when God placed His call on Moses' life, Moses was concerned regarding how he would approach Pharaoh, for who was he to relay any message to him. God reminded Moses that he wasn't going on his own standing, but with the backing of God Himself. God could have stated who He was in any way such as we see in Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” That is valuable information for us that gives us a real sense of security as we view the consistency and constancy of Jesus.

In that moment, for Moses, he needed to hear from God that He is I AM. God was going to be for Moses his I AM every moment he was about to face. God wasn't Moses' I WAS or I WILL BE. God promised to be in every moment of every day Moses had to face God's purpose for his time.

Many of our days can be very routine. We may know what most days hold for us. We can get lost in routine to the point our moments become blurred and even at times wasted. In my young adulthood, I thought like most that I had a whole entire life before me. I had no accurate time line to judge by, but it certainly seemed to me that I had years and years to live. I sit at this time in my life and know I don't have years and years to live like I've already been blessed with. No matter what time I have (and no one knows that for themselves), what am I doing with my moments? I can even now work myself to death and not consider my moments.

Moments are of value. A moment is defined as a very brief period of time. Some go so far as to define a moment as being 90 seconds or less. Despite the definitions we know it's a brief period of time. First Corinthians 15:52 reminds us that when Jesus returns for us, it will happen “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” I read several years ago, someone in a lab at General Electric tried to time what the twinkling of an eye would be. It was so finite, it couldn't be clocked. Whether a moment or a twinkle, it's VERY brief as time goes...so is life.

How are we to live in the moment of our lives? It begins in the thinking process. We allow our minds to be cluttered with concerns and worries that God will take care of in His time. Our worry and fretting isn't going to solve anything, but will destroy precious moments we could be using to be a blessing in life. De-cluttering can only happen as we pray, giving all to God and then refreshing our minds with the preciousness of God's Word. I know folks, much too young, who live in misery spending moments looking at the past and living their days in the doldrums. God's will for our moments doesn't involve either of those things.

When Jesus does come, if it's in our day or He chooses to come just for me, I want to be found enjoying my moments. Maybe those moments will involve serving others or in healthy activity that is good for me. I want Him to be pleased that I've not wasted those precious moments He's given me.

Dear Father, my I AM...help me to live to the fullest in the moments You give me. I know You have my future in Your hands and You will direct those moments. Increase my faith that as I'm in You, all is well. I love you. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

SWEET REFUGE

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

These days in our country, there has been a great need for places of refuge. I think back to the fires that swept through our national park the end of November 2016. The fires were not just in the park but due to very high winds, caused fires to spread to homes and businesses, causing havoc, destruction and death. Today, fires are ravaging areas in California and Montana is still in recovery mode from massive fires. On top of fires, parts of our country have gone through hurricanes that have caused great loss of property, possessions and even death.

People in these areas initially had a common need. They needed, in the midst of losing everything, a place to go, even a place from the danger of continuing threats. We heard of schools, athletic complexes, community centers and other places with lots of space, opening their doors to those folks in need...the need of a safe place to be. Initially, in all of the fear, there is always a need for safety...safety for oneself and family. In a state of shock, such victims can only think of one thing...survival. We have then watched organizations from all parts of our great country come into these devastated areas with much needed supplies of every kind.

Unknowing to most children, the make good use of places of refuge more than they understand. Perhaps the needed refuge at the time wouldn't seem all that important to grown ups. At the age of four, I packed my doll suitcase with my doll, her clothes and my pj's. I was upset with my mother so went two doors down to old Mrs. Rennie's house. Told her I wanted to live with her. She fed me cookies and milk, gave me a talking to and sent me back home. I remember feeling warm and fuzzy with her. There was no danger in my own house but for the moment, Mrs. Rennie was a refuge. How many children get into scraps with neighbor kids and are very glad they can run to their own house where no one can get to them.

As adults we have sought emotional refuge in necessary places at times. One of our greatest places of refuge is our church where we can go and be away from the outside world concentrating only on the things of the Lord. Some adults, though, find refuge in bad habits, unhealthy habits and often in people who themselves are not reliable influences.

In Numbers 35, we find a system God established simply referred to as “Cities of Refuge.” The Lord provided six cities where those people guilty of accidental murder could go for refuge from the victim's family until a trial could be held. Back then, when a family member was killed, a family didn't wait on a trial whether the death was accidental or intended. Their system unlike ours, was swift with taking care of someone who had killed a family member. There were no lawyers, juries, appeals or prison sentences. A family carried out their own sentence in quick fashion. So these cities served a positive purpose in such matters.

You and I are no longer children, we may not not have just gone through a disaster of any kind, nor have we murdered anyone. What I've been mentioning has to do with real places of need, whether centuries ago or this last week.

The best refuge you and I as Christians are privileged to have is our refuge in God. It may not be a physical place as we think of places. However, I hasten to add that there have been many times when I know through God's guidance, I have been provided with places of refuge that were as real as the house I now live in.

The Lord will be

a refuge for the oppressed,

a refuge in times of trouble.

Psalm 9:9

A refuge is of no use be it a place in a community center or in the loving arms of our Savior if we don't flee to it and take advantage of what each refuge offers. God's promises in His Word of His constant presence in our lives to almost too many to count. In our humanity though, He is often the last one we flee to in our worst of times.

In our opening verse, I love all of that verse but especially the first two words...”God is...” Without the fact of those two words, the rest of that verse is meaningless. My prayer for each of us is to always be quick to flee to THE refuge, God Himself, who is the only one who can do anything and everything to meet our every need.

Dear Father, my Refuge...I am so grateful for the privilege of running to You anytime whether in a time of need or just when I need to bask in Your presence. Thank You Jesus, for making this relationship possible through Your dying for my sin that has provided me with real life to it's fullest. In Your precious name....Amen

Spiritual Service VS Church Work

And He said unto them

Come ye yourselves apart into

desert place, and rest a while: for there

were many coming and going, and

they had no leisure so much as to eat.

And they departed into a desert place by

ship privately

Mark 6:31,32

A term came into America's vocabulary several years ago many people found offensive. There were some people, especially executives and corporate ladder-climbers who came to be known as “workaholics.” It wasn't unusual for such people to work 18 hour days, usually six days a week or more. Even when they went home, they would still work late into the night doing paper work. It was bad enough when men gave themselves to such work schedules, but when women began being a part of higher levels of corporations, it made it even worse. I say this because many times, the father and mother in a home were caught up in the rat race. Families were affected because children had a lack of healthy home relationships and family life in general. This was not the case with all executives but for most, it was an issue and probably continues to be.

Let us leave corporations for a time and look at churches, their staff members and members who hold various offices in the church setting. Again, this is not an indictment involving every Christian, full or part time workers or laypeople fulfilling various responsibilities in their churches. I have heard pastors from their pulpits brag on the long hours they put in at the church office, arriving home at night when their children are already in bed. I've heard some pastors who boast of heavy responsibilities, building programs, various meetings, counseling sessions, hospital visitation and somewhere in there, they study for Sunday's sermons. As I would listen to the list, it made me weary just listening to it all. You see, there can be such a thing as church workaholics. I really hesitate to use the word “spiritual” at this point because I'm not sure being a church workaholic is spiritual in every case.

Lest you judge me as being hyper-critical of others, let me tell you that on this subject, I have been there and back with this problem more than I desire to admit. I'm not going to list the responsibilities because at this point in time, it would be out of pride and I don't want to go there. In one position, I can think of eight major jobs for which I was responsible. I couldn't say “no” and in some instances couldn't refuse to do certain things. Guess what?...I got lots of attention and praise. I also learned with all of that going on, people thought I was a super spiritual person. There were those who thought me wise beyond my years and that they could rarely be wrong. Little did such folks know that I had little time to read my Bible or pray. In those days, my family was often neglected. My dear husband often took up the slack created by me. Guess what...it all had become compulsive...there were no brakes...I honestly believed if I didn't do it all, no one else could. I was told there were worse things than burning a candle at both ends and that burning out wasn't as bad as rusting out.

Since when are we to base our spiritual lives on being as busy as we can be doing church work. Church work is different from serving the Lord. If you and I can't “serve the Lord with gladness, come before His presence with singing” then something is wrong. Some church workers are too tired doing the work to come before the Lord with singing. Serving the Lord with gladness has long ago gone by the wayside for many well-meaning folks.

Our verse for this blog written under the title is for a reason. I can't imagine the physical weariness of Jesus and the disciples as they ministered. They didn't have planes or vehicles to get them where they needed to go. They didn't have fast food places where they could eat and probably often slept under the stars. Ministry is wearying no matter the century or times. I've noticed through the Gospels though that Jesus always knew when to go to one side and rest. He often pulled away from the crowds to pray. Notice the disciples had been so busy, they hadn't had time to eat. Jesus saw the necessity of His disciples having a time to rest, and yes, to eat as well. I've heard church workers brag on their lack of sleep and having no time to eat. I doubt Jesus would approve.

The work of God needs workers, dedicated to Him, who keep their focus on Him and not on the praise of people. He has blessed us with spiritual gifts to use in our service for Him. He has specific things in mind for us in our service for Him. When we move outside our gifts and God given abilities, we can become very frustrated and weary. At such point, serving God can cease to be joyful and fulfilling

My prayer for us is that we will find joy in serving Jesus, serving as He calls us. Yielding to the pressure of others to perform will serve only to frustrate us. May we serve because of a love for God and for others, while leaving self-serving agendas to one side.

Father, use us for Your glory and for Yours alone. We love You and always want to be Your servants. In Jesus precious name...Amen

Conform...Why?

And be not conformed to this world:
but be ye transformed by the
renewing of your mind, that ye may
prove what is that good, and
acceptable, and perfect, will of God
Romans 12:2

I don't know of any parents who have seen children through their teen years who haven't at one time or another had to respond to the plea of a child who says in a very pitiful or even angry voice, “But the other kids are doing it.” Many times we parents have replied in varied ways but usually whatever the reply, we try to get the point across that,  ”You are not other kids.” We cautioned our children about following the crowd because in most instances, nothing good comes from blind conformity.

I've heard many pastors interpret the first part of our above verse that we aren't to allow the world to squeeze us into its mold. I'm afraid though, that we adults are often more guilty than our children when it comes to going along with the crowd. Today we are bombarded by the media to respond to the latest and greatest of anything being offered and it succeeds or we wouldn't be bite on the bait that is dangled in front of us.

In these days, we have been greatly disturbed as we have watched highly paid athletes choosing to boycott our national anthem. It doesn't seem that many of them are doing nothing but following the leadership of others. This whole thing started with one football player and now has spread like a poison through professional athletics in general. Who would have thought something so negative could spread like a disease that infects in such a wide spread manner. I mention this because right now, there are a lot of athletes don't believe the above verse if they have ever read it.

No matter what circles we move in, there is always the pull on us to conform to our culture. That pull is becoming stronger and stronger, especially in the lives of our young people. However, no matter our ages, we all know as God's people that Satan has his ploys in pulling us away from those things we know to be God-honoring. We have to face the fact that we aren't exempt from the temptation to conform to the things of this world. If we don't have that awareness, we are even more vulnerable.

What's the answer? Paul says we are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” If something needs renewing, no matter what it is, there has been a moving back to the old ways we once gave up. Renewal restores and that's a precious thought. We can never be renewed by the old things that caused our slippage. The renewal will come as we get back to a new reliance on the Holy Spirit's leading and strengthening in our lives. He will do that primarily as we get back into the Scriptures. When we slip back into the old ways, usually one of the first things to go is our consistency being in our Bibles. Getting back into the Word isn't reading it in a casual fashion. It means digging deeply into it's truths in order for the restorative healing to take effect. 
 

So how do we avoid conformity that doesn't lead us in the right direction? To stay spiritually aware of those things we tend to follow that isn't edifying means our staying spiritually alert. Some things to consider for us all....

*The major caution at this point is to always be alert to our own spiritual feelings. Women especially are very chemical beings and those feelings can often take us where we don't necessarily want to go.

*As we would suggest to our children, we should be careful of our associations. Relationships often change, thus, we should put up a guard in this area. Facebook associations can be a blessing or not as well as other areas in our lives. As much as I hate to say this, best friends can't always be found in a Sunday school class. Some Christian friends can be found in other Bible-preaching churches or denominations.

*Be a woman of prayer. When will we ever learn that God has our best interest at heart and is nearer to us than the air we breathe. He listens cares and loves us through alot.

*Stay in the Word of God.

*We should be in good churches where we get good, strong preaching and teaching.

May we walk transformed and renewed in ways that influence others for the Lord and that brings glory to Him in every way. We do that by realizing that Jesus is the divine mold we are to fit into, not the world. Our goal: to be like Jesus. May it be so in each of us.
 

Dear Father, I want to be all YOU want me to be. Keep me from the unfruitful influence of others be they believers or not. Help me to stay focused on You, alert to the leading of Your sweet Spirit. Thank You for Your Son who has given so much for me. In Jesus' name...Amen

FIRST RESPONDERS

...For he hath said, I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee.
So that we may boldly say, The Lord is
my helper, and I will not fear what
man shall do unto me.
Hebrews 13:5b-6

We've heard a lot in recent days about First Responders. The recent attack in Las Vegas by a crazed gunman shooting into a crowd of people attending a country music concert brought that term First Responder's again to the forefront. The first time I recall hearing the term was at the time of the attack on 9/11 in New York City. Perhaps it was used prior to that...I just don't recall hearing it.

When we think of First Responders, we think of people like police officers, firemen and EMT's. I'm looking at my five year anniversary of a horrible fall into our church basement at the time. I knew I had fallen down steps in a dark place ramming my head into a cinder block wall. I didn't lose consciousness, but knew I had a bad cut on my head. When Brian found me, he immediately called 911. I was surprised that four EMT's showed up and that doesn't count those who came in an ambulance to take me to the hospital. I will be ever grateful to those special helpers.

But then there are other First Responders. After coming out of the hospital xray department and back to the emergency room, there were more familiar first responders awaiting me. One was a dear lady, faithful to the Bible studies I taught at the time, standing with an assuring smile to greet me. She stood for those hours prior to my dismissal helping the doctor in small ways to make me comfortable and even clean. The doctors were wonderful, but Diane was even more of a blessing in those moments. She was a God-sent first responder in those moments.

It was fascinating watching news reports last week of the Las Vegas shooting to hear of all of the heroic efforts of various first responders during those nightmarish moments. Some responders were policemen, firemen, EMT's and that was expected. However, there were those in the crowd...off duty professional responders, ex-military and just ordinary citizens...who were instrumental in saving lives by acting quickly to do all they could to protect people around them.

All of us at one time or another, may need First Responders and we can be very grateful for them. There are going to be times in our lives when we may be called on to be a First Responder. It may not mean our responding will be anything heroic as others might view things. I'm not a police officer, fireman or even an EMT even though I have some medical training, but all of us may be called on in to intervene with people problems, put out fires of high emotional situations and even help bandage up emotional wounds someone might have sustained.

There are definitely First Responders in Scripture.

*Remember the four men who carried a friend on a stretcher to get to Jesus for healing? That man couldn't get himself to Jesus but those men certainly did.

*Peter ran to a house where a dearly loved lady named Dorcas had just died. With Spirit power, he brought her back to life. She was such a servant to the community with her sewing abilities and those people were grieved. Peter got to her quickly

*Philip received God's call to get to a desert place where a man was reading Scripture and needed counsel in the interpretation of Scripture, a man very much on the brink of becoming a believer. Philip got to him as quickly as he could. The man was sweetly saved and baptized.

*I think of those fishermen who instantly responded to the call of Jesus on their lives. Scripture tells us that Peter, James and John dropped their nets right where they were and followed Jesus. This wasn't an emergency situation as we think of emergencies, but was a life saving response that changed their lives to the greatest degree.

I've been thinking about what a first responder I am, whether good or bad. To be the best responder in any situation means jumping to a situation almost without thinking about ones own good or safety. Most of the time when you and I get a call from someone in need, they need help in that moment. They don't want us to take a week to pray about their problem. If nothing else, they may just need our time, time to listen or time to even take one to an appointment. What is our respond to such needs? Such a call may not fit in with our day's schedule or plans, but that's one of the things about being a First Responder...no notice...such things indicate an instant need.

May prayer for you and me is that we will have a spiritual sense and resulting response to the needs of folks around us. We may be the only First Responders some people will ever need. I pray we will be ready to be “Jesus with skin on” when He needs us to step in physically for Him in helping meeting those instant needs of people around us.

Dear Father, keep us sensitive in this busy world to people around us who have the deepest of needs. Give us a patience when someone calls at the last minute for us to help with a need knowing that such a call is a divine appointment orchestrated by You. We love You and thank You for being our personal First Responder. In Jesus name...Amen

Waiting is Wearing

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew
their strength; they shall mount up with wings
as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary;
and they shall walk, and not faint.
Isaiah 40:16

One of the most difficult things I face as a Christian is that of waiting. I don't care what it is I'm waiting on, it never comes easy for me. Waiting has involved the big and little things of life for me. My one misconception about waiting is while I am waiting, I often feel God is waiting too and not really working behind the scenes. I know better now.

Through the years, I have learned waiting is often required for those things that are really worth waiting for. We wait for the big and little things in our lives, but for some reason, the size doesn't matter...I and perhaps you don't like the waiting process.

I've sat in a lot of waiting rooms. In fact, I did just that today waiting to go in for my eye injection. A waiting room is a strange place. It can be packed with people but it has a very unsettling silence about it. Folks usually talk with whoever they arrived with but there just isn't a lot of conversation among those waiting for their names to be called. I often feel that although I'm in a waiting room with perhaps several people, it seems at times that I am the only person sitting there. Waiting rooms are like that for some reason. Folks in waiting rooms are doing just that...waiting...and one's waiting is very personal, rarely to be discussed with anyone. As we wait in that room, we observe patients being called one by one while we still wait. Only when we've been seen and leave the building do we feel a kind of relief.

In the waiting process, it's important for me to understand there are things I am prayerfully waiting for I may not see prior to my exiting that waiting room for Heaven. However, those things are important enough for me to be praying about them now and until God resolves them for me one way or the other. For instance, I'm waiting for a change in our culture that may not come. I'm waiting for athletes to honor our flag and country. There are folks I'm praying for regarding their salvation. I'm presently waiting a new pastor to come to our church for which our church has waited for several months. My waiting room list is even longer but won't belabor my list.

What do we do about waiting. I really don't want to hear any dissertations on the subject of patience right now. That word rings in my mind as I sit in my waiting room. In my waiting, I really want to keep a good attitude that honors and respects the Lord. I know as I wait, God is working. My mind says, “Hurry up Lord” but He works many plans along with my plan all at the same time and if I've learned anything about Him in these years, it's that He does all thing well.

Some verses that may be of encouragement to those of you who wait that have blessed me in recent days I hope will bless you “co-waiters” with me.

Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and
he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say
on the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

Notice with me that waiting isn't a choice. We are commanded in this verse to simply wait. In that process we are promised His strength for the time. We can reject His strengthening but that would be most foolish. The first verse of this chapter, however, shows us how He's earned the privilege to function in our lives as He sees fit. Notice in the following verse our benefits in Him:

The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of
my life; of whom shall I be afraid.

As we sit waiting, He's there guiding and enlightening us with His light. That light is ours because we know His saving grace in our lives. Waiting can create its own kind of fear, but fear isn't of God, it's of Satan (II Timothy 1:7).

There are other verses in Scripture that can aid us in this whole process. When we wait on the Lord, and keep His way (Ps. 37:34) we will know the victory and answers that can only come from the Lord. In this whole process, we are still called upon to not just sit and wait but to continue serving and keeping the God's ways. God will answer in His time, but will be a real and loving presence with us in our waiting rooms.

Thank You Father, for the way you work in our lives. We may not understand how You work but we know You always work on our behalf for what is in our best interest. We are grateful for your promise that as we wait, You will strengthen us beyond our expectation. We love You dearly. In Jesus name....Amen