TAKE MY HAND

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.
John 10:27,28

I've been thinking about the importance of hands. We take for granted our two hands and attached fingers that seem to do a little of everything for us. We could list all the things our hands do but among those important things, is how we extend our hands into the lives of others where we can serve them in so many ways.

Our pastor was recently speaking of an influential man in his life who had been his Sunday school teacher mostly in the elementary grades. At the same time, as I recall, he had a godly pastor who also had great influence in his life. He made an interesting comment about one or both of these men. As I recall, he said, “His hand prints are all over my life.” My mind immediately went to those godly folks in my own small church while growing up, who I look back to and can say with my pastor that there were many in my small church whose hand prints are on my life even to this day.

As I write, it's Father's Day weekend. I didn't have as strong a father as some folks have but Daddy always got a card and some kind of small gift. Father's Day is often relegated to a lesser position after Mother's Day, but what would we do without either our own fathers or those fathers we have watched in our home influencing our own children.

As we were driving through the national park today, we came to a place where as a family we walked a paved trail year after year when on vacation. I remember with fondness with each of our three children t the older toddler stage that Brian would reach out for a little hand. Perhaps a little one needed steadied on the trail or needed the learning to stay near a parent. I remember those days often lingering behind and seeing a tall dad lovingly holding a little hand.

I also recall with the birth of our three children, one of the first things I noticed when Brian saw his baby whether number 1, 2 or 3, he would often hold the baby's head from behind in the palm of his hand, often touching the little face with a finger of his other hand.

With a car problem that had to be taken care of yesterday, Brian was right on the problem of fixing it. When he came in, he reminded me of my mechanic dad because his hands were black with grease. To be honest, he looked a mess mostly because he is always so clean and well groomed. Those hands had another purpose though with the need of fixing a problem that would affect us both if not remedied.

There are other hands, though, far more precious as the hands of a dad, grandpa or father image in one's life. I'm thinking of the nail-scarred hands of Jesus and His promise to always hold us close enough that we are right in His hand. That is above and beyond what any earthly father can provide for his children, no matter how strong to do as much. That hand is always near to guide and direct:

For the Lord of hosts hath purposed,
and who shall disannul it? And his
hand is stretched out, and who shall
turn it back?
Isaiah 14:27

No one can hold back the Lord's hand that is stretched out to us to guide, comfort and yes, at times lovingly correct us.

We don't have to be anyone special to make good use of our hands. Solomon tells us, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might....” (Eccl. 9:10a) Our hands are meant to be used in service whether to family, friends or the world around us. This service is to be done in a whole hearted manner not for our own glory but for the Lord's. Above all, as we serve with hands or hearts, all should be done to God's glory.

Meanwhile, we can curl up in the might and safety of our Lord's hands where nothing can get to us or rob us of relationship with Him. That's such a spiritually cozy place to be, isn't it?

Father, thank You for Jesus and for the hands that so lovingly care for and guide me every step of my way. I praise You today for that love that never changes and that keeps me secure in You. In Jesus' precious name....Amen

TIME OF DEPARTURE

For I am now ready to be offered,
and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.
II Timothy 4:6,7

It is calculated as nearly as can be, that Timothy was probably the last person Paul wrote to. It may be a toss up between Timothy and Titus, but young Timothy was very much on Paul's mind because of the dauntless task that was before such a young man in carrying on God's work. Paul knew he was shortly to die, probably by execution, but nothing was absolute at that point. Paul just knew in his own way, what was coming down the road.

I've known others, who could have quoted some of those verses in their own lives. I have a dear friend, Sandra who, suffering with all that goes with the end times of cancer is holding on to life by a thread. She has fought the fight those with terminal cancer do while all along hoping for a miracle of healing. She's never complained but has gone through this time in a very graceful way. She's stays focused on her Lord and her faith is strong.

Another dear friend was the president of my Sunday school class in Texas. Elaine just walked into my class one Sunday morning, sat down on the front row right in front of me. I didn't know her at all so introduced myself. I could tell from her appearance, manner and speech that she appeared to be an educated lady. After introducing myself, to her, she quickly said, “I am Elaine, have recently gone through a divorce, have advanced cancer and I need a hug.” Sometimes unusual things happen with a Sunday school teacher and that was one of them. I went to her and gave her the tightest hug I could. Elaine stayed faithful to the class, saw growth in her spiritual walk and enjoyed her friendship. Her cancer went into remission for a time but then returned. Elaine had two teenage girls and her mother planned to move in with them until they came of age.

I got a call to get to the hospital for Elaine was asking for me. I went into her room where her sister and mother were sitting. She kindly asked them to leave so we could talk. She asked me to be her mother's friend. Her mom was going to move from south Texas to Austin. I told her I would do what I could. In a few days, Elaine went on to Heaven. I took her mom to make funeral arrangements and then we went shopping for a nice outfit for Elaine. Thelma was in my Sunday school class for a time and we had lunch every Wednesday until she finally moved north to be with her other children.

I mention these things because, not just with me, but it would appear most of us are walking friends of family members through very critical conditions. Cancer seems to be the huge prevalent problem, but there are also the mental issues that seem to have no cures. I'm amazed at how rampant cancer is all around us either with family or friends. It seems to me at times that cancer is sitting in just about every church pew. There are caregivers who struggle every day to give care and at the same time to stay personally strong through all of the emotional difficulties. When we read in our church bulletins regarding cancer in a persons life, a person with a name, oh how we need to pray and be of help when we can.

So many of such folks have been such an example for me. Knowing full well their time is short, I have seen a strength through great pain. I think of friends like Bobbie, Carolyn, Darlene and so many others who fought the good fight. They finished their course of life. One such friend recently asked me, “Why doesn't the Lord just take me?” I said to her as lovingly as I could, “In all our lives God has purpose. We are here on this earth until His purpose is complete.” I told her that it could be I would be in Heaven before her if God sees my life's purpose as being complete.”

The day will come when I will finish my course. My prayer is, that as I saw in my friends, I will have kept the faith until that moment I meet Jesus. I'm no apostle Paul and don't really know anyone like him, but I believe those of us who love and follow Jesus would hope for the same end to our life here on earth.

I have written this blog in a hesitant way. I have seen in the last couple of years so many folks who are fighting physical battles. Sometimes, we want to stay clear of the suffering but they need our encouragement and to still minister to them and pray for them regularly. Those who are caregivers have very difficult jobs. They too need a smile, hug or word of encouragement. Keep track of those in dire need of our prayers if your church provides a prayer sheet. Don't just stuff it in your Bible and forget about it until the next one is published.

Thank You Father for those dear ladies You have allowed to cross my path who have blessed me more than they can know. I know our parting is but for a moment and You are in charge of my days. Keep me strong...keep me faithful. In Jesus' name...Amen

PEACE WITH GOD

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee:
because he trusteth in thee.
Trust ye in the Lord for ever:
for the Lord JEHOVAH is
everlasting strength.
Isaiah 26:3,4

In all my years of teaching God's Word to ladies, there is something about Paul's writings I had never noticed until several months ago. In all of his writing, his introductory remarks that begins each book uses similar greetings. No matter the word usage, one will find a consistency in the use of two words in particular. Consistently, Paul uses “grace and peace” from God never “peace and grace.” It looks like it wouldn't make any difference how each word is placed but I've come to a conclusion about it. Without the grace of God in a life that includes the salvation experience, there will never be peace, the peace only God can give.

The world has a kind of peace offered to people but usually there is something added to insure those good, calm feelings. The world offers it's peace with medications, lots of money, new things, healthy relationships, the next movie that comes out, a job with status including a healthy pay check, keeping slim trim and beautiful, lots of friends, numerous social activities, trips to a gym or spa, shopping sprees....I'm sure I've left something out of that list. Yes, I did...God is no where to be found in all of that. The sad thing is that even Christians fall for all the gimmicks they feel insures peace and happiness rarely turning to the God of their salvation for true peace He offers in abundance to the saved.

We hear all the time about world peace, bringing enemies today for peace talks. In some cases, such talks may last for only brief periods of time. As long as God isn't brought into the process first of all through the salvation of men, peace won't be worth the paper or ink treaties are written on. True peace will never come unless it is through the God of peace.

All of that is well and good, but what about you and me on a daily basis who face our own times of turmoil. We love God and want peace just in our lives but sometimes it seems to be slow coming. God remains faithful in his outpouring of love and peace in our lives, but there are times when we are our own worst enemy. I love Paul's writing in Philippians 4 :6. There, he gives a wonderful path to peace but first with some steps we need to take.

Be careful for nothing:
but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving
let your requests be
made known unto God.

I typed that verse in a practical order, using every word of the verse so we can look at some spiritual expectations. First, we are to stop the worrying. Christians seem to feel it's okay to worry because we are human. As Christians, we have no permission or right to worry about ANYTHING. Paul writes in such as way as to indicate we have control over it.

Our worry can affect the rest of the verse...we are to pray, earnestly even with thanksgiving in the direst of moments but with a freedom telling our Father all about our concerns. Even though He may already know about them, He still wants to hear our voices, poured out to Him in love and desperation. In that verse, we have a call to personal action.

In verse 7, we see the result of our obeying verse 6...it gives a hope beyond any hope we can imagine:

And the peace of God,
which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.

Notice the promise of a peace from God that we or no one else can understand. His added promise that He will secure that peace in our minds and hearts only through Jesus. There will be no short cuts or all the world offers. God is in charge and expects us to do our spiritual part to show our earnestness regarding our circumstances.

“Everybody worries...it's human”....I can hear it and we've bought into that huge lie Satan has handed us. We are human but as God's people we have an unusual power available that can build a trust in Him that enables us to rest in Him and live a life of peace.

In our day, these verses are valuable for each of us. We can't just read them and agree with them. We must accept them as true...accept them as coming straight from the heart of God into our own hearts. May we be at peace despite Satan's ploy to keep us upset all the time. We must remember that greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.

Father, forgive me from worrying too much, even sometimes over things that don't even concern me. Give me a thankful spirit knowing You do all things well in my life and that You have purpose in every event that comes my way. Continue to strengthen me. I love You and praise You for all You are in my life. In Jesus precious name...Amen