WALK THE WALK

Therefore, we were buried with Him

through baptism into death, that

just as Christ was raised from the

dead by the gory of the Father, even

so we also should walk in newness

of life.

Romans 6:4

We all learned to walk at some point. For parents, our first steps where celebrated and the news of it spread to friends and family members. It's an activity we rarely give any thought to. In 1956, President Eisenhower began programs stressing physical fitness. Race-walking had become somewhat of a sport prior to that, but with this new emphasis on fitness, ordinary walking became a major means of exercise.

There is no doubt that ordinary walking can be a healthy thing for the human body. Lots of emphasis in our day is given to physical fitness, diets, etc. but for many people, physical fitness has almost become a religion. Walking gets us to where we want to go whether from one room to another in our houses, shopping at a mall or casually walking in one's neighborhood.

There is another kind of walking that may be more important than our casual walk in a park. The walking I'm talking about has to do with our walking WITH God in close relationship. Notice I stressed that word “with” because it's an important word. Recently I brought attention to that concept in a lesson I was teaching in Sunday school. It had convicted me in the sense that there are times I don't walk with God, I walk ahead or even in back of Him. His desire is to have us walking right with and along side of Him. There are times I get ahead of Him with my own plans or ideas. Other times I may be lagging, bringing very little to the relationship to really being with Him.

Our spiritual walk will take some effort on our parts. It takes drive and dedication but the Holy Spirit sweetly strengthens and encourages us in our walk. As God's children we are called to walk the walk and talk the talk lovingly with enthusiasm as we take each step with Him.

Father, I love You and want to be in consistent walking with You because You are the most important person in my life. In Jesus precious name...Amen 

 

REMEMBER???

Do not remember the former

things, nor consider the

things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing...

Isaiah 43:18, 19a

Although now in a new year, it would seem that the month of December always gives us gives memories to carry into a new year.. There are some memories historically speaking that bring back memories for those of us who might be of some age. Although l, a very little girl at the time, picked up on the fact that something was very wrong.

When the news came regarding the attack on Pearl Harbor, our military in Hawaii, despite winter weather, there were a few women in the neighborhood that met in someone's yard. I remember seeing ladies cry. I had never seen that before. I knew I cried because I was little but they were big people who were crying. I caught the word “pearl” and thought someone had lost her necklace. In those days, most women had pearl necklaces. Something was very wrong...that was for sure.

There are sad times and events in all of our pasts we can readily recall. God's people in Isaiah's day were no different. They had seen conflict as a people and God spoke to them in the above verse. No matter the destruction, war or personal conflict, God didn't want them to dwell on those things...the former things. Things of old can be crippling depending on how we hang on to them. In the next verse, God assured them that He was going to do a new thing. I don't know how many times He has done that in my life. For Him to do that, I have to be willing to let go of the worst of memories...those former things.

Whether it be Pearl Harbor, 9/11, divorce, financial disasters or loss of a friend or loved one, the initial sting of it all may linger for a time but God stands ready to do something new in our lives. I am seeing that in my own circumstances even though I still face them with frequent tears. Through those tears, God has allowed me to see some new things.

If you weren't born in the 30's or 40's, Pearl Harbor is only a fact of history to you. Fewer and fewer remember that day and oncoming war. Many allowed this event to embitter them for a very long time. Bitterness doesn't heal and fortunately many folks came to realize that. Whatever our major, life shaking event, in and through it all, God wants to do something special in us, something unbelievable...something new.

Father, help us to hand over personal trauma to You knowing You want to do something new in us that will glorify You in every way. Keep us free in You and available for Your use. In Jesus' name...Amen

,

HANDS FOR GOD

Whatever your hand finds to do,

do it with your might; for there is

no work or device or knowledge

or wisdom in the grave where

you are going.

Ecclesiastes 9:10

Recently, there was an interesting picture on my computer screen. It was a picture of the hands, one on top of the other, that were hands of someone up in years. I don't remember if they were the hands of a man or woman. Although we have them, I doubt we think of them very often. We don't know what we'd do without them unless we had none or hands we have are damaged beyond usefulness.

My hands look a little better than the ones in the picture but have obviously aged mostly thanks to arthritis. I got to thinking of some of the things I've done with my hands that I never gave a thought to. My list would probably be much like anyone reading this. My hands have played with clay, dolls, colors and color books as well as handling and reading I don't how many books. My hands have cooked many a meal, seen to the privilege of holding my three babies, typing by the hour on every kind of writer beginning with no electrics. I have played piano's and organ's in more places than I can count. They have held any number of Bibles from which I have been blessed and taught others.

I have a picture on my bookcase from my wedding album. It's a common picture taken at weddings with the hands of the bride and groom resting on a bouquet. I have a twin picture of that from a totally different time. Bev took a picture of my holding Brian's hand in the hospital before he went to Heaven...a span of years from beginning to the end. How I miss that hand of his holding mine.

God has blessed us with the privilege of using our hands to serve others whether saved or unsaved. Jesus' hands were severely damaged as He hung on a cross for you and me. I can't imagine where we would be without those precious hands, bleeding to cover the sins of mankind. We can't serve as much or as well as He did, but we are called to always offer and give helping hands to relatives or friends in need. I look at my hands now, grateful they are functioning well for their age. No matter our ages, we have the privilege of extending our hands to anyone in need but only for God's glory.

Dear Father, how grateful I am for your wonderful hands that have held me close, guided when I just didn't know where to turn, that have provided for me in every way. Your hands have had to discipline me on occasion and I'm the better for it. Thank You for having Your hands cupped over my life every moment of my life. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS

Even to your old age, I am He,

and even to gray hairs I will

carry you! I have made, and

I will bear; even I will carry

and deliver you.

Isaiah 46:4

So blessed in God's Word every time I pick it up and read in it. His promises are so appropriate no matter the circumstances but especially thinking today about age. I didn't realize I would see myself with the number 85 behind my name. That's a lot of years, some of which I know I wasted in not always walking in God's will. Despite it, He has loved, forgiven and chosen me to be where I am in the great now.

I've experienced a lot of birthdays. Some of them weren't pleasant but most were. I didn't have a lot of parties like many folks have for their children in these days. Gifts might have been at times no more than a color book, crayons and maybe a small stuffed animal. Yet, it was great.

In November, 1999 our church was having a revival and on the particular Sunday was the last service. I found myself almost consumed with listening to the evangelist as he spoke and things began stirring in me I had never sensed before. Although that church is different now, I would be able to show you where I was sitting, the aisle I stepped into and the bright sun shining through the clear glass window. I had no family there but knew this was something I had to do and did.

That, in my life was the greatest birthday any living person can experience no matter their age. That birthday gift will take me to Heaven where birthdays will never be necessary or missed.

Thank You Father for guiding in my life through Your Spirit and for Jesus who made my spiritual birthday gift a reality. In His name....Amen

 

 

CLEANIN' AND CREATIN'

Create in me a clean heart, O

God, and renew a right spirit

within me.

Psalm 51:10

This may sound odd, but there have been times I've almost felt sorry for God as I have seen Him having to work overtime on me. There's a neat chorus I don't know all the words to but the first line says it all where I'm concerned. The chorus begins “He's still workin' on me, to make me what I ought to be.” One would think at the age I am, that I would have this Christian walk of mine a little more down pat.

I have loved the above verse for many years. I think it was one of those rare Bible nuggets I came across when in my latter college days. The verse refers to two things God is more than capable of doing in my life....creating and renewing.

I recently said to our ladies class that the only Person who is creative is God Himself. We look at talented people as being creative...nope, can't happen. Creation means that something is made out of nothing. Only God could and can do that. In our verse we see God can bring into being a cleanliness in our heart no one else can bring. We can go to therapists, counselors and such that might be of help. Bottom line is the fact that only God can create a cleanliness in us no one or anything else can.

Creation may be God making something out of nothing but renewing is different. Renewing means that something of import is already in place but our spiritual subscription may be ebbing at best. I miss the days of old time revival services. Those were special meetings back in my child/teen years. It was a time of renewal, rededication. However, our going forward in a service didn't accomplish what we're talking about. Those times could be very self-gratifying, brought about for show or for feel-good moments. It's God Himself who wants to bring renewal into our lives.

Both words...create and renew...are words of refreshment. God wants to do both in you and me but it takes our recognizing personal need for more of Him and less of us. He won't force these things on us, but anxiously waits for us to want more of Him and less of self.

Father, clean us up with Your love, wisdom and power. Give us a hunger to be more like You than ever before. Thank You for not giving up on us. Thank You Jesus for Your shed blood that cleanses us from all sin. In Your name...Amen

 

ANOTHER YEAR WITH THE WORD

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet,

and light unto my path.

Psalm 119:105

Here we are again, at the beginning of a new year. It seems like the years are passing quicker and quicker, but sure it comes with the aging process. I have to wonder what I'm going to do with 2024. I wonder how different this coming year will be compared to any other new year I have lived through.

My concern for myself is that I don't want 2024 to be just another year spiritually, doing the same old things or not doing what I should be doing to live and grow in the Lord as I should. I'm not a resolution maker as I look down the road of a new year. Making resolutions for me is a mere human effort at self improvement.

Probably within the scope of my writing, every Christian I would know owns a copy of God's Word. The Bible should never become a relic of some kind for any of us. It's of no use if it isn't read, studied and allowed to change our lives.

The above verse tells us that the Word should serve at least two purposes in our lives. It is a lamp to our feet. A lamp gives more light than a candle and can clearly show where we are standing in the moment. The light from that lamp extends it's power to literally reveal to us where we are or should be traveling in this spiritual walk of ours.

We read in Scripture of folks who loved God so much that they were known by their walk with God. Without the lamp, we flounder in spiritual darkness. Any move without that light only leads to mistakes, errors and sin. With no lamp, there is no light, but God has lovingly provided both for our well-being and spiritual growth.

Dear Father, how precious is Your Word that connects us directly to You. Convict us and hold us close to Your Word as it is our spiritual life preserver. Thank You for it. In Jesus name...Amen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

For there is born to you this day

in the city of David a Savior, who

is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

My first birthday party was when I was two years old. My Mother gathered her friends of like age with little ones of like age as mine for the party. I don't recall a thing about it and wouldn't know anything about it except for a few old black and white photos. The main food was home made vegetable soup and birthday cake. It was really for my mother to enjoy opening the presents I received.

Birthdays have always been big deals in our culture and they still are. Great hurt can come from not being remembered on one's birthday. A couple of empty cards just won't “cut the cake” so to speak. The feel and sound of ripping gift wrappings are necessary or it becomes just an ordinary day.

However, friends or relatives, ahead of one's special day may ask what one wants for her birthday. The older we get, the more that list shrinks because wants and needs become less and less. In our older years, we may express a desire for good health both physical and spiritual. We may not want a knowing friend to announce out loud our birthday in front of a group of people. Where once in much younger years, we wanted gifts and loads of attention, that seems to wane with time and age.

I have thought about what Jesus would like for His birthday this year. I know He's God but was also born physically like we were. He would have too many candles on a cake to light or blow out. If asked, “What do You want for Your birthday this year?” I think I know what a likely answer might be, and an honest desire on His part. I think He would be so pleased if we would simply give Him the gift of ourselves.

Happy Birthday Jesus and thank You for coming to a very unappreciative earth. Thank You for the greatest gift ever...that of our salvation. May we in turn be generous in giving our lives fully to You for Your use. In Your precious name...Amen 

HOPE IN GOD

Why are you cast down,

O my soul? And why are

you disquieted within me?

Hope in God;

for I shall yet praise Him for

the help of His countenance.

Psalm 42:8

I wonder how many times in my life, even beginning in very early years, how many times I have said the words: “I hope so..” I think in those early years, that I kinda, sorta knew I was wanting things to shake out to my benefit. Even as an adult, I still feel some of that even after these many years.

Psalm 42 is a Psalm of longing for God, especially in times of difficulty. We all know what those times are without giving anything a title. I also know that what may be difficult for another isn't necessarily difficult for me. The hard things of life we face are very individual but painful none-the-less. It is interestin ]g that in this chapter, verses 8 and 11 are almost identical in wording except for a last phrase and it is very similar. The cry out for God's presence at all times, especially in the hard times are so wonderfully speaking for us in this Psalm.

In just a matter of a few days, we will be looking at a new year. I'm not anticipating major problems coming my way bu t life can bring the positives and negatives during that year. But come what may, we have hope for the good and for the spiritual strength to plough through the rest. We may hope all we want but often fail to affirm that our hope can't be in the possible events of life. Whatever comes our way, any hope other than in our Heavenly Father is in vain.

Father, I'm so grateful that we a secure hope in You no matter our circumstances. In past days, we have thought we hope in doctors, neighbors and even family. All of those folks mean well but know our every need. We hope in You because You are our only help Thank You for Your individual care for us and consistent love. Thank You for Jesus who gave His all for us that our hope is safe and secure in You. In His precious name...Amen

 

PROMISES, PROMISES

The Lord is not slack concerning

His promise, as some count

slackness, but is long-suffering

toward us, not willing that any

should perish but that all should

to repentance.

II Peter 3:9

In days of childhood, we were quick to make promises. They didn't amount to much looking back but we were pretty serious about them at the time. If we made a promise we often sealed it by saying: “Cross my heart and hope to die...I'll stick a needle in my eye.” If we sealed our promise with that vow, probably most of us would have been blind by supper time.

So what is a promise? It is simply assuring firmly with an honest spirit that we will do exactly what we have told someone we will do. Of course, truth has a lot to do with promises. How often have we been lied to by someone who held a straight face stating they would come through for something on our behalf and probably had no intention of seeing that promise through.

We have learned through the years that our Bibles are full of the wonderful promises of God. Many in our lives have broken promises they have made to us. Such promises might have come from family or friends. However, even today, the media provides us with lots of promises through advertisements, news broadcasts or political events. It would seem in many areas that promises don't mean much anymore.

Aren't we thankful we have a Heavenly Father who ALWAYS keeps His Word. Scripture is full of His promises. It began in Genesis after the first sin, promising His plan for taking care of the sin problem. Noah after the flood was promised by God that there would never be again a flood that would be all encompassing like the one he had lived through. There are many promises regarding the coming of the Messiah. Along with this were prophecies of His sacrifice for the sins of humanity.

In the book of Hebrews, especially in chapter eleven we see mentioned many fulfilled promises by God on the part of Old Testament saints. It's an encouraging read. Unfortunately, we are often the recipients of unfulfilled promises so we tend to be a little hesitant in our believing in promises given to us at anytime.

Because God is faithful, keeps His Word and we have been on the negative end of broken promises, our faith is so necessary and grows as our relationship with Him grows. God never has and never will break a single promise He has declared on your and my behalf.  

I'm so grateful Father that You can be completely trusted concerning every single promise we see in Your Word. You have more than earned our trust. We love You and are so grateful for Your loving us, encouraging us in our relationship with You. In Jesus precious name...Amen

SCAREDY CAT, SCAREDY CAT

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?

Psalm 27:1

It's been a long time but very clear in my mind putting up with name calling. When in the very young elementary years, being called a SCAREDY CAT wasn't unusual. It usually occurred when someone older was daring me to do something I feared or really was afraid to tackle whatever the challenge. Adults usually get past such name calling but often are challenged none-the-less minus the name calling.

In Scripture, we meet folks who had to face their own fears. Most of their fears we can understand. Some of those fears may not always have been clear. For instance, David as a shepherd had to kill some fierce animals in order to protect his sheep. As an adult, we see David fleeing for his life from Saul. Did David love God? He certainly did love God but in his humanity still faced times of fear.

The above verse was written by David. If fear had come into David's life, he was quick to say how he came to see it. From what we see of David, he didn't park himself in the middle of fear, staying there until the cause passed over. He saw such circumstances in light of how he viewed the Lord in his life.

When we rely upon our Lord as our light, He can guide us through any circumstance. Our Lord will save us in the direst of negative events. Finally, David saw the Lord as his strength...strength when at one's weakest.

We are living in a culture of fear. Even TV ads try to scare us with health threats including new out breaks of whatever, safest cars to drive, right candidates to vote for and don't forget wars all over the place. No matter the scare tactics of Satan, we see in II Timothy 1:7 that “God hasn't given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

Father, we are so grateful for Your guidance, protection and wisdom in our every circumstance. Help us to rest in You despite what our culture presents from one day to another. Use us in these days to be encouragers. In Jesus name....Amen