Be of Good Courage

Have not I commanded thee?
Be strong and of a good courage;
be not afraid, neither be thou
dismayed: for the Lord thy
God is with thee whithersoever
thou goest.
Joshua 1:9

A few years ago, I went to lunch with a friend in Austin, TX. Before leaving the restaurant, I noticed a series of shelves on the wall behind the cashier. On those shelves were a variety of mugs of various sizes, shapes and designs. One caught my eye...a John Wayne mug. I have always loved a good John Wayne cowboy movie on television...a good guy who almost always caught the bad guy. He also did a lot of moral teaching in his movies. I asked to see that mug. It was somewhat oversized with about three different pictures of “The Duke” on the outside. Much to my amazement, there was lettering on the inside of the cup that one couldn't help but notice when taking a sip of tea or in my case, soup. I had never heard the saying up to that point but have seen it several times since. I guess Mr. Wayne was known for it among other sage sayings of his. It said:

“Courage is being scared to death,
but saddling up anyway.”

I really like that definition of “courage.” Courage is also the ability to do something that frightens us. It can be strength in the face of pain, grief or fear. I've been thinking more and more about courage these days. I've watched the media with others as we've observed hostages being killed, many for their faith. I've seen people in our own country standing up for their own spiritual beliefs...bakery owners who refuse to bake wedding cakes for same sex marriages, teachers with their Bibles on their desks, cheerleaders who write Scripture on the huge paper banner their ball team members run through, Hobby Lobby that could have been shut down for their Biblical standards, down to the little check out lady in Wal-Mart who hummed, quietly “Amazing Grace” and always sent customers on their way with “Have a blessed day.” All of the things I've listed took courage with millions of dollars at risk down to someone losing a job.

I can't imagine how Joshua must have felt when God took Moses to Heaven. Joshua had been Moses' right hand man but now found himself the man in charge. I can't imagine the butterflies in Joshua's stomach, but God was right on hand to encourage him.. God gave Joshua every promise and assurance of His presence with this new leader. God gave him specific jobs to do. Over and over, God said, “Be strong and courageous...” God knew what it would take for Joshua to complete his assignments.

Joshua was faithful to do all God asked of him right down to the time of his death. It is so interesting at the time of Joshua's death that his final words to the leadership of Israel echoed what God had given him at the beginning of his time of leadership. He said in 23:6:

Be ye therefore very courageous
to keep and to do all that is
written in the book of the law
of Moses, that ye turn not aside
therefrom to the right hand or
to the left.

The one addition he made to that statement was for the people to be obedient to the book of the law of Moses. He also admonished them to establish a straight path with the Law and not veer right or left...just straight ahead, strict obedience. Joshua had come a long way from the “newby” leader to a man of strength and integrity, BUT, it took a great deal of courage on his part as well as trust in God's ability to bring him through everything he would face.

God often calls on you and me to venture forward in to areas that may be foreign to us. I think of my husband who stepped into teaching an adult Sunday school class. He had never taught adults and the adults were peers. I watched him with agony knowing a little of what he felt. I've watched folks of all ages sing their first solo in church. I had a big, strapping football friend who had to make his first speech in our college speech class. Even with stiff jeans on, those shaking knees could be seen. By the end of the semester, he wasn't a professional speaker, but was doing very well before the group. Very often, it's those “first” things that take all the courage we can muster.

There are ongoing things that require courage beyond our own strength. I think of caretakers I know who wake up every day to some very difficult circumstances. With great courage they face what must be faced. Some folks are mistreated on the job, but they go, face the difficulties and do their jobs day after day. We can't forget our policemen who keep us safe as well as firemen who do the same, but in a different way. I've had friends who go to face chemo treatments week after week who face it all with courage.

So how do we handle this need for courage in our lives? We rely on the strength God provides and His Word that guides and comforts. It's in His power that we put one foot in front of the other as we progress into areas that are frightening or foreign. Scripture gives us promise after promise of His presence and provision. So join me...let us BE OF GOOD COURAGE.

Heavenly Father, I know that your power can sustain and uphold me. Help me as I face decisions large and small. Help me to know that in it all, Your opinion is the only one that matters and I can be courageous because of who You are in my life as taught in Your word. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

Who Am I?

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

We don't think much about who we are in the whole scheme of life. We all wear unseen tags that defines who we are. If introducing ourselves, we could easily begin a sentence with “I am...” We all wear invisible badges of various sorts that identifies us to people. For instance, I am Glendarae Lanoue and I am a: Christian, wife, mom, grandma, sister, daughter, teacher, church pianist, etc. I am not all of those things to everyone who knows me, but they suffice for whoever does know me. There are “I am's” that I know about myself that no one else knows, things I keep to myself. There is one name, however, God told Moses that was a name that could not be disputed. What can be said to One who says, “I AM THAT I AM.” There's just not much that can be said in reply to to that.

Moses was facing a huge assignment from God. He told God what most of us would or even do when facing an assignment from God. We, like Moses, try to give God all the reasons as to why we aren't able or talented enough to complete His desire It's then we come up with the “BUT, I am not...” or “I can't...” much like Moses did. But the great I AM extended to Moses His full support and backing in leading His people out of Egypt back to their homeland. It was all done with God giving His credentials for success to Moses...simply put...Moses was to tell Pharaoh that I AM THAT I AM had sent him.

Fast forward many centuries to Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus and His Father have more names and titles in Scripture than we could ever put to memory. Most of those names are expressed by those worshiping God...Almighty, Savior, King of Kings, Help, Refuge and many more. As I've been reading in the book of John, I have noticed that Jesus gives some “I am” statements about Himself. He wasn't bragging about Himself, but was just being honest as to who He was. Let me put these in verse order from this precious book:

I am the bread of life:
he that cometh to me shall never
hunger; and he that believeth on
me shall never thirst.
John 6:35

I am the light of the world:
he that followeth me shall not
walk in darkness, but shall have
the light of life.
John 8:12

Verily, verily, I say unto you,
I am the door of the sheep.
I am the door: by me if any
man enter in, he shall be
saved, and shall go in and out,
and find pasture.
John 10: 11,14

I am the resurrection, and the
life: he that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live.
John 11:25

I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father,
but by me.
John 14:6

I am the true vine, and my Father
is the husbandman.
I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him,
the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing.
John 15:1,5

With every “I am” Jesus spoke of Himself, He was also saying down through the years to you and me right now that He is those things for us. Every statement He spoke is a part of a huge letter of encouragement to us that has been signed, sealed and delivered with Jesus' precious blood. With every “I am” He declared, I can respond with great enthusiasm that if I know nothing else in this world, I do know that “I am His!” All other I am's in my life fade in comparison to that fact of belonging to the great I AM.

Dear Father, I know You are the great I AM but I'm grateful that you are my Abba...Father...and that I can rest in Your strong arms. It is in Your arms that I feel loved and secure. Thank You...Thank You. In Jesus' precious name. Amen

Love Letters

...but that ye might know the love
which I have more abundantly
unto you.
II Corinthians 2:4b

I was new to junior high school. Boys had always been so far down on my list of priorities that it wasn't even funny. However, one day in a math class, someone behind me passed me a note. After looking at the note, and seeing the name, I became quite flustered. A male classmate had passed the note to me through two other people. The note said the usual: “If you love me, then I love you. If you don't love me, then I don't love you.” With that, he signed his name. We had gone through grade school together so this was kind of a surprise to me. He and I had never even spoken that I knew of. SOOOO...I answered his note with: “If you love me, then I love you. If you don't love me, then I don't love you.” Class was about over so I gave it to a good friend of mine to hand to him on the way out the classroom door. She took the privilege of showing it to half of the school. Can't tell you the results of all of that and as a result, I don't think the young man and I ever spoke to each other even on through high school.

In high school, I had a couple of secret crushes, but had learned to never tell a single soul about it. My most serious relationship was in college with a dear Christian guy who was to be and turned out to be a pastor. We were parted for a summer. We both had ministry work we did that summer many miles away from each other. We weren't where we could telephone each other so letters had to do it. I can't begin to tell you how I rushed home every day anticipating getting a letter from that boyfriend. I read his letters over and over. He wrote at least every ten days or so which was good for a guy. When letters didn't come, I pulled out the ones I had and read them until they were almost tattered. When letters did come, I didn't leave them sitting on a dresser unopened for a week. I couldn't wait to tear those envelopes open. There were reasons for that. He was a dear guy I had come to know pretty well. We had a relationship that honored the Lord in every way. I knew he cared very much for my well-being. He was always honest with me, a person of truth. We shared a love for each other that was just for a measure of time. Still, we shared a love that had meaning even though it would never mature to full blossom. It was a blessing for that time.

I know of another man who was a wonderful letter writer. I first came to know him as Saul of Tarsus. His life required a great deal of refining, but he came to know and love Jesus probably like no other man I have heard of. In that process, Jesus changed his name to Paul as he was on a road trip. Because of his very personal meeting with Jesus, Paul was considered an apostle. I never had the privilege of meeting him personally, but I have read his letters, his love letters. He was inspired by the Holy Spirit of God to write each one. I have read some of his letters to the point of having some worn pages in the Book where I find each one of them. The difference is that I'm not the only one reading his letters. I don't care if a friend shares his letters with others. They are for all to read and to share with others.

Paul probably speaks of love in his letters as much as any other contributor to the Scriptures. In a few places, he expresses his personal love for his readers while most of the time, he encourages his readers to be people of love. Even Paul in some of his letters, that are now ours, speaks of his love for his readers. If Paul were writing his letters today, hewould still express his love for us.

       My love be with you all
       in Christ Jesus, Amen.
   I Corinthians 16:24

And I will very gladly spend and be
spent for you; though the more
abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
II Corinthians 12:15

The Holy Spirit spoke through chosen men and now the Scriptures belong to you and me personally. His love written is as good as spoken from the heart of God for all of us in our present times. If you are not a born again Christian, reading the Bible is like reading the love letter that belongs to someone else. It might be interesting but wouldn't be personal. For God's love letter to be meaningful, we must have a relationship with Him. If there is no relationship, there wouldn't even be an interest in reading it at all.

The whole of God's Word is our Heavenly Father's love letter to you and me, born in His heart in eternity, coming down through His Spirit to you and me this very day. Remember, as I have quoted before from the godly scholar, Woodrow Kroll:

                                      “The Bible is the only book God has written.
                                           I think he'd be pleased if we read it.”

Dear Father...I love You because You first loved me. Forgive when my love grows cold. I want to stay close to Your heart. As You pour Your love into me, I pray I will allow Your love to flow from my life into the lives of others. May my life be as a letter of love that others can read and see your love in action. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

How Could I Live Without It?

Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
that I might not sin against thee.
Psalm 119:11

It was January 23, 1968, and the news was spreading quickly by radio, TV and in the printed press regarding a military incident. A United States Naval submarine had been captured by North Korea. It was a reconnaissance submarine, but was in international waters so shouldn't have had a problem. However, a sub spotter from North Korea picked up on our submarine, the USS Pueblo, and took it captive. On board were 83 men and they would remain in captivity for a year. It was not an easy time as all were tortured in varying degrees during their captivity. It was our family's privilege to hear one of the crewmen who had been on that submarine speak at the church we were attending at the time. The one thing he spoke of was how the men were kept in side-by-side cells and how they communicated. They weren't allowed to speak out loud to each other so they developed their own systems of speaking to each other by code and writing.

One of the things the men did was to slide small pieces of paper on the floor from cell to cell. On that paper, each man wrote down whatever Scripture verses they remembered from time past. It finally got to the point that there were several slips of paper to pass around for the men to read. The total of those slips of paper came to be known as the “Pueblo Bible.”

I recently saw on my computer a group of young adults who were meeting in secret in an Asian country that I won't give the name of. Two people came into the room where the young adults were seated in a circle, and in the middle of the circle placed two large suitcases. When the suitcases were opened they were full of new Bibles. Those young folks walked slowly to those suitcases and almost reverently picked up their own copy of a Bible. Some lovingly held their Bible close to them as if hugging that precious book. Most wept as they held their new Bible, while some even kissed their copy. While sitting in my living room looking at that scene play out before my eyes, I looked at just one of my bookcases where there are many Bibles of different versions. I use them for study in preparation for lessons I teach in various settings. I was stricken with the fact that I have so many copies of God's Word and take for granted that I will always have a copy of the Bible of my very own. The day IS coming, however, when even in our country, Americans could lose many Christian privileges that would shock us at the thought. The Bible will definitely be under attack and in some ways, already is.

A single friend of mine lived with her very old and dying mother. Both ladies had been students and lovers of God's Word for more years than they could count. At one point, my friend's mother was near death and not being very responsive. When the end seemed near for this dear mother, her daughter recalled a favorite verse her mother loved, so she began to quote Psalm 27:1 aloud. She said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation...” and suddenly in a weak, quiet voice, she heard her mother say, ”whom shall I fear?” With some shock, her daughter went on, “the Lord is the strength of my life;” and her mother finished the verse: “of whom shall I be afraid?” How interesting that even in this older ladies weakest moments before her Homegoing, the Scripture was as fresh on her mind as the prior fifty years or in her girlhood days.

Remember Vacation Bible School? I memorized more Scripture in those days than is believable. We had memory time, learned even more with the Bible stories we heard, and after a recess time (cookies & Kool-ade) there were more opportunities for learning more about God's Word. I still know many of those memory verses learned under Ruth Young and her helpers. Then as God would have it, Ruth enlisted me to teach memory time to the junior class when I was “too old” to be a VBS student. I learned even more there...the teacher always learns more than the students.

If you and I ever find ourselves in a place totally without the Word of God, written or on a media device, how much do we know by memory that could be of strength and comfort to us? Could we write some verses out on scraps of paper? Laying in bed in the darkness of night, how many verses can we recite to ourselves that somewhere in years past we memorized? Could we recite precious promises of God in our weakest moments, whether in times of depression, illness or even with our approaching Homegoing?

How much do we pay attention through the week to that special book that sits on our coffee table, bedside table or top of our refrigerator? How precious are the words we find in it. My husband and I had the privilege last summer of hearing Woodrow Kroll teach on Psalm 119. I'll never forget seeing him hold up his open Bible. In that moment he said, “This is the only book God ever wrote. I think He would be pleased if we read it.”

One of the major ways we can please God, is reading His writings and even committing some of it to memory. A great source of our own personal strength, joy and spiritual well-being is being in that most wonderful book that could ever be placed in our hands...God's precious Word.

Thank You, Father, for writing Your precious Word through Your Holy Spirit that not only brings us into a relationship with You, but that teaches and comforts us along the way. Create a hunger in me to know You better through Your wonderful book. In Jesus name....Amen

"I HATE Getting Old!"

And even to your old age, I am He;
and even to hoar (gray) hairs will
I carry you; I have made, and I will bear;
even I will carry, and will deliver you.
Isaiah 46:4

The title of this blog is something I often say to my husband when arthritis makes itself evident on certain days. His reply is always: “You're NOT getting ollldddd” and then we have a slight chuckle between us. The simple fact is that all of us are aging. In younger years, young folks don't think about aging that much, but nine year olds don't hesitate telling you that they are “nine and a half.” They are quite anxious to move up the age ladder. I gave that “half” stuff up a long time ago.

Our aging process begins at conception when life begins and aging continues to the grave. However, in our earlier years we usually noticed aging only as we looked at parents, grandparents or even family friends. To be honest, I never really noticed the aging process in most of them until they were REALLY old...like 60 years old and up. :0) When I was in grade school, if someone turned 45, they were ancient to me. I never thought I would get to that age, but I did. We have to remember that around the time of the 1940's, people didn't live to be as old as they do now.

I don't know of anyplace where age is on display like in church where children and youth watch those of age...and they watch more than we can realize. In my little church, the Loyal Mothers Sunday school class was where our senior ladies met faithfully every Sunday morning. They always sat together in church, center section, third row from the front. For Sunday school they went up a few altar steps to the small choir section where their class met. Most of them as I recall, wore hats. We little girls sat in the row in front of them. We had to behave or get a bit of a poke in the back. Most of those Loyal Mothers carried candy in their purses and they often passed some our way.

So what's wrong with aging other than it reminds us that D-Day is drawing nearer and nearer. If our hope is in Jesus Christ be it here on earth or when making our way to Heaven, the older years can be just as fruitful and of use as any other stage in our lives. Let me tell you, I look back and there is no stage of life I have gone through that I would want to revisit. God wants us to serve His purpose in our lives in the here and now....living to the fullest in the present.

Books have been written about the aging process and how to do it gracefully. No matter the stage of life, we are never to give up on serving the Lord. It's not unusual to hear a person of age say, “Well, I put in my time...it's time for the younger ones to do it now.” Never give up serving the Lord. If you are 95, there are ways you can serve Him. I know men and ladies who are wonderful prayer warriors. Some verbally greet visitors to a church service. There are ladies who send out cards of encouragement to sick or shut in folks. I know some good soup makers in our church who are quick to share it with folks who are ill. God still needs our hands of service, even if those hands are gnarled with arthritis.

I have said to ladies I teach that every one of us has purpose in God's eyes. He doesn't see age when it comes to His purpose for us. That purpose may take various types and shapes depending where we are in our stages of life, but He has a plan and purpose for us until we are ushered into Heaven. We women have a responsibility to be of influence upon those women who follow us. It doesn't take a masters degree, but only a degree in life lived and one's spiritual experiences as well. For instance, in Titus 2:3-5, Paul tells us:

The aged women likewise, that they be
in behavior as becometh holiness;
not false accusers, not given to much
wine, teachers of good things.
That they may teach the young women
to be sober, to love their husbands, to
love their children,
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home,
good, obedient to their own husbands,
that the word of God be not blasphemed.

I have said to women of all ages that they, no matter their age, are aged women to someone.  I remember in my latter 20's having someone younger than me coming to me for advice. We are older women (or men) to any others who are younger than we are. This is a responsibility according to Scripture that we can never get away from. I find it sad in today's society that we don't have more Christian men teaching younger men how to be good husbands and fathers.

Next, a major advantage of age, is all that life's experiences have taught us. In our walk with God, we hopefully have attained to a certain level of wisdom. Wisdom comes from God and He will give us opportunities to share that wisdom in an appropriate way with others. We have much to share with this present generation and must take advantage of those moments presented to us without pride or arrogance.

With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of
days understanding.
With him is wisdom and strength, he
hath counsel and understanding
Job 12:12,13

Remember that “The hoary (gray) head is a crown of glory...” Proverbs 61:31a. Whatever amount of gray hair you have, wear it proudly. I tell people that I've earned every, single gray hair I have...all of us, of any age, have and should wear our gray with satisfaction. My prayer is that I won't waste a single day of where I am right now in life. I always want to be found faithful to God's plan for my life, no matter the date on my birth certificate. Join me!

Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one and that to come. (Psalm 71:18)

Amen...and...Amen

Real, Living Temples

Know ye not that ye are the temple
of God, and that the Spirit of God
dwelleth in you?
I Corinthians 4:5

In my younger, more spiritually immature days, I must tell you that I didn't really care for the Apostle Paul. No matter what I read that he had written, I felt if nothing else that he was a braggart, always patting himself on the back. However, as I matured and came to understand more fully that it was the Holy Spirit inspiring Paul to write everything he did, I came to appreciate him more. Now, the Holy Spirit speaks through him in such wonderful and unique ways to me personally.

In my study of all Scripture, I have been fascinated through the years regarding the Old Testament tabernacle. The tabernacle, that temporary structure and that later became a magnificent temple was the very center of the people's spiritual life, their salvation and their nearness to God Himself. The temple provided all a person would need in keeping in right relationship with God. God had thought it all out carefully, for you see, God has purpose in all He does and “He doeth all things well.”

With Jesus' arrival, ministry and death, there was no more a necessity for that building. Just as Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn from top to bottom. Where only the high priest was allowed in the holy of holy's once a year, everything was now open, no obstacles between God and man. All of that was such a huge deal, but then Paul took it further that involves every born again Christian there has ever been or ever will be.

Along with every wonderful advantage God has provided to supply us for spiritual living, Paul blessed us with the information that we are temples...walking, talking temples. It's hard to comprehend that we as temples are as precious to God as those buildings were in Old Testament days.

If we are temples of God, there are then some comparisons we can make to the Old Testament tabernacle/temple and the temples we are. This might give us some perspective in our function as the temples Paul speaks of.

Approaching the outside of the former temple, it was there that blood sacrifices were made for the sins of the people. For us to be a temple, we have to have gone through that process of sins being washed in blood. In our case, Jesus took care of that with His death on the cross. That gives us the privilege of being that living temple. The people had to provide the animals for sacrifices, for the cleansing of their sin. In our case, God provided the lamb...Jesus.

Next as we would enter the temple, we would see, in a very large room, three priceless items, each having it's own unique purpose. To our left, there was a golden candlestick. Jesus said that we are the light of the world. This is a distinct feature of our “temple-hood” that we are witnesses for Jesus at all times. The lights of that large candlestick were never allowed to go out. It should be the same with our witness...constant and consistent.

To our right upon entering the door of the temple was a table with shew bread on it. Jesus is the bread of life. The bread is often compared to the Word of God that feeds and strengthens us. You and I can't afford to suffer spiritual malnutrition if we are to be strong in the Lord.

Straight ahead was the altar of incense where the ascending smoke off of that altar was symbolic of the prayers of the people. I have to ask myself how strong my prayer life is? Do I settle for asking the blessing over my food or sending up some SOS prayers. God doesn't like the silent treatment from us anymore than we like it from others.

Of course, straight ahead beyond that altar of incense was the huge veil behind which the Spirit of God abided. The common person would never ever enter that place...death would be the penalty. Even the High Priest entered that area only once a year to sprinkle sacrificial blood on the mercy seat. God's spirit was seen in the wilderness over the tabernacle through a pillar of cloud by day and a piller of fire by night that hovered over the Holy of Holies.

We don't need pillars of anything to guide us now because that powerful Holy Spirit of God now resides within every person who has accepted Jesus as Savior. He is there to teach, guide and comfort. When the people in the wilderness saw the pillar begin to move, they got things together immediately and followed the pillar. When the Holy Spirit in us moves us to obey in any area of life, we are to respond immediately (pack up if necessary) and follow His leading. We don't have to understand the whys and wherefores, but need to move at His prompting.

I feel so blessed in knowing that the very spirit of God that led those folks in the wilderness was the same powerful spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. He's that same spirit that lives in those of us who have accepted Jesus as Savior. How unfortunate that we often live in spiritual defeat when that Spirit is available to you and me to walk in spiritual strength and victory. This Holy Spirit is a gentleman and won't force Himself on us. He is more than available to we “temples” as we witness, pray and feed on the Word.

When our children were MUCH younger, I found a Tabernacle cut-out book. It had all the pieces of the tabernacle to punch out and put together. We got it all together but it was just a replica made of some sturdy paper. You and I aren't temple replicas. We are the best of the better, just as God planned. Are we the real thing or just paper replicas. God is the only One who can tell the difference.

Dear Father...Thank You for making me one of Your children. May I really know what a responsibility it is to be Your temple. May I be faithful not just in various responsibilities but may I be a person of worship in this temple that I am like never before. I love you...In Jesus name...Amen

Choose Obedience

If ye love me, keep my
commandments.

John 14:15

In viewing the Christian life, I feel one of the hardest parts of it all is that of obedience. I guess it shouldn't be, considering all Jesus has done for us past, present and into the future. After all, we have the wonderful privilege of basking in the love of God every minute we live and breathe, so what's the problem?

Someone asked me a few years ago what I considered the main theme of the Bible to be. I told her that I felt at the time and still do that every word of the Bible is penned with the ink of God's love. However, I feel the next resounding theme of God's Word is that of obedience. We can see it all through the Old and New Testaments that affected not just Bible characters, but real live human beings with similar feelings we have come to know in our own lives.

Follow my thinking for a few moments with my own paraphrases:
It all started from the very beginning of God's Word when God spoke to that first couple in Eden about that one tree in the middle of the garden...”Don't touch it.”
Noah...”Build an ark.” (He didn't know what an ark [boat] or even rain was.)
Abraham...”Sacrifice your son.”
Moses...”Lead my people back home from Egypt.”
Joshua...”March around Jericho with my people and the walls will fall.”
Ezra...”Lead My people back to Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah...”Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.”
Esther...”Speak to the King on behalf of our people.”
Isaiah, Jeremiah and the rest of the OT prophets...”Prophesy!”
Joseph...”Take Mary and the child to Egypt.” (Of course, more could be said here.)
Disciples...”Follow Me.”
John from a desolate island...”Write...”

This list could be filled in with so many other people from Scripture. I think of the times when Jesus healed people of various maladies. That healing was often accompanied by a command where the sick or impaired person was asked to respond in some way...”Take up thy bed and walk.” “Maid, arise.” “Weep not.” “Young man, I say unto thee, arise.” I am wondering what would have happened if those folks had refused to obey Jesus in those moments. It was a way of their claiming their healing. Would they have been healed? It's interesting to contemplate.

I'm wondering in the course of my own spiritual walk what all I may have missed because of disobedience. I know there were times when the Holy Spirit encouraged me to arise out of my circumstances and walk strong and tall, but I was happy attending my own pity party. One of my daughter's spoke of a friend of hers who had young children. When one of those children would become a little on the misbehaving side and hadn't responded to the mother's look, she would go to that child and would quietly say in his ear, “Choose obedience.” She was admonishing that children not only to behave correctly, but those two words also served as a warning of consequences that could result.

How often have we read our Bibles and found wise counsel for living, but we quickly move on to the next verse or page, not realizing that we please God most when we choose to obey Him. What a shame when God has to get our attention and perhaps teach us hard lessons that could be avoided if we would only make the good choice of obedience.

In the Gospels, there were people who were amazed at the power in Jesus to perform the miracles He did. After calming the raging sea, those present marveled that even the wind and waves obeyed Him. There was a healing where even unclean spirits obeyed Jesus. In Acts chapter five, we read how we ought to obey God rather than man. This is where many of us fail. We tend to be “people pleasers”

I've always felt bad that my children were born in the 1970's. I so wish they could have come into an America where there was respect for authority, no riots (racial or otherwise), unconditional respect for teachers and policemen, proper attire, music that made sense and when parents were obeyed without sass. Those are things they were born into and I knew they would never know anything like the “happy days” of the 1950's. Those folks born after 1960 have had to learn, often the hard way, what obedience was. I'm so grateful that my children weathered those days and are God-serving and loving adults. So what is obedience?

Obedience: complying with an order, request to another's authority.

That may be hard at times, but with God, because of His great love, obedience should really be our first response to Him. The thing is, who or whatever we follow is where our allegiance will be. Paul says:

Know ye not, that in whom ye yield yourselves
servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey;
whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto
righteousness?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants
of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart
that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being then made free from sin, ye became
the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:16-18

Here's the problem...we have to know what God wants us to obey which means being in His Word consistently. We will be held accountable for every word of it whether we have read it or not. Here at the beginning of a new year is a great time to set some Bible reading goals.

Impossible to believe but it's true, that as we obey God and His commands, we will walk in spiritual freedom. So....

God+Me+Obedience=Spiritual Freedom

You see, it begins with God and me being in right relationship to which I can add obedience. The result will be a spiritual freedom beyond all explanation. Too often in our day, there are distractions that can keep us from walking in the freedom God intends for us. May it become as normal as breathing for us to be God's obedient children. His desire is that we CHOOSE OBEDIENCE.

Dear Jesus, thank you for the clarity of Your words to us. Empower us to want to walk in obedience to You not for ulterior motives but simply out of our love for You. We really do love You. In Your precious name....Amen

Crutches of Life

My soul followeth hard after thee:
thy right hand upholdeth me.
Psalm 63:8

It was amazing as we were cleaning out our attic in preparation for our move to Tennessee, to find so many things we had stashed away in a span of a few years. I think the only time we clean out the attics of our houses is either when we are planning to move to another house or when someone dies. With our present move, we came across two or three sets of crutches. You would have to know the Lanoue men and their problem with knees to understand how we could have accumulated them. Those crutches, both wooden and metal, had been used when there were knee cap problems, sprains, etc. thus it was a benefit to keep those crutches handy.

What are crutches for? They are meant to help one who has sustained some kind of injury to the lower extremities of the body to aid in getting from one place to another. There are some people with balance problems who often need crutches just to steady themselves, even in just standing. Crutches are vital for those with a physical need of them. However, crutches are awkward, bundlesome and next to impossible to manipulate if one needs to also carry something while using crutches. Sounds complicated and often is. Except for some crippling diseases that require permanent use of crutches, it must be remembered that crutches under normal circumstances are meant to be temporary. Crutches in themselves can cause even more debilitating conditions for those who refuse to give them up when it is time to do so.

I have come to learn from personal experience, more than in observing others, that I have often found myself using invisible crutches. At one time or another, we all have invisible crutches. I can understand that happening with people who are not Christians. Christians, however, can also find themselves leaning on things/people to help with balance in their lives and that provides a sense of security. Some crutches folks learn to lean on may involve money, jobs, friends, spouses, exercise/diet programs, material possessions, relatives, and yes, even pets, and the list could go on. It can happen in such a slow but steady way, that we may find ourselves on invisible crutches without noticing it. Bottom line is that in this area, God is the one we are to lean on for our security and well being.

Real crutches can break or slip causing one to fall. The invisible crutches we come up with in this life of ours are not very reliable either. People will let us down, material things are passing, money can be fleeting and health issues can recur. There is nothing in this life that is permanent and totally reliable, except Jesus.

Back in 1972, Bill Withers wrote a song that is catchy, and one of those we could go around humming all day. The words of the chorus are as follows:

“Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on.
For, it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on.”

This could be a theme song for those who want to sign up to be a crutch in the lives of others. Many of us have the “crutch nature,” that of always wanting to help someone keep their balance in life. Being a help to others is wonderful, but not to the point of encouraging others to depend on us so heavily that it isn't healthy. In today's verbage, we hear the word “enabler.” That's what crutches are...enablers. They enable us to function and hopefully heal. When we allow ourselves to be crutches/enablers in the lives of others long term, we rob those people of dependence on the Lord thus draining them of sound spiritual health.

There is a chorus to another song that is even more familiar to us. It speaks of the healthiest kind of leaning. The words to the song were written in the mid 1800's by Philip P. Bliss and it says:

Leaning....leaning
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning...leaning
Leaning on the everlasting arms.

YES...this is the answer when we tend to walk with the invisible crutches of people and things...and that is leaning on Jesus and Jesus alone. No one, no thing can support us or hold us up like Jesus when we're at our weakest. Scripture admonishes us to lean totally on Him. Everything in our lives must be seen through Jesus and His Word. Leaning on Jesus is to be a continual learning and leaning experience. Only He has the wisdom and power to keep us going in every way. God's Word assures us that He is to be the only person in our lives that we can completely trust with His reliable support. We read:

For I the Lord thy God will hold thy
right hand, saying unto thee,
Fear not, I will help thee.
Isaiah 41:13

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart;
and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Proverbs 3:5

I'm not saying that we shouldn't be of help to people, especially if they are going through a tough time. That's a part of our ministry as Christians. If we aren't careful, we can encourage people to become very dependent on us instead of on the Lord. This doesn't mean we walk totally away from someone we have helped. We do want to rejoice with them when we see that crutches are no longer needed. You and I must always be learning to find our balance and spiritual health holding Jesus' hand. We want to encourage the same thing in the lives of those we encourage.

What a wonderful day it is when we can give up our invisible crutches and throw them into the attic of our lives, hopefully to leave them there. We will have learned that God's hand is always extended to us, His hand of love and help for He is our true hope and stability...we are such blessed people.

My Father...thank You for Your love and care for me even though I fail so often. Having You as my spiritual stability means more than I can say. Thank you for guiding me and walking with me in my every day life. I love You...in Jesus' precious name....Amen

Courage vs Fear

Only be strong an very courageous,
that you may observe to do according
to all the law which Moses My servant
commanded you; do not turn from it
to the right hand or to the left, that
you may prosper wherever you go.

This Book of the Law shall not depart
from your mouth, but you shall
meditate in it day and night, that
you may observe to do according
to all that is written in it. For then
you will make your way prosperous,
and then you will have good success.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong
and of good courage: do not be
afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord
your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:7-9

Never will I forget on that fateful day of 9/11 watching things unfold after two planes crashed into the twin towers in New York City. Like so many American's, I have pictures of those days etched in my minds of sights too terrible to describe that will never leave me. One of the most remarkable things of that day in New York City was watching police and firemen rushing into those two buildings in the hope of rescuing as many people as they could. They didn't stop and think what the consequences of their bravery might be. We know now that many didn't come back out of those buildings and many of those heroes lost their lives. Many who did manage to get out were interviewed by the press. Those interviewed did so with tears streaking down their dirt and dust covered faces, sad that they couldn't do more to save more people. Such courage is rarely displayed like it was in those days.

When we speak of courage, I wonder if we ever pause to consider what courage is.
For several years, we had a family tradition of watching The Wizard of Oz on TV. Back then, the movie was shown on TV only once a year. If you have seen the movie, you will recall the Cowardly Lion. He wanted to go see the Wizard of Oz with Dorothy so that he could receive courage from the Wizard. That poor lion was always fearful, cowardly and so longed to be what a lion was supposed to be...brave and courageous. I guess it would be nice if courage came that easy for us.

Unfortunately, we usually think of courage as being something required for huge, difficult tasks. Such is not always true. Some of the most courageous people I have known have been those who faced difficulties no other human being knew about.

Looking up some definitions, I found courage to be:
facing one's fears (I've heard this one for several years)
strength in the face of pain, grief or danger
mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear or difficulty.

Moses had died. God took care of that whole incident, to the point that the people didn't even know the circumstances of his death nor where God chose to bury him. For years, Joshua had been groomed by Moses for leadership. Like many people in that kind of situation, Joshua probably never fully grasped that there could be a life without Moses and that he would be called upon to step into Moses' sandals. But, the day of Joshua's elevation to leadership had arrived. I can't imagine the intimidation he must have felt as he viewed on his own, for the first time, the horde of people Moses had been responsible for. He surely recalled all the headaches they gave Moses as he did his best to lead them to the homeland as God had instructed him. Despite Moses' dedication, too many times the people had risen up in rebellion against Moses.

It is so wonderful that when God places a call on one's life, He so wonderfully equips that person for the task ahead. That task that may seem insurmountable might be a new and difficult job or position. It could be a young man bending on his knee to propose to the love of his life, taking on the responsibility of a wife and future children...hardly a much higher calling than perhaps that of a wife. I have a dear friend in Texas who has found that she has a brain tumor. She, with her doctors are still working on what her treatment plan is to be. What of that young person, leaving home to go to college. He or she has perhaps never been away from home, mom and dad, friends but a new life now presents itself.

It's important to note that it was the Lord who in verse one of Joshua chapter one, spoke very clearly to Joshua and the encouraging instructions go for 9 verses. God wasted no words but along with a strong voice was also encouraging the promise of His guidance and direction. Please note that everything God promised Joshua is available to you and me as well. Also note that God never gives us a command we cannot keep as long as we rest in His strength and follow His instructions.

You may look over these verses but in this entire portion of Scripture, three times I see/hear God saying, “Be strong and of good courage” (1:6)....also...”Only be strong and very courageous”(1:7)...and then...”Be strong and of good courage.(1:9)” How does this happen? Those same verses explain the importance of following the Word of God. How are we to do that?

Verse 8 gives us the list:
The Word isn't to depart from our mouths. It is to be on the tip of our tongues. To do that we have to read it and know it well.
We are to meditate on the Word day and night...think upon it more than we think about our challenges.
There must be a determination to observe what we read in God's Word.
Rest in the fact that our God is with us wherever we go. (V 9)

All of us have challenges and difficult tasks ahead of us in this new year. The best preparation we can make for any expectation that comes our way is to be daily in the Word of God. It will instruct, guide, strengthen and comfort. It can instill a courage and resolve in our lives that very often the best of Christians won't understand as they observe you and me dealing with some seeming impossible calls on our lives. Let me also add that it is extremely rare for Christians to recognize courage in themselves. It is a quality usually observed by others and will rarely be known within one's self. A courageous Christian may sense an empowerment inside her/himself that is of God, but would rarely recognize it or refer to it as courage.

Dear Father, Draw me closer to Yourself than I've ever been. I can't make it through this life without your presence and directions. Keep me in Your Word and help me to obey Your everything Your Word asks of me. Thank you for loving me...In Jesus' precious name...Amen

Be Prepared

Somewhere in my much younger Scouting days, I seem to remember the motto, “Be prepared.” I'm not sure anyone ever thoroughly explained to me what that meant. It may have been confusing if someone had as just the word “prepare” can take on any number of meanings depending on how the word is used. When I prepare a meal, I have both thought it out, cooked the “whatever”...thus, I prepared a meal for my household. A person who is prepared is someone who is ready for action so the word itself can have a before and after meaning.

In our Sunday school lessons of late, we are now in the book of Ezra. There are times while “preparing” a lesson that a verse just pops out at me and our up coming lesson is no exception. Chapter 3 of Ezra gives information about this godly man and leader who had the responsibility of leading some of his people out of captivity back to the home front. There was a lot to be done in Jerusalem. Some building of houses and walls had already been done. Ezra, however, was very concerned about the spiritual state of his people. He and they set out to re-establish the building of an altar and then laying a foundation for a temple. In all of this, Ezra was seen by the people as a strong, spiritual leader. What contributed to such strengths in this godly man. Allow me to pick apart Ezra 3:10 to see what contributed to the spiritual fiber in this man who was an example for his people but even today is an example for us as well.

For Ezra had prepared his heart
to seek the Law of the Lord
and to do it,
and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

If we are going to amount to anything for God, there must be action on our part to get prepared. It begins with the heart and ends with the heart. It must be our heart's desire to be all for God we can possibly be. This could have to do with education that may be required for a certain vocation. Still yet, that drive and initiative will still be a heart thing. As we prepare our hearts, God will instill in us a love for people, people we may lead or serve in some way. I have known people in full time Christian work, hoping to be spiritual leaders who will never make it. Little love for people will usually indicate something lacking in ones love relationship with the Lord. Ezra loved his people and had, it would seem, every credential for being the spiritual leader of his people. Love for God and people were instrumental in Ezra's
heart preparation.

Ezra's next step was to seek the Law of the Lord...God's Word. There is no substitute for this. We can hold every possible position in the church, pay our bills, do for our families and even refrain from kicking the family dog. Those things will never be a substitute for seeking on a daily basis what the Word of God has to say as we open it's pages, praying for the Holy Spirit to teach us as only He can. Leading and teaching people takes a great deal of energy. Most people don't believe that but any leader or teacher could attest to that fact.

Notice next, that Ezra not only got into God's Word, the Law and came to know it well but he took the next step. He simply did what it said...obedience. How many times have we read something in our Bibles that spoke to our hearts, encouraging us to do or be something for God. We perhaps closed that precious book, walked away and continued doing our own thing. If we are to count for God, our lives must be those of obedience. Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” That's pretty clear and plain. Our obedience is a yardstick to measure the level of love we have for Jesus. My children will tell you that when they were young, I often made the statement, “Simple obedience is all that is required.” As I said that to them, there were times I know when I wasn't practicing what I was preaching in my walk with my Heavenly Parent. Any good leader I have ever known is one with the heart of a servant, submissive and humble in spirit. Those are qualities instilled by God in His child who chooses to walk in obedience to His will.

Lastly...and after the above...Ezra was in a position to lead through his teaching the statutes and ordinances of God's law. Many women I know are quick to say, “But I'm just not a teacher.” I don't believe that for one minute. Every one of us are teachers whether we know it or not. God broadens our influence as we walk in obedience to Him and His Word. Some may be professional teachers while most are not. The most uneducated women I've known are still teachers as they instill character and Godly principles into the lives of their children. Some ladies beautifully teach Sunday school classes. They may not be the most articulate but God blesses their study and efforts as those they teach learn and are blessed.

We are often teaching when we have no idea we are doing it. My friend Patsy would probably tell you that she isn't a teacher. She can sub in a children's class but wouldn't want to teach my ladies class. She's a hard worker with hands-on, background things at church. She has to be one of the most thoughtful women I know, tender in heart and spirit. She brought me a basket the other day that contained six wrapped gifts and a card. She knew I was going to be going through six chemo treatments for six weeks. She said I could open one gift after each chemo process. The first gift was a lovely candle and she had attached to it a Bible verse:

Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD,
and whose hope the LORD is.
Jeremiah 17:7

In all my reading of Scripture, I don't know how many times I may have read that verse, but on that day, that verse lived anew for me. I saw that with everything going on, I will be blessed as I trust and that my real hope the LORD is....not doctors, nurses or anyone else. I've been saying this verse over and over and it continues to bless, encourage and teach me. Patsy would tell you that she isn't a teacher. Oh really? I've usually taught her in our ladies Bible study, but on that day and this week, she taught me some things by reminding me of God's blessings and hope in tough times.

Ezra is a part of our spiritual heritage, a spiritual relative. His example is for us to look at ...prepare, take in God's Word, obey it and pass it along however God has gifted us to do it.

Lord Jesus, what a wonderful Teacher You were while here on earth and You continue teaching us through Your Word. Thank You for every word and concept You shared for us that we might know You more fully and walk in obedience to You without hesitation. We love you...Amen