PURPOSE IN IT ALL

Who (our Lord) hath saved us,

and called us with a holy calling,

not according to our works, but

according to his own purpose

and grace, which was given us

in Christ Jesus before the

world began

II Timothy 1:9

They tell us in news reports today that suicides are at an all time high. Such events aren't limited to any particular status, race or culture. When one takes in hand a gun, knife or poison of some kind to take one's life, they would say there are no reasons to go on living. For them, all purpose for living seems to be gone.

The days were long and hard at the time. I'm not prone to depression, but I was there...full blown. I knew I wasn't where God wanted me to be. For six years I had lived and worked in a Christian Center in the middle of an inner city area. I was more than disappointed in myself. I wasn't all for the Lord I knew He wanted me to be and I knew I wanted to be. I felt at the time I had lost all sense of purpose being where I was. I had first gone there with stars in my eyes, that I was going to make a difference in lives. That was rather pompous on my part, forgetting that only God can do that. Bottom line was, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. God had patiently waited for me to wake up and join Him in fulfilling His purpose for my life. I soon left there and a remarkable new life opened up to me. In fact, within the year, I became Brian's wife.

We often think in terms of young people finding their spiritual way regarding God's plan and purpose for their lives. We have seen young people go forward at the end of a church service to rededicate their lives to God's will. We rejoice in those moments, but often feel that those moments are reserved for the young only.

What makes us think that even in the aging process, God isn't quite as interested in our recognizing His purpose for our lives like when we were young. We may often step back and take the attitude, “What's done is done.” The above verse is for all ages. I've said in the past and probably more often than others want to hear that “Where there's a pulse, there's a purpose.”

Why are we still here “above ground?” It's because God isn't finished with us and still has purpose for every day He gives us. Our relationship with Him must be fresh and vibrant. That contributes to our being usable for God in ways we can't imagine. He wants our lives to count, to have meaning and to be spiritually contagious in the lives of others. No matter our ages, God still has purpose for each of us.

Dear Father, help us to stay focused on Your will and way for our being. Keep us close and usable for Your honor and glory. Help us to recognize value in being close to You, serving You where You have placed us. Thank You for giving us real purpose in living. In Jesus' precious name...Amen 

GOD HAS A PLAN

“For I know the plans I have for

you”, declares the Lord, “plans to

prosper you and not to harm you, plans

to give you hope and a future,

Then you will call upon me and come

and pray to me, and I will listen

to you. You will seek me and find

me when you seek me with all

your heart”.

Jeremiah 23 :11-13

What a wonderful cluster of verses that for many years have led, blessed and encouraged believers wherever the Bible is read. We live in a very troubled world and any problems we face individually go into that mix. Sometimes we are faced with terrible trauma that seems to come out of the blue. Other times we may face situations that are ongoing for long periods of time. Either way, we may feel our lives spinning out of control. It's in those times, we need to know that when we don't have a plan, God always does.

For a time, while feeling plan-less, we may desperately try to connive a plan or force something upon ourselves God would never approve of. In our effort to shuffle around, trying to make sense of things, we may feel we have the answer when we really don't. God shouldn't have to untangle the messes we make out of desperation, so He can then put His plan into effect. We also forget at times that we're not talking about just big plans, but God also takes care of those smaller ones. He is in charge of the entire direction of our lives

We often forget that God has a plan for each of us right where we are. I don't know how He can plan and handle each of us, but His work in our lives have been proven over and over. Without a close relationship with the Lord, it is easy to feel very alone in this world. Without a plan loneliness and distractions can easily come to live in us. We then wonder what's wrong...why God doesn't act.

When wondering why God doesn't seem to act, I've had to look in my spiritual mirror. I was saved, but not in right relationship with Him. Without a vital relationship with Him, I believe I can feel insecure, at wits end, no matter where I am. We have to be aware that God loves us, and has a plan for our lives. When others don't listen to us, God hears every cry from our hearts. He isn't a distant Father.

Our privilege is to be a child of the very God of the universe who loves us beyond a love we can never imagine. His plan for us includes every benefit for life we will ever need.

Dear Father, I may not know every detail of Your plan for my life, but I can trust that You always know what You're doing. Thank You for the security I have in Your love. Thank You Holy Spirit for Your every direction indicator in my life and for You, Jesus, for making it all possible through You're going to a cross for me. In Your precious name I pray....Amen

 

“IF ONLY”

And we know that all things

work together for good to them

that love God, to them who

are the called according to

His purpose.

Romans 8:28

The above verse has been thrown around and used conveniently in almost every circumstance of people's lives. Folks often use it on someone who is going through a very difficult time. It can be used in uncomfortable ways not intended by Paul or the Holy Spirit. I feel it should be used wisely and in love. Every phrase in the verse is important and builds right up to the very last few words. A key phrase in this verse, that is often left out when quoted, is the phrase “to them that love God.” That is crucial even in applying the verse to our own circumstances.

Corrie ten Boom is a hero of mine. I've read about everything she's written that I can get my hands on. She and her family suffered terribly during Hitler's reign in Word War II. One of his main goals was to rid the earth of all Jewish people. He hated and punished anyone who assisted Jewish people in escaping or in hiding them. Hiding Jews at risk is what the ten Boom family did until betrayed by a neighbor.

Her father died in just a matter of days after being arrested. Corrie and her sister spent time in a couple of concentration camps. They took their ministry for God with them ministering to ladies also in the camps as best they could. Corrie's sister died in just a matter of weeks before Corrie was released.

In all of her writings, one can see pithy statements that in themselves seem to preach sermons, often very convicting ones. This week, one of her statements crossed my computer screen. Corrie simply said, speaking of herself and past negative memories:

“I had to surrender my 'if only' to Jesus?”

It made me recall over the last year or so, the “if only” thoughts I have punished myself with..things that were and still are out of my control. Most of us have such thoughts as we look back. If we could go back, I'm not sure we would do anything differently. What's unique in her statement is the use of the word “surrender.” Surrendering has to do with our almost forcibly having to give something up we desperately want to hang onto. “What if”...it's nothing we can do anything about so for our spiritual health, we must hand those things over to Jesus and then simply walk away, leaving it all with Him. I can't do that on my own. Like other things, I have to have the strengthening of the Holy Spirit that enables me to just let go of whatever it is I don't need to hang onto. If we don't hand such over, it will just be another “if only” added to the rest that will nag us somewhere down the road.

Dear Father, You are in charge of my life and work all for my good and your glory. Help me to hang on to that promise no matter what comes into my life. Keep me from any “if onlys” Satan may bring to mind. I love You and rest in You. In Jesus' name...Amen

HOW DID I GET HERE?

O God, thou hast taught me

from my youth: and hitherto

have I declared thy wondrous

works.

Psalm 71:17

My Mother was talking to a lady friend from church on the phone. I was in first grade thereabouts so didn't really pay much attention. But then I heard a name mentioned...Nellie. Nellie Barker had been my first Sunday school teacher when I was about 4-5. We kids dearly loved Nellie. My Mother mentioned that Nellie hadn't been feeling well and then said, “You know Nellie is in her mid-sixties by now.” She said it in a very ominous way that scared me. I went into my room and remember laying on my bed crying. My Mother assured me when she heard my woe in the matter that Nellie wasn't about to die right then BUT that Nellie was a very old lady.

When I reached my mid-sixties, I remembered back to that day. Back then, being in one's sixties was considered old age. So I look at me now and wonder how I got to where I am so quickly. It's okay even though many women who are of age refuse to talk about it with honesty. Bottom line is, we are who/what we are, God has brought us a long way where we've had more opportunities to know and serve Him.

I have come to love Psalm 71, a Psalm with emphasis on old age. In it, I see phrases that say:

*let me never be put to confusion

*forsake me not when my strength faileth

*...when I am old and grayheaded...

Read this Psalm sometime and see all of the joy and blessing God has for us at this stage in our lives. The last three verses resound with the wonder of praise in these special days of life.....it ain't all bad, folks.

Thank You Father for bringing me to these special days of life. I want to serve You in special ways in this season of my life. I pray through Your strength and love that I will finish well. Ever in Jesus...Amen 

 

TIS THE SEASON

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now

for a season, if need be, ye are in

heaviness through manifold

temptations.

That the trial of your faith, being much

more precious than of gold that

perisheth, though it be tried with fire,

might be found unto praise and

honor and glory at the appearing

of Jesus Christ.

I Peter 1:6,7

Perhaps it was in first grade, I first learned about the seasons of the year. I knew there were hot months, cold ones, mild ones and the pretty ones where the leaves turned pretty colors. I had that many facts but hadn't put names on those supposed three month cycles. At my age, however, I have experienced those seasons many times over. Some of those seasons came my way while living at home, some while in college and many of them in the northern Chicago area (those winters were too miserable to even talk about).

Brian and I were married February 8 up north. There was no snow but it was certainly cold enough. We enjoyed taking a trip to Chattanooga, TN where it was milder for that time of year compared to what we were used to. Our three children were born during colder weather but no snow to keep us from getting to the hospital on time.

It's only been in my older years as I've looked back that although not official in any way, I have noticed there have been different season in my life that have nothing to do with the previously mentioned weather seasons. Most seasons I've lived through have often come and gone, some lasting longer or shorter periods of time.

Perhaps you have gone some of those same seasons that I have experienced, such as, seasons of:

school years, career, marriage, children, health issues, friendships, and even personal grieving (the most difficult being the loss of Brian in my life). Despite the season, think how dull life would be without changes. God's desire for us no matter the season is that we will come to know Him better and will grow in them. Even in nature, if there are no seasons, there would be no growth of anything. We are meant to grow and thrive in Him.

The answer for me (and I not always took advantage of it) was to go to God's Word and soak myself in those precious words from God to me. Psalms always comforted me and spoke to me in ways I needed. Taking our joys or sorrows to the Lord is a must no matter the season we find ourselves in at the present time. In it all, God is God and is always faithful no matter where we find ourselves.

Father, You have been with me in it all and I'm so grateful. In it all, I've come to love and trust You more. Thank You for being my all, no matter the season of my life. In Jesus name...Amen

 

SLOW DOWN

The thoughts of the diligent

tend only to plenteousness;

but of everyone that is hasty

only to want.

Proverbs 21:5

Lunch was refreshing with two of my dear friends. The two friends had come in the same car and I met them at a favorite place to eat. I parked my car in a handicapped space in the end and near the restaurant. I could easily back out from there and be on my way home when the time came...or so I thought.

In the car, I put on my seat belt and checked my screen that indicates safety in backing out or in someone walking behind the car. I put the car in gear and very slowly began to edge out into the lane. Suddenly, I heard/felt a slight little thump on the back of the car. I had looked in that little screen and there was nothing to be concerned about so what on earth was going on.

As I looked back, a white van had stopped behind me. I put my car in gear and got out of the car. I came face to face with a very sweet young woman who said her daughter was in the van. The lady had got onto the parking lot, in a hurry to get to the drive up window to get lunch. She said something very strange. She said, “I saw you slowly backing out but I thought I could beat you.” She was in a hurry. There was no damage to her back fender. I had a little more damage that will need attention when I get around to it. It's not really all that noticeable but Brian would want it fixed.

Why do we get so much in a hurry these days. One of the most dangerous places we can be these days is on an expressway. Everyone is in a hurry to get somewhere. Even where I live with tourists coming to enjoy the mountains, there are folks in their cars who don't like slowing down even when on vacation. We even have computers that give us information almost immediately. Standing in a line at a grocery store is also a somewhat dangerous place to be.

I'm afraid there are times when we are too hasty when it comes to important things. Folks don't visit anymore like I remember when younger. Folks would go sit on a neighbors front porch swing and they would chat until the street lights came on. I walked most places I went even through high school. I left for wherever in plenty of time to walk there. Even in our Christian walk, we often find ourselves having to do some things in haste. I've heard ladies say how they have hurried through their Bible reading. Some folks may carefully look to their watches when a pastor preaches his heart out hoping he won't run overtime. Why...What's the hurry?

Time and it's moments can't be retrieved. We need not count down minutes for going nowhere to speak of. We need not rush. Why feel we have to race to get ahead of someone just for a sandwich at a drive through window. Life is too short to always be rushing. The roses are still very much worth smelling in a casual moment. SLOW DOWN!

Father, you are so patient with us. You don't rush us but tenderly tend to us no matter what is going on. Help us to enjoy every minute You give us in living life. In Jesus' name...Amen

I CAN

Philippians 4:13

ll of us have at one time or another spoken the two words above. Perhaps we've been asked what, when or how we can accommodate another person's cry for help or who perhaps just needed a favor done. Please stick with me on this.

I CAN...

Most of us would consider ourselves to be pretty capable and even self sufficient. At my age, I know there are a lot of things I am able to do for family, friends or myself. Such abilities have come through education or through the hard knocks of life itself. We're never totally self reliant but we like to think we are.

DO ALL THINGS...

The danger of putting literal stock in the first two parts of a verse is that we really can't do all things. I appreciate someone's desire to do all things for folks they can do, but there are limits how far each of us can go. For instance, although I have very capable and knowledgeable acquaintances, I can't think of a one I would want do perform brain surgery on me. I know I'm not bound for mars nor will I ever be asked to be president of an Ivy League university. However, I CAN DO with efficientcy what God has called me and equipt me to do. By the way, we can do much more than we think.

THROUGH CHRIST...

Now we get to some nitty-gritty in that there really is nothing we can do of any sufficiency without the strengthening of Christ in our lives. There's so much more I desire to know about Jesus. I know I haven't even scratched the surface of even the basic knowledge that is available to me about Him. Our faith would increase in abundance if we knew Him beyond the usual Sunday school stories we heard as children. Have we progressed beyond those days in really knowing more about Jesus?

WHO STRENGTHENETH ME...

Any other strengthening we seek on our own, will only be fleeting. We'll never know on this earth the strength and power available to us through Jesus Christ, not just forvarious tasks but also in the serious ups and downs of life. In these days of my life, I've come to know more and more when any strength I have is not of my own making but can only be from God himself. I have no strength in myself to keep me going. THUS...

I can do all things, through Christ

which strengtheneth me.

I praise You, my Father for not just past days but for every moment I am the benefit of Your strength. I know I can count on Your continued love because You are love. Thank You for all You are in my life even in this moment. Thank You Jesus for all You have sacrificed for me. In Your name I pray...Amen

WALK ON

He hath shown thee, O man,

what is good; and what doth the

Lord require of thee, but to do

justly, and to love mercy, and to

walk humbly with thy God?

Micah 6:8

While sitting in my chair and just moments ago, my eyes dropped to my right hand where I see Brian's wedding ring on one of my fingers. I have worn it since the night he went to Heaven. I was just recalling, while during our wedding ceremony, I tried to put the ring on his finger, but it wouldn't go on because his finger had swollen. He didn't struggle with it for public sake, but just held his thumb to the back of it to hold it on until we got down the aisle.

We didn't leave the altar as some might. We had a male soloist sing the song, “You'll never walk alone.” He sang that as we stood facing each other holding our hands together. I'll never forget how Brian looked in those moments. We left to slowly walk down the aisle as the soloist got to the words “Walk on, walk on with hope in your heart and you'll never walk alone.” For some naive reason, I thought our walk would last much longer than it did.

We all have our own private walk in this life. We may be surrounded by spouses, children, friends and even perhaps some enemies but we're still walking. Our walks might be filled with joy, happiness, and anticipations of future bliss. Perhaps we have found in this walk of ours that there are stones in our path, tree roots and small gullies any of which could cause broken legs or even broken hearts. There are those who add joy, love and maybe some humor as we walk, but the opposite can be true as well. That's just life.

Considering this walk of ours, Scripture is pretty clear as we read the above verse regarding God's expectations as we walk this walk of ours. He has shown us and made clear in His Word all he considers to be good. He especially tells us to be people who are just and who love mercy. In our day, both can be a challenge, but not for Him as He walks with us. The big thing is at the end of the verse, where we are expected to walk humbly with our God. That means that you and I are to relinquish the top shelves of our lives to our Father who is the only one worthy to be there, whether in our lives as individuals or in the lives of others the world over.

You and I are to walk on...with hope in our hearts...knowing we will never walk alone. Our loving Father walks in step beside us and also finds ways to even walk ahead of us while beside us. Don't ask me how He does it...I just know from experience that it's how He is. So let's keep walking... with hope in our hearts, a hope that only our Father can give to us.

Thank You Father for human memories that warm our hearts. We also are reminded of the sweet memories we have of You walking us through our days. May we please You by putting others first, serving and loving as we've learned through Jesus' example...in Whose precious name we pray...Amen

 

SWEET SMELLERS

Now thanks be to God who always

leads us in triumph in Christ, and

through us diffuses the fragrance

of His knowledge in every place,

For we are to God the fragrance

of Christ among those who are being

saved and among those who are

perishing.

II Corinthians 2:14:15

My daughter and I were talking the other day about perfumes and how there seems to be a kabosh on wearing such, especially in church...classes, choirs, Bible study groups, etc. It used to not be that way. Ladies loved smelling good although some at times went a little overboard with the splashing-on process.

Scripture tells us that as we triumph in Christ, we take on a special fragrance that can only come from Him. This isn't a fragrance we can purchase at some perfume counter but one only that comes from a deep relationship with Him. That fragrance comes in the form of His knowledge and has influence on those being saved and even on those who are not.

Mrs. Clifton was our babysitter when I was working on a church staff. She cared for both of our girls five days a week. On Wednesday evening, she would bring them to church with her and would check them into the nursery. She had bathed the girls and dressed them up cute as could be. In the nursery, there was one noticeable thing and that was how the girls smelled. They smelled of Tabu perfume. She too had bathed and a routine of dressing adding touches of Tabu on the neck and wrists. My girls smelled of Tabu for at least a day and how could that have happened? My girls smelled of Mrs. Clifton because she had held them, cuddled them and had drawn them close to herself all the time from the perfume she was wearing.

I must hasten to add here, though, that we must avoid becoming a “stinkin' Christian.” I've known some who may backslide or just tend to take on the things of the world and not of Christ. Our goal should be to exude that sweet fragrance of Christ at all times. Those saved around us will be blessed and the unsaved just may be drawn to Christ, the sweetest aroma of all time.

Dear Father, thank You for holding us in the hollow of Your hand and for the privilege of being as close to You as possible. What a privilege...being Your child...Through Jesus, our Lord. Amen 

GOD IS ALREADY THERE

And the LORD, he it is that doth

go before thee; he will be with thee,

he will not fail thee, neither forsake

thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Deuteronomy 31:8

Let me say on the onset, that I'm well aware that Moses was the recipient of the promises in this verse to be passed along to God's people. I grow a little weary of folks complaining about how others take Old Testament statements out of context. Let me say this, there is nothing wrong with referring to the above verse simply because it deals with God's character. What we see in that verse is who God is from eternity through the present on into eternity. I love any verse that speaks of God's character that is applicable to any place, any time.

Sooooo...I wonder in our lives, how many times, God knowing our every minute of life, has gone ahead of us to prepare things for when we arrived at the planned destination.We are usually surprised to find that God has already been there knowing everything about everything.

About four months before Brian's Home going, we were at the Billy Graham Cove for a seminar. At the end, when folks were busying themselves to leave, a woman approached me and put in my lap, a beautiful quilt. Brian had gone around the corner to get me something to drink for our trip so wasn't right there yet. The lady explained that she sews quilts as a ministry often making one a day. This one was almost the size of a twin bed with no overhang. . She dearly loved how God led her to one she should give a quilt to. I sat stunned with the lovely quilt in my lap. She didn't want to give me her address, as thanks from God would be enough.

Little did she know, nor I, that in about four months, I would wrap myself up in that quilt any number of times to just feel the love of it. Brian was a hugger and I missed those hugs. I hadn't made much use of that quilt until those days of Brian's Home going and even now to feel hugs of love that quilt gives is so comforting. That lady probably wasn't a teacher or leader of note, but now, these months later, the Lord knew from that moment she put that quilt in my lap that I would need and appreciate it.

My personalized car license plate hadn't arrived in time for the expiration of my present one. I was so concerned but went to purchase another one at the county court house. The lady who was waiting on me, went to get me a plate to do until my other one arrived. She came back with a strange look on her face. My personalized plate had arrived just a half hour of my arrival. How could such a thing happen? It would seem I had a Divine appointment with a license plate. I would still have gotten the plate but it was God who knew the time and place that both were all His doing. I left that building in awe, knowing God had already been there ahead of me. He often does these things in all our lives and we may chalk such times up to coincidence. With God, there is no such thing.

Dear Father...You overwhelm me with Your love and care for me and in the lives of my friends as well. May we be quick to see Your working in our today's as well as our tomorrows. I praise You and give You all the glory in it all. In Jesus' precious name...Amen