How Thirsty Are You?

O God, thou art my God;

early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee,

my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty

land, where no water is;

Psalm 63:1

The church bulletin needed to be done, so along with the materials I had typed at home, I went to the church work room to get the job done. However, I also had another task in mind that needed done while our ancient copier coughed out the bulletin for Sunday. (I would venture to think that you probably didn't know that Noah had a xerox copier on the ark. I think we inherited it after it being passed down through the years.) Determined to clean out a cabinet, I went armed with my broom and dust pan ready for the task. It didn't take long but thanks to the dust flying, I thought I would die of thirst. That's always an exaggeration when someone says something like that, but I know what they mean.

 

Sometimes my physical thirst has been mandated. If the doctor orders I have lab work done, I'm usually told not to eat or drink anything after midnight. I ordinarily wouldn't drink or eat anything after midnight, but just knowing I'm not supposed to causes me to stir during the night with a desire for a drink of water. It's the same if one is going to have surgery. When I go hiking on a mountain trail, there have been times I left my bottle of water in the car and it's then I notice my strong thirst for a good drink of water.

There are folks or other creatures in the Bible who have gone through times of physical thirst.  God's people in the wilderness ran out of water and didn't see any prospect of finding any. God chose to provide water for them from a rock. In Psalms, we find a hart (deer) panting for the water brooks. In fact, David spoke of his personal thirst for God in the Psalms. Jesus is seen in Scripture on at least two occasions thirsting. He met a Samaritan woman by a well and asked for a drink of water from her. From the cross, Jesus cried, “I thirst,” that was a heart wrenching cry that just added to the agony of the hour.

I have been so blessed as I have looked at verses from Scripture that have to do with having a thirst for the spiritual. If we are honest, our thirst for God can ebb and flow but that's not what He intends. When Brian and I were engaged, I really wanted to see him more often during the week than I could, but because of distance, we saw each other only two or three times a week. I guess I could say that I really thirsted for time with him. God wants the same from us, a thirst for Him and He isn't satisfied with two or three times a week nor should we be.

“Soak” in some of the following verses with me as we evaluate where we are in our thirst for God and His Word. We are never meant to be “dry-as-dust” Christians so join me in a spiritual “look-see.”

John 7:37---In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.

Matthew 5:6---Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Psalm 42:1,2---As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

John 4:14---But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Isaiah 55:1a---Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters...

Revelation 7:16,17---They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

There are so many things in our day that can rob us of our thirst for God. Those things may not always be negative such as health problems, financial difficulties, family problems or psychological conditions. We can be just as distracted by positive things like social activities, hobbies, TV, travel, computer activities and any other such things that seem to demand our attention because they are necessary or fun. In it all, God can be so easily squeezed out.

When we feel a nagging spiritual thirst, it means checking our spiritual routine and what's been missing that would create that spiritual thirst in us. What have we neglected in our spiritual routine....time in the Word, seasons of prayer, faithfulness in church attendance and service and being the witnesses we are supposed to be. Let me add here that an overabundance of church activity will not quench spiritual thirst. Too many of those activities can serve only to wear us down if doing too much or if not doing what we do in God's strength.

There are times when my spiritual routine may be what I want it to be, not that I can't improve. I may be having a time of sweet fellowship with the Lord, but I have a thirst for even more of Him in my life. He loves to fill me with that Living Water that is refreshing, soothing and strengthening.

May we never be found dehydrated when it comes to the things of God, especially when He stands ready to fill us up with that Living Water that is always available to a thirsty follower.

 

                                              Fill my cup, Lord...I lift it up, Lord!

Come and quench this thirsting of my soul,

Bread of Heaven, feed me til I want no more--

Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole!

One Woman's Servant Spirit

Let this mind be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:...

But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form

of a servant...

Philippians 2:5,7

I made up my mind prior to our move here to Tennessee almost two years ago, to make only two or three really close friends. I love everyone in our church and feel closer to some than others. I grew to dearly love our pastor's wife Brenda and then Jody came into my life. Diane and Lowell were two people I couldn't get away from, not that I wanted to. They took Brian and me under wing from our first day at church. Both of them had grown up in this area, and were married 47 years. A friend told me Diane was a cheerleader in high school here in Townsend and that came as no shock to me. Even now, she was always bubbly with an almost constant smile that could light up the church auditorium. Physically, she was short but stood head and shoulders above so many others when it came to heart.

When I write a blog, I don't like getting personal, spending time on one individual, but in this case, it's just different. Diane went to Heaven this last Saturday morning. It was so very sudden...an aneurism in the brain. For all I know, this ball of energy and enthusiasm had no major physical problems. It was so quick...so sudden...and from a human standpoint, so devastating. She and her hubby had gone to Georgia to finish up some work on a house there. Lowell returned home...alone.

We started our ladies Bible study last week. On the Sunday before, Diane told me to be sure to save her the materials from that first session so she could stay caught up and that she would probably be back for this weeks session. Diane dearly loved the Bible study group but that came as a result of her love for God's Word that she faithfully taught to children in Sunday school and the Wednesday evening children's program. When we finished one Bible study series, she would ask a day or two later, “When do we start the next study?” She loved the learning and teaching process that came because of her love for the Lord.

I don't believe we are to put people up on pedestals. It can be a very long fall from the top of one of those things. However, I do believe we are to learn from other seasoned Christians who have a testimony that is proven. The Bible tells us that younger women are to learn from older ones. In this case, the older woman (me) learned much from the younger (Diane) in this brief time we had together.

Proverbs 10:7a says: “The memory of the righteous is blessed...” If you were to look in my one Bible in particular, you would see a list in the margin next to that verse. There you would see listed 18 names, names of women who have gone on to Heaven, women I have loved, admired and learned from.

Grace encouraged me to write. She saw some small smearings of ability, I guess, in that area of my life.

Carolyn taught me what it was to be godly and a business professional all in one.

From Doris, I learned something about the sweetness of a meek and quiet spirit.

I could mention others on that list but won't; however....

today, I added Diane to that list.

I don't believe in living in the past. However, I don't mind revisiting this list. There should be a gratitude in all of us for those who have gone before us, who have taught us so much and who have contributed through their godly influence to whatever positive qualities there might be in us.

When thinking of Diane and her influence on me (and I'm sure others), one word popped into my mind right away....SERVANT. Many women in churches want to do the convenient and attractive things. A genuine servant doesn't mind cleaning the church bathrooms even when no one knows they are doing it. They are willing to jump in and do the unlovely that no one else wants to do. They are encouragers in the toughest of times.

When I had my bad fall in October into the church basement, I was taken right away to the emergency room. Pretty quickly I was taken to have an MRI done to check my head and neck. When wheeled back to my “cubicle” in the ER, there she stood...Diane. I was a bloody mess (pardon being graphic). She stood at my right side, holding my hand, helping the nurse clean me up, and patting my arm wherever she could find a place on it that wasn't torn up. Diane always had a smile, quick sense of humor and she was so loving and comforting that it can't be described. When I look back to that horrible day and evening, I think of Diane, one of God's servants willing to do the unlovely but it seemed to come as natural to her as breathing.  That evening, she was “Jesus with skin on.”

Every church dinner, of which we have many, found Diane in the kitchen. She could be found organizing the food tables, serving, doing the dishes and cleaning up the mess. Diane was my substitute pianist. It wasn't something she relished doing. She kept telling me that playing for a service wasn't her forte but she was willing to do that for me on the one Sunday I had to be away. With many emergencies that occurred in our church, Diane would be there or call to check on folks.

I love Philippians 2:5-8 as I view those verses as being about the clearest photograph in words about Jesus that we can find in Scripture. If we are to be like Jesus and having His mind, being a servant is going to be a part of that process. Among other things, the very Son of God came among us to serve. That has always been amazing to me...from Heaven to earth, to serve. Diane isn't the only servant I've come across in my lifetime. I am blessed to find myself in the presence of others right now. One of the highest honors we can receive is to bear the title of servant. Servants are servants because they love Jesus and because they want to be more like Him with every day. Diane never wanted attention for herself. Anything she did was for God's glory.

So, my thanks to Diane for the lessons she taught me when she didn't even know I was looking. There are women watching you and me all the time when we aren't aware of it.

I'm just one person who has learned and benefited from this dear servant of God. May her influence be multiplied many times over in those of us who remain.

Thank you Father for the influence of godly people in our lives. Thank you that they were teachable and that through their learning, I have benefited. I keep my eyes fixed on You knowing You are the ultimate Teacher. Thank you for Jesus...the ultimate Servant. Help me to have His mind. Amen.

The Blessing of Distractions

But Jesus called them unto him, and

said, Suffer little children to come unto

me, and forbid them not: for of such

is the kingdom of God.

Luke 18:16

Most people don't like distractions, but they are all around us and take a variety of shapes and sizes. Most distractions that come our way look like people...that's because they are people. These people don't mean to cause any confusion and may not mean to distract. They just want our undivided attention no matter what they see us doing.

There are several distractions that really bother me a great deal, such as...

• Phone rings while I'm trying to complete a project.
• Someone wants to talk when I'm watching a really good TV program.
• When someone sees me reading a book, they may want to tell me the how the story ends.
• Someone interrupts me when I'm teaching a Sunday school lesson.
• Out with hubby, driving in the mountains and we have car trouble.
• An animal runs out in front of my moving car. Fortunately I've never hit an animal.
  

 

We all know there are distractions but what is a distraction. A distraction is something that draws ones attention from an object of focus. A distraction is a bump in the road or a burp in the course of life but always untimely.

We read of any number of distractions in Scripture. People we read about there were not immune from them. Since the beginning of Genesis all the way through Revelation, there have been distractions.

• Eve had what turned out to be an unwelcome visitor in the Garden of Eden.
• Moses was tending sheep and suddenly a bush caught on fire.
• David went out on his balcony to catch a breath of fresh air and came across a real distraction on a nearby balcony in the form of a beautiful woman bathing.
• Daniel was praying at a window and was arrested.
• Saul was headed to Damascus where he hoped to round up a bunch of Christians to persecute when a bright light distracted him and he was never again the same. On that day, he even underwent a name change and became known as Paul.
• Peter was up on a roof and a dream distracted him...a dream of a huge sheet with all types of animals on it. 
  

 

Think of all the distractions Jesus faced:

• Little children ran to him, climbing on Him because they were drawn to Him.
• He was asleep in a boat that was tossing and turning in a horrible storm and the frightened disciples woke Him up.
• Four friends lowered a disabled friend down through a hole in the ceiling of a house where Jesus was teaching, hoping their friend could be healed. (When was the last time someone made a hole in your roof and lowered a stretcher down through it?)
• When a 12 year old boy, Jesus remained behind with the priests in the temple talking with them when His parents interrupted the learning time.
• The Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees were always interrupting Jesus' teaching.
  

 

We've all been there and I'm afraid I have usually regarded distractions as negative events. Distractions for the most part aren't intentional. People just feel they need an answer or just need the attention of someone. We all tried to teach our children to not talk when grownups are talking. We've asked them to not talk to us while we were on the telephone. So, we've concluded that distractions are necessary evils in the course of life but what do we do with them.

 

Several years ago, a dear friend taught me about a spiritual practice of hers. She said that when she first wakes up in the morning, one of her first prayers is asking the Lord to allow only those people He chooses to cross her path that day. She includes in that, any event...the usual or the unusual. She said that as a result, when something negative in nature comes her way, she automatically regards it as something from the Lord. She views people in the same light.

 

Distractions in the form of people probably reveal a need of some sort. That person may need ministered to in some way, so God may interrupt our day with an opportunity to serve Him and help another person. We would probably be less irritated if we could view distractions as opportunities in disguise, as opportunities for service or to get our minds refocused where they should be.

 

Interruptions are distractions, but whether we speak of interruptions or distractions, I have to wonder how many of them have been Divine Appointments that I have missed, but that God intended me to handle in those moments. Sometimes it would be hard to tell the difference. If my day has been dedicated to God, I feel I should think in positive ways more than negative ones with regard to the various people or things that appear in my life in the course of my day. 

 

I wish we could realize that we are on this earth to be servants and ministers...God's representatives...Jesus with skin on. Whether saved or unsaved, there are people who need us. They need our encouragement, advice, help in any number of ways and yes, definitely need our prayers and at times, even our tears. I'm not saying that we should ignore our daily responsibilities. That would not honor Him. There have been times when I've taken on too much that in many cases, I wasn't meant to get involved in. The Holy Spirit will guide and direct what He wants us to do and when He wants us to do it. I get on overload when I haven't asked the Lord to direct my day. God knows what you and I can reasonably handle and be effective. Bathing our day in prayer will always be helpful and meaningful. When viewed from God's perspective, no distraction or interruption should be considered a “whoops” in our day. God NEVER says “Whoops” nor should we as we walk through our day, whether we be interrupted or distracted.

Dear Father...I give this day to you. Whatever it is...a phone call, someone dropping by the house, an accident or the electricity going off...may I regard the events of my day to be under your control. Holy Spirit, guide me...I give my day to you knowing that under Your leadership, I will consider any person or event a Divine Appointment. May I stay in close communication with You. I love you.....Amen

You're Invited to a Party

Woe is me, for I am undone....

Isaiah 6:5

Join me. I don't give or attend these parties very often but they come my way, usually because of my own doing. Many times, this kind of party becomes a very private one, with me the only one in attendance. Here's a sample invitation:

You Are Invited

to a

Pity Party

Where: Anywhere you happen to be.

   When:  Anytime....anywhere

                                      Date: Most any day, week or month of the year

                                                 Bring: Large box of Kleenex

                  No RSVP necessary...in fact, you can have your very own pity party!

What is pity? It is usually a sympathy and sorrow aroused by the misfortune or suffering of another person. That can be a healthy thing to feel for others. However when that pity turns inward becoming self pity, it can be toxic. Self pity is a horrible thing to endure even for a moment. It is the highest form of pride because one's mind rests only on self and what that inner self is feeling and suffering. When not put in check, one can take on the mentality of a victim and when at that point, is very difficult to work through, although with God, nothing is impossible.
 

What are some things that may cause this negative introspection in us. Causes can run the gamut from A to Z. And those things won't necessarily be the same for every person. Some of those things can usually fall into one category....loss (job, loved one, romantic relationship, etc.). Other things may involve financial difficulties, disappointment of some kind (and this can be a biggie) and even misunderstandings. I know the negative things that push buttons in my life so I try to be aware of the onset of those things so I can get a grip on them before they get a grip on me.
 

Job had a good life. He was a wealthy man and well respected. He had a wonderful family. Job was so dedicated, he arose every morning presenting sacrifices for his children just in case they had cursed God. This put him in the position of being the priest of his family. His life was very blessed with money and livestock...life was good. Satan didn't have any admiration for Job and with God's permission, put Job through the testing of a lifetime. For the most part, Job ended up losing everything. His children were killed, but his wife lived. After he lost his health, even his wife suggested that he curse God and die...talk about support.
 

We read through the book of Job and see with no thanks to his friends, he ended up in the pit of despair. He got to the point of even regretting that he had been born. Been there? I have known women who have been there. Some have rebounded from their feelings but some seem to wallow in the despair for months and perhaps years. 
 

What is the opposite of self pity?.....gratefulness. Sounds odd doesn't it. When in the pit of despair, it doesn't seem the time to be grateful. Gratitude takes ones mind off of self and onto others or focuses us on the good things that God has done for us. It takes practice but it works.
 

Even when we don't feel like it, we can force ourselves to think on the things God has given us. Keep counting and perhaps even list those things on a piece of paper...keep going...think. This will be a very difficult thing to do but it's the best shovel we can find that digs us out of that abyss of self pity. Listed are some things for a start:
 

Personal salvation

Life itself

Good health

God's grace

Family

Income

Food to eat

Holy Spirit

Own copy of God's word

Freedom to worship

Living in a free country

God's provision

Transportation to take you where you want to go

Nice weather

Clothes to wear

God's love
 

Feel better yet? Well there are more things to add to that list. Even some of those things listed above may not be the most ideal in your life, but there are those that do. Staying in Scripture is a huge help for me. I have those Scriptures marked that I can go to immediately when those tough times begin to set in. We can cry on every shoulder we can find in these times of self-pity but the only shoulder we should run to is our Lords. He tells us, “Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” That's an open ended offer from the One who is the only One who can give us a complete, long-lasting time of rest. Forget the pity party...His offer is the best thing we could ever take advantage of.

For pity sakes, cancel that party, put that Kleenex box back on the shelf and walk in a spirit of gratitude.

Dear Father...Times of pity seem to sneak up on us so quickly but can hang around for the longest time. Help me to run to Jesus first thing and to trust you in my every circumstance. I

Feel-Good Medicine

A merry heart doeth good like

a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Proverbs 17:22

I remember the first time I took medicine that our doctor gave to my mother. I was really a little kid at the time. I had a sore throat and he put the small pills in a little white envelope. Dr. Harsha had a huge glass front cabinet with all sorts of bottles in it. Some bottles had pills in them and some had liquid in them. He told me to take the pills one at a time when my mother knew to give them to me. I had never swallowed a pill before. I think we ruined one in the teaching/learning process. My grandmother finally suggested to my mother to put the small white tablet in a spoon full of jelly. I ate most of the jelly and was left with a pill in my mouth, but the jelly thing finally worked.

Through the years, we've all taken medications at one time or another and we know the importance medications are to physical health. The verse above gives us a different kind of medicine though that we might never have heard of... that's the medicine of a merry heart. It isn't clear in this verse, but I believe a merry heart can have two sources. The first source would be someone we come in contact with who has a merry heart and their merriment is contagious. This is the person who can quickly cheer one up who is not well. She has a good heart which aids in her being an encourager. Whether physically ill or just down in the dumps, this is a person who can seem to make you feel better just by being around her.

I have also been around ladies who have gone through the toughest of situations. I'm thinking of a couple of friends with terminal cancer who had the merriest of hearts. Just being around them even in their final days, I saw them with a sincere smile and were still quick with little humorous quips that could cheer a visitor. I've had friends who have gone through some of the toughest situations life has to offer but who keep a cheerful and merry spirit. For them, it isn't pretense or acting...it's just who they are. These Christian friends of mine have found their joy not in the prognosis of a doctor, in medications or in the support of caregivers. They have found their merriment in their faith in Jesus Christ.

The other source of a merry heart is that heart that is within us. Jesus is the source of our personal joy and merriment. We should remember that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” We won't always have encouraging people around us. The greatest encouragement is from our Lord.

Please note that the verse says that a merry heart is LIKE a medicine. It doesn't say that a merry heart is THE medicine but that it can have a similar effect as a dose of medication given by a doctor.

The broken spirit spoken of is another thing. One thing we don't consider when ill whether physical or emotional is that our bones can be drastically affected. When anyone goes a long period of time with a broken spirit there are at least three things that can be affected:

• nerves in the body are weakened
• bone marrow tends to dry, and
• the human skeleton can be weakened
  

The adult body has 206 bones. They form the frame of the body as well as protecting the organs of the body. One of the most important jobs of the bones is to make blood...our red and white blood cells that are created in the marrow of our bones. White blood cells fight infections. White cells is where platelets are made that causes our blood to clot...a most important function. Red ones are made mostly in the flat bones of the body. The red cells carry oxygen through blood vessels and removes waste.

There's more that could be said about the bones but they don't just hold us up. They play a vital role in the chemical functions of the body.

Now, back to our verse. It states that a broken spirit dries the bones. When we are depressed, in the “pit” of life, hurt and all of those other things that cause us great distress, a broken spirit can result and the overall health of our bodies is being affected.

“But you don't know how bad my situation is,” you might say. No I don't, but God does and He is the only One who can mend a broken spirit. Anything we try to do to mend a broken spirit in ourselves is only a temporary fix, a band-aid on the wound. The answer lies in our reliance on our Lord, the healer of broken spirits and broken hearts.

There are two things at play in our verse that keep us healthy in mind and body...a merry, rejoicing, happy spirit that could cancel out the broken spirit. I know this all sounds too simple and I don't mean for it to sound like that. This is a heavy thing to tackle in our own spirits and body but God Himself knows us well. “For he knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust.” Psalm 103:14 He can empower us to be over comers and victorious in the worst of our days. He has provided for our being healthy in every way. He knows the importance of our being spiritually healthy that will contribute to our physical health as well.

Know ye that the LORD, He is God: it is He

that hath made us, and not we ourselves...

Psalm 100: 3

Have you noticed as I have how much we are reliant on our God for absolutely everything that even includes every breath we breathe, tear we shed, or beat of our hearts; and He is interested in it all. He is to be praised for all He does for and in us. Come to think of it, that process of praise will do much in bringing about more of a merry heart within us than we can imagine. May it be so.

Dear Father, You are so wise and all-knowing. If we would follow the principles of Your Word, we would be so much better off, and thus be happier and merrier of spirit. Heal our brokenness as only You can. We love you......Amen.

Don't Fence Me In

Oh, give me land lots of land under starry skies above.

Don't fence me in.

Let me ride thru the wide-open country that I love.

Don't fence me in.

Let me be by myself in the evening breeze,

Listen to the murmur of the cottonwood trees

Send me off forever, but I ask you please,

Don't fence me in.

...Cole Porter

I used to hear Roy Rogers sing this song when I went to the Saturday afternoon cowboy movies at the State Theater in our town. I dearly loved this song. After all, I wanted to be a cowgirl when I grew up...along with being an Indian princess or a missionary to Africa. One reason I liked the song was that it was so picturesque. I could just see myself riding along on my horse (that I didn't have and would never have), riding over my imaginary prairie. The biggest hill on my imaginary prairie was in Mrs. Britton's back yard and it was only a hump of dirt.

Fast forward several years when my husband, children and I were going to be moving to the state of Texas. We moved from the northern part of the country to the Dallas, TX area. Garland, Texas beckoned to us and we were all excited about the move. Brian had a new job that was exciting and challenging, the children would be in a new Christian school, I would have the fun of settling the family in to a new area and really what seemed to be a very new culture.

We had a small, but new house built that put us in close proximity to the church we attended. I picked wall paper, tile, carpet color and the other things that have to be selected for a new house. Then I was asked a strange question and I believe Brian was there at the time. The contractor asked, “Do you want a fence?” Brian and I looked at each other before answering. Up north some people had fences but in most cases they were short, chain link fences mostly for the purpose of keeping pets in check. We had noticed in Garland that most houses had 6-8 foot wooden plank fences. I asked the contractor why we needed a fence. He was puzzled as if he had never given my question a thought. He then said that a fence would keep neighbors out of our swimming pool. Well, we didn't have a pool. He said it would provide privacy for us and a fence would keep out undesirables. I could understand the pool thing if we had a pool but to me a fence could protect thieves who might try to break in our back door and a fence would keep others from detecting what was going on. Well, in the end, we said no to the fence.

A few years later, we built another house out of need for more room. We went through the fence thing again. By now, my mind had gone back to my Roy Rogers song. Here we were in Texas with lots of land (not ours personally but Texas was BIG) and starry skies above and every contractor was wanting to fence me in. Our two houses had no fences. We refused to have them. One of the big things that became noticeable was that our backyards became the gathering places for neighborhood children. We had everything going....kick ball, soccer, cheerleader activity and general children fun play. They couldn't have all of that fun activity in anyone elses yard because of fences, pieces of wood, joined together that said, “Stay out.”

Fences serve two purposes as I see them. They keep out what you don't want in and they keep in what you don't want out. I'm not saying people shouldn't have fences. We had another house with one, but it was just our personal choice for appropriate reasons at the time.

I'm not as concerned about wooden fences that we might have constructed for whatever reasons. I'm thinking about the fences I have put up in time past to keep people out of my life. The slats on those fences to keep people out were made up of indifference, prejudice, apathy, laziness, pride, and the list could go on and on. When that fence is up, I don't have to be friendly or helpful and can just live life all unto myself. From a spiritual standpoint, that's a fence that needs torn down. You see, when we create our own fences, it is impossible for us to be the witnesses for Christ we are supposed to be.

I think it was Robert Frost who wrote in The Mending Wall that “Good fences make good neighbors.” Perhaps that is so for some folks where well defined boundaries are needed. Those fences signify ownership which can be necessary at times. We live in hostile days. I believe a good majority of people in our country are angry, especially when looking at the political and economical conditions we are dealing with. As frustrated as we feel, we can't take those feelings out on others, others who might desperately need a smile or even a helping hand. Building fences for the wrong reasons will never solve a problem. We need a sense of community in our lives. Our self made invisible fences must come down piece by piece if we are to be a Godly influence. It's hard to reach out over an 8 foot fence, a 6 foot fence...or any fence. No one else can tear down the fence I might be hiding behind. Tearing that fence down must come in cooperation between me and the Lord. When that fence comes down, there will be more “land lots of land” for me to walk in freedom.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ

hath made us free, and be not entangled again

with the yoke of bondage.

Galatians 5:1

Father, I want to walk in spiritual freedom. I don't want there to be any barriers between You and me that I may have unknowingly built around myself. Help me to tear down any fences I have erected that would keep me away from knowing and serving others. I love you. Amen

Let It Snow!

Purge me with hyssop, and  I

shall be clean;

Wash me, and I shall be

whiter than snow.

Psalm 51:6

I'm not sure, but for the many who have grown up in areas accustomed to snow, I can't help but wonder if a good snow doesn't take us back to those bygone days of childhood. I think I was about six years old and received the biggest shock in my life up to that point. Overnight, we had a huge snowfall. We lived in a house with a nice front porch but at the time, there were about 10 steps leading up to the porch. My mother had bundled me up with the galoshes, heavy coat with matching leggings, gloves and warm hat. She said she was getting my sled out of the garage to take me on a ride. I waited fairly near the bottom step, anticipating my ride on my sled. Suddenly, my mother stepped out on the porch, bundled up as well with sled in hand. Suddenly, in a funny, but loud voice, she called, “Look out below.” Much to my amazement as I looked toward the porch, there was my mother laying on her stomach on MY sled and down she came on those ice-covered steps. After a safe landing, she rolled off the sled, sat up and just began to throw snow all around her like she was a young girl again. I was one shocked little girl and even at that age, I must admit that I looked around to make sure no neighbors witnessed this spectacle.

Snow can be such a hazard but it can also be a lot of fun. As I got older, we had a certain hill near our house that all of the kids in the neighborhood gathered at on those days when snow was packed several inches on that street. We rode down Kolesar hill like there was no tomorrow. Sometimes my Dad would pull my sister and me on our sleds behind his car. He would drive very slow around a couple of nearby blocks. If anyone saw a parent doing that today, he would be reported to Child Protective Services but it sure was fun.

Psalm 51 is such a classic Psalm written by David. Talk about someone who had everything going for him...God's chosen servant, king, wealth, anything he wanted at his finger tips. In a moment of weakness, all he had amassed just wasn't enough and he fell into sin with a neighbor woman. He should have been with his army that had already gone to battle but he chose to stay home. He was in the wrong place...wrong time...and it got him into trouble. We all know the story of David's fall into deep sin but God didn't give up on David.

This is a psalm of repentance. There is hardly a piece of literature like it anywhere. In, day, it is rare to see a person who in such a public way, repents of sin and as king, David's repentance was obvious not only to God but also to his people as well.

Have you ever thought how white snow is? For a long time, I didn't realize that there are so many shades of white. Walk into a bridal salon and walk through the racks where so many beautiful dresses are hanging. It's easy to notice all the shades of white that are available to a bride. I would like to suggest, however, that I don't believe there is a white color whiter than snow. Wake up in the morning to a fresh, fallen snow where no one has walked on it and there hasn't been time for anything to mar the surface. Then, let the sunshine peek through for a few minutes, sunbeams that dance on that perfect surface and it is totally blinding. With bright sun on that brilliant, white surface, the human eye can't tolerate to look at it.

I think to the transfiguration with Jesus on that mount where Moses and Elijah appeared with Him, the white light almost blinding. Remember Paul on the road to Damascus, blinded by the bright light of Jesus' presence. Sun on snow must be something like that.

Look at some of the phrases David wrote in Psalm 51 and I wonder if you and I have ever experienced a repentance as deep and sincere as Davids:

Have mercy upon me, O God v1

Wash me v2

Create in me a clean heart v10

Renew a right spirit within me v10

Cast me not away from Thy presence v11

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation v12

There are times we are so busy keeping track of the sins of others, that we don't do anything about our own sin. I had to ask myself when the last time was that I went before the Lord seeking forgiveness for my sin and renewal of my spirit. Sometimes when I seek God's forgiveness, I don't take total, personal responsibility for my offenses toward Him. After all, aren't there people who cause us to sin....or....the devil made me do it? David knew his sin was his own with no one to blame but self.

The verse I love in this chapter though is where David pleads for God's cleansing. Verse 7 says: “ ...wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”    Only God can wash us so that we are whiter than snow and David knew that.  I just can't remember anything whiter than a sun drenched yard covered with new fallen snow......that's WHITE. God wants me to be just that clean and free of sin.  This thing of confession and repentance I'm afraid isn't as much a part of my spiritual practice as it ought to be. My personal prayer for this day is:

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole,

I want Thee forever to ransom my soul;

Break down every idol, cast out every foe

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow;

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Forgive...Like It Or Not

In everything, therefore, treat people

the same way you want them to treat

you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:12

Through the years, no matter my job, I have found myself in a position of talking with a lot of ladies who mostly needed someone to listen to them vent their problems. It's amazing how many of those ladies were undergoing stress due to a long or short term unforgiving spirit. I have often walked away smiling after listening for an hour to just such a one. As we parted, such a lady would often say, “Thank you Glendarae...you always seem to know just what to say that makes me feel better.” In reality, I probably said very few words except to maybe pray with her before parting. I can't tell you how often I've found that what most of we women need in the worst of ways is to quit talking about the issue of forgiveness and decide to forgive and be done with it.

Peter and Jesus got into a discussion one day when Peter asked Jesus how often he should forgive a brother who it would seem had hurt Peter. Peter asked Jesus if he should forgive the culprit up to seven times. Jesus then threw Peter a curve ball. Jesus told Peter to forget the seven times but to forgive seventy times seven. Do you know how many times that is? 70X7=490 I don't know about you but if there is someone in my lives who deliberately wounds me over and over, 490 times of forgiving one person for causing so much hurt sounds like a lot of forgiving to me.

Remember Jacob and Esau in the Old Testament. Jacob with the help of his mom rooked Esau out of his rightful inheritance and blessing. Esau threatened to kill his brother. I don't think in our day, they could have found an unbiased jury that would have condemned Esau if he had killed Jacob. Jacob fled with family and belongings and for many years there was no contact between the brothers. The day did come when they were reconciled but prior to that it was Jacob, the culprit who made the move in this process. He didn't know if he and his family would live through it, but they did. Esau welcomed his brother with open arms in a spirit of forgiveness.

I should remind us of a phrase in Jesus' prayer He used to teach His disciples how to pray. It was never meant to be a prayer to be sung or recited even though there's nothing wrong with doing that. We find this prayer in two places...Matthew and Luke. In Matthew 6:12, we read: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” This is a phrase that causes me a great deal of introspection. I see that:

      * I am to pray to God to forgive me of my debts, trespasses and sin...
      * AS I have forgiven those who have offended or hurt me.

How does that level out? Who in that process is to forgive the most...me or God? Nope...as much as He forgives me, that's how much I am to forgive those who hurt me. I really don't like that, but I know that God knows what He's asking us to do. I have found in the middle of misunderstandings and hurt that the stronger Christian will make the first move to reconcile and that's very difficult. The part of this that is really of concern to me is how much of God's forgiveness has been mine that goes unclaimed when I haven't been willing to forgive.

I wish I could recall how many women have said to me something like this: “I won't forgive her until she apologizes to me. She's in the wrong and she owes me an apology.” That's a very human response but what was Jesus' response in the most difficult of circumstances? While hanging on the cross, one of His final statements was: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” When Jesus expressed that from the cross, we are not told of hundreds who could have gathered at the foot of the cross begging Jesus to forgive them for their wrong doings. He was forgiving people in general from generation to generation. Jesus' desire for all was that they might have God's unconditional forgiveness.

I don't know about you but I've never hung on a cross, let alone the rest of the torture Jesus endured beyond the cross. And yet, Jesus hanging on that cross prayed that God would forgive “them.” Theologians have argued for years who Jesus was talking about. Was it the soldiers who tortured him? Was it the soldiers who nailed Him to the cross? The Roman soldiers who were on crucifixion duty were specialists. It was their regular job...was it them? Was it His disciples who had “gotten outta Dodge?” Was it for everyone who had ever lived? Was it for all of those who were yet to come? I don't think it matters...He prayed for God's forgiveness of all that I believe included even you and me.

We are to pattern our lives after Jesus' life. It's a huge order but with Holy Spirit power (not in our own strength) we are to forgive, and forgive, and forgive on up to 490 times. By then, we'll be in the groove of forgiving, but forgiving when offended will never be easy.

What is our responsibility in all of this?

*Don't take on the attitude that we are never an offender because we are and we need to be sensitive to the feelings of others.

*When I know I've offended someone, I should apologize to that person whether that person will forgive me or not.

*Forgive when offended, no matter what case we've made against the offender.

*The offender won't always apologize. Realize there are times when the offender may not know she's offended you. Don't approach the offender with your hurt. Let the Lord do the convicting and we do the forgiving.

*Pray for the offender and be nice to her when you see her or talk to her.

*Rest in the freedom of spirit you can experience when you let go of it all, giving it to the Lord and walking away from it.

May I add a word of common sense here? If you come in and rob my house, you're caught and arrested. You go to trial and are convicted. I would hope I would forgive you but let me quickly add that the state and criminal justice system knows next to nothing about forgiveness. Their job is to see that criminals, like you would be at that point, sentenced and sent to prison. I've been talking about the everyday interactions with people in general and our spiritual responsibility in being women of forgiveness.

Last of all, let me suggest that we all learn to forgive ourselves. We've all messed up at one time or another. We've said the wrong thing, done the wrong things...sometimes deliberately and at other times purely unplanned and certainly not deliberate. If God forgives us which He certainly does, there's no way He wants us to continue carrying the load of unforgiveness. If we have repented before God and with anyone we may have hurt or offended, then we've done all we can do. We must learn from whatever the situation and move on in Jesus steps. Moving on will be a choice. As Jesus prayed His prayer from the cross, perhaps our prayer should be, when offended by another, “Father, forgive her for she doesn't really understand how much she has hurt me...In this moment, I forgive her.” Every time we forgive, no matter the circumstances, we become more and more like Jesus!

Thank You, dear Jesus for your example of forgiveness. I thank You for all the times You forgive me when I know I don't deserve a moment of Your consideration. I want to be like You but I need the strengthening of Your Spirit to help me live life like You would have me walk. I love You, Jesus, and thank You for all You have done for me. Amen

Cross Your Heart???

 

For by these He has granted to us

His precious and magnificent promises,

so that by them you may become partakers

of the divine nature...

II Peter 1:4

It was Junior High School and in a math class, when a girlfriend sitting right behind me tapped me on the shoulder and passed me a note that was from someone behind her. I opened it to find a brief note that any seventh grade girl would die for. It said: “Glendarae, if you like me then I like you. Write me back. Love (guys first name).” Oh man, I thought I had died and gone to Heaven. I was amazingly restrained for me and waited until the next day, same class, same friend behind me to return my answer to him. By the way, this was one of the nicest boys you could find anywhere...never in trouble, nice looking, quiet...everything a Mother would want for her daughter. I had carefully crafted my note the night before and in a very original way, it read: Dear ****, If you like me then I like you. Love, Glendarae” Toward the end of the class, I gave it to my girlfriend to give to the young man. I said to my girlfriend, “Promise me you'll give this to **** and that you won't tell anyone about this note.” She promised...I said, “Cross your heart and hope to die?” Yep, she promised all of that. I added,”Stick a needle in your eye?” Yep, she promised that too so I gave her the note. That's what we used to say to nail someone down on a promise.

The next day, I went to band class. I played the saxophone at the time. My girlfriend who passed my note played clarinet and her section was directly across from the saxophone section. Everyone was getting their instruments out, preparing for the band teacher's arrival. All of a sudden, the entire clarinet section stood (about 15 of them) and suddenly the clarinet section began to almost chant together: Dear***, If you like me then I like you. Love, Glendarae” I've been embarrassed many times in my life but nothing like that day. My girlfriend had promised...”Cross my heart and hope to die (I was ready to arrange that) and I'll stick a needle in my eye.” (She wouldn't have to...I would do it for her for free with more than one needle).

You probably can remember promises made to you by people down through the years. When someone says, “I promise” to us, we count on that promise being carried out. When I was in high school, we often said to each other things prefaced with “I promise.” I don't think that's the norm today. We need to realize though that when we give our word to someone, that's like a promise to the other person. However, we live in a day when people aren't true to promises or their word. People take on debt knowing they can't pay their bills. Today, couples recite vows to each other at the marriage altar and those vows may go by the wayside a few years later. We may agree to meet someone for lunch and we just don't show up. I've seen people pledge money to special fund raising at church knowing full well they can't meet that obligation., fulfilling that promise. Are we people of our word or aren't we?

The one thing I'm so thankful for is that we have a God who keeps His Word. He even backed up his promises by sending His Son, true to His Old Testament Word to die for you and me. One can read the Old Testament and see where God was faithful to His Word and prophecies given to His people. Throughout the Old Testament as we see all of the characteristics of God, one we find among many and that you and I can emulate is that of keeping promises.

There are times when in the course of everyday life, I need a list of promises from the Bible I can hang onto. Several years ago, some kind of survey was taken among Christians. This survey boiled things down to 21 top promises from the Bible. You and I know there are hundreds of them, however, a dear friend gave me this list and I'm happy to share them with you. Some you will recognize by their references but let me encourage you to open your Bible and go through these promises. It may be on a day when you really need to hear from God through His Word. On days like that, it's amazing how He speaks to me so clearly through the power of His Word.

 

Deuteronomy 7:9      Psalm 23:4               Psalm 55:22

Psalm 91:14             Psalm 103:12,13       Proverbs 3:6

Isaiah 43:2               Jeremiah 30:17         Luke 6:38

John 3:16                 John 6:35-40            John 11:25,26

Romans 8:28-39       I Corinthians 2:9      Ephesians 2:8

Philippians 4:7          Hebrews 13:6          James 4:7,8

2 Peter 3:9                I John 1:9                Revelation 21:4

We don't even have to ask God to “Cross His heart.” God is so vested in us with a love we can't begin to comprehend that He is always true to His Word. Unlike the best of friends who may mean well, God is incapable of failing us. I would hope that I can be just as faithful in my promises to Him as He is with me.

Dear Father, thank You for Your every promise to me and Your fulfilling every one of them. You have proven Your love for me with every promise You have made to me. You have proven to me that although the best of people in my life may let me down, You never will.

I'm so appreciative for Your kept promises as well as Your love that I will never understand. Amen!

Staying on the Trail

He has told you, O man, what is good;

And what does the LORD require of you

but to do justice, to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

Micah 6:14

I don't know of anyone who likes boundaries or enjoys observing them. Boundaries started for us we were old enough to begin creeping and then crawling from one room to another. Most parents invested in something that restrained our movement. My Mother had a play pen for us girls and I had one I used with our three children. Today, they are called play scapes because it supposedly sounds better than “play pen.” If play scapes aren't used, parents often purchase gates that will keep little ones out of certain rooms. They may move a small piece of furniture such as a kitchen chair turned on it's side to keep a child safe. Even at very young ages, little ones hate having their activity curbed.

 

Teens don't like having their activities curbed either. They say they don't understand the reason for so many rules and regulations, but if truth be known, even though they don't like them, they feel a love and safety because of them. They don't realize that they are being equipped for adulthood whereby they will be able to discern, make good judgments, and know about appropriate choices. Boundaries above all provide safety during the growth process.

 

 

Boundaries are very important here in the mountains. We have no ambulance service right here in our small town. When there is an emergency in our town or on this side of the national park, it is disturbing to we locals if an ambulance has to go into the park area. That ambulance has had to come from the next town over. When we hear a ambulance siren, we know that something very serious has happened, especially if it goes on into the park. Since we have moved here, we've known of two drownings, two persons missing and some lesser events not so much tragic in nature.

It can be a very scarey thing getting lost in a mountainous national park. Tourists are provided with every kind of information to keep them safe along with informative signs found all over the place. There are maps of every kind for those interested in hiking, swimming, tubing and general observing. Invariably, there are those who start out on a hiking trail but feel they know enough that they can veer from the trail and do a little of their own exploring. Unsupervised children may run ahead of parents on a trail and end up falling or may leave the parents camp site to do some exploring. In time past, massive searches have had to be activated for lost children and even lost adults when a person, young or old has been reported missing. Most often they have walked away from boundaries and warnings to do their own thing.

There is usually a high price to pay when boundaries aren't observed by children and young people. The prices to pay can be very high when rules are ignored, parents wishes put to one side, or school rules thrown to the wind. Eventually, such young people often find themselves lost because they got off of the trail of right and there are no rangers to come to their rescue. 

 

It's easy to point a finger at the young but as an adult, whether we realize it or not, we are faced with God-given boundaries every day. God's concern for us is the very same as any concern for the very young. When we ignore God's limits, then we have left the area of His very personal care. When we go beyond God's boundaries, Satan waits, “licking his chops” ready to pounce on us. We can be led astray just as easily as young people and children. The sad thing is that we really do know better but choose to do our own thing anyway.

 

Where do we learn boundaries, because we have them from our youngest years whether we are aware of it or not. First boundaries are introduced from birth through our time with parents in our homes. During that time, we also learn boundaries in every school we attend. Society presents it's version of boundaries even though society is often confused regarding what boundaries really are. Government has laws that govern our activity, behavior and lives in general. In any of those areas, the ignoring of boundaries can be critical. The most important boundaries, though, are given to us from God Himself. His boundaries generally coincide with boundaries in life as we've come to know them.

 

So what can we do? Micah 6:8 gives us three things that give us a starting point. Note that at the very beginning of our opening verse that God has already taught us what is good and right to do. God isn't unfair to expect us to know the rules and expectations without His making them known to us. The three things given that are listed in this verse are excellent places to begin. We just have to decide to stay within the boundaries of them.

 

First, Micah says for us to do justice (right.) It doesn't take a brilliant person to understand that one phrase. I have spoken with women who have foolishly gone ahead with their own plans despite knowing that what they are about to do is wrong. That person, most often is lying to herself. If an adult has been a Christian any length of time, has been under the teaching and preaching of God's Word, she doesn't really need someone to draw pictures for her at the time of making decisions. Every born again Christian has the Holy Spirit residing within them and the Holy Spirit wonderfully prompts us with warnings or go-ahead nudges. Each of us must determine sometime, somewhere in life that we are bottom line going to do what is right. That's tough but won't happen without our determination.

 

Next, Micah says we are to love mercy (kindness). This has more to do with our treatment of others than God's treatment of us. When you and I show mercy and kindness to others, we are loving, forgiving, patient and caring. It is here we could list the fruit of the Spirit found in Galatians 5. God knows we know all of these things but the decision is ours as far as our obedience regarding each one.

 

Lastly, Micah tells us to walk humbly with your God. I tend to think that when we do this one thing, all the rest of the verse will fall into place. For children to do what parents ask of them takes humility, a yielding to authority. It takes the same humility for a married couple to yield to each other, an employee to an employer and a common ordinary woman to her Heavenly Father. Notice that this process is like taking a walk with someone else. When we walk with someone, it's because we enjoy being with the person. When we walk in harmony with our Heavenly Father in close communion, we will be encouraged with every step to do what is right, to be merciful in every way possible and to be a person of humility.

 

Let's determine to stay on the path or trail that has been put before us, not veering to the left or right. May we determine to walk in obedience, doing right, showering others with mercy and walking in humility with our Heavenly Father. Life won't ever be perfect on this earth but we can walk the spiritual trails set before us in the peace that only doing what is right brings.

Jesus is the best ranger we could ever want on this trail of life.

Dear Father, thank You for Your guidance in my life. Help me to be receptive to Your quiet voice and live a life of obedience. Keep me sensitive to the needs of others. I love You. Amen.