God Bless You!

 

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon thee,

and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee,

and give thee peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

You like me, if we have been born again Christians for any length of time, know we are to be witnesses for Jesus and spiritual encouragers as much as we can be. I have found over the last several weeks that it's fun meeting new people to say some lead-in things to find where a person is spiritually. It's been interesting.

Today, I had a new beautician who is substituting for my regular lady who is off on a one month vacation. I had no idea who this lady was, but she was very nice, kind and was good at her work. There is always the get acquainted conversation but I'm interested in where the person is spiritually. Ours is a very small town so eventually, one gets to know most of the town if you attend church or make regular trips to the Dollar Store. She asked how I was going to spend the rest of my day. I told her I had some Sunday school lesson brushing up to do and was going to first go and print our church bulletin. With surprise, she said that she is in charge of the church bulletin at her church. Well, after that, we talked church and some things of the Lord as well.

Got my teeth cleaned this week. I had a new hygienist who did the job. She asked me what I enjoy doing...any hobbies, etc. I told her that I do a lot of reading. She asked if I had finished any good books lately. In my mind I'm thinking, “Okay, Glendarae, go for it.” I told her that I haven't finished my favorite book. She asked how long I had been reading it and I replied that I've been reading it for years. She asked the title of such book. I told her that it's the Bible. She was such a sweet young lady and replied with great excitement, “Oh, I got a new Bible for Christmas and I'm so excited because it's the first study Bible I've ever had. Could you give me some hints as to how to use it?” In between my gagging, we were able to share what that special book means to both of us.

One more....there was a lady who worked a checkout lane at a Walmart in the Austin area. I always watched for her being on duty. On her uniform top, she always wore a pin that spelled out the name, JESUS. It had different colored stones that just made His name sparkle. I got to where I kidded her that I was going to steal that pin from her some day. She would smile and say, “You can't take Jesus from me.” It was always fun when we had people captive...one in front of me gathering bags and one waiting behind me waiting to be waited on. Before leaving for Tennessee, I went in and told her goodbye and thanked her for consistently wearing that pin and being a witness. She said she'd give it to me except she doesn't know where she would find another. I told her with meeting the public, it's a witness everyday she's on duty. She told me where she got the pin...the Dollar Store...and we just laughed.

It's always a personal encouragement when God can bless someone through us. We are also admonished to be of encouragement to those fellow Christians in God's family as well as being a good witness to the unsaved. I'm always blessed if someone waits on me in a store and as I leave, that person says, “God bless you.” I'm trying to remember to say that as well, not for show but with a sincere heart.

When there are those I know with special needs, I try to let them know that I'm praying for them. Saying this can be pretty iffy. By making that statement, we are assuring someone that we are praying for them and need to be faithful in doing it. There are people I pray for who I don't know well or don't know that perhaps comes to me as a request from a friend or relative of theirs. It is such a blessing when someone tells me that they have felt led to pray for me as of late. Not only has someone taken me before the throne of grace but they took of their own time to do that for me. Our time is one of the most precious things we can give to another.

Last Saturday while folding bulletins, just in a quick sentence, the thought crossed my mind, “Fix supper for Lynne and Mike.” They are neighbors, dear folk and Lynne has had many physical struggles and now has lung cancer. I've learned when such thoughts happen, to regard them as promptings from the Holy Spirit. Sometimes this will happen to me when prompted to make a call or send a card to someone, but rarely do I feel I should fix a meal. Went by the store, came home and fixed supper and took it over to them. I was just going to leave the food with Mike and not disturb Lynne but she saw me and asked me to come in. Mike and Lynne are very dedicated members of our local Catholic church. On her coffee table were two books...a wonderful devotional book that I'm acquainted with and her well-worn Bible. I asked her the version and she showed me that it's a New American Standard. Told her that I teach from that version. The Lord opened up a door for us to talk about the Lord and what he means in her life.

I do not intend for any of these incidents to be prideful bragging on my part. It's just been so much fun finding ways to engage people in speaking of their own faith and relationship with the Lord. At times, I come across someone who doesn't have a real relationship with the Lord and that presents a different scenario but either way we can encourage friends in Christ and make a statement to others about the importance of Jesus in ones life. I will never go to a foreign field as a missionary, but there are ways you and I can be a blessing to others and it can be as easy as sending a card, or speaking words of encouragement to whoever the Lord causes to cross our paths. The utmost in witnessing is in speaking to an unsaved person about Jesus. However, there are times that even Christians need to hear from another of God's goodness and blessings. We can do this for God's glory and it can be very enjoyable and fun as well.

Lord Jesus...Thank You for the opportunities You send my way to speak of You to an unsaved person. Thank You for those times I can be an encouragement to a fellow believer as well. I praise You for the encouragement You are on a daily basis in my own life. In Your precious name....Amen

Whiter Than Snow

For as the rain cometh down, and

the snow from heaven, and returneth

not hither, but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater.

Isaiah 55:10

Many of us have been going through a season of snow. There are places in our country where I don't think folks have seen their lawns in several weeks. I have loved the snow we have gotten here in Eastern Tennessee. It's been a real throw back in my memory of many snowy days in Southern Illinois that I loved as a child. We would, of course, build the proverbial snowman in the front yard. It was also a time to get the sled out. We would take our sled to Kolesar Hill where the street was blocked off for kids who had the sledding bug. My dad would tie my sister's and my sled to the back bumper of his car. With packed snow on the streets, he would drive very carefully giving us a wonderful ride on our sleds.

I stood with a Kansas farmer one day after a big snow. I asked him if the snow, as deep as it was, would do harm to his fields, especially if a crop had been planted. In Kansas we could have snow sometimes through March. He thought for awhile and said that most farmers would rather have snow than a huge rain storm. He explained that a driving rain can tear up the soil and much of the water can just sit on top. However, he said that snow melts ever so slowly so it wonderfully soaks deep into the soil without doing the surface any real damage.

That lesson from the farmer that day also taught me something about my own personal Bible study. I was at a stage at that time where I would go for days not reading my Bible and then after feeling guilty would take my Bible with me for an afternoon and read by the hour, much like allowing rain beating on that farmer's field. I've learned since then that the most valuable Bible reading and study I do is on a regular basis, not too much and not too little. I would read enough and still do, to allow the Scriptures to do a slow soak into my heart and spirit. Those times of reading as I recall were so meaningful and beneficial, while the surfacey reading was more out of guilt. No matter what methods I have used, the slow-seeping-like-snow method has always been such a blessing.

I remember when in grade school that it wasn't unusual to hear a singing advertisement on the radio (no TV yet). This advertisement touted the benefits of Rinso laundry SOAP. They would sing and declare that Rinso laundry soap produced the whitest clothes possible. Today we don't have soap...no bubbles...and the companies aren't really interested in white clothes. Their detergents today are just supposed to remove stains. Rinso was meant to be sudsy, producing the whitest of clothes.

Do we really know how white snow is? When we took a drive through the mountains yesterday, the sun came out. I had to quickly reach for sunglasses. The combination of bright and white were more than my eyes could take. Snow can be beautiful, scenic but we've all notice how unlovely it can be in the melting process with mud and animal tracks in it.

Guess what? As often as God cleans us up, we still get dirty again. Oh this “dirty” isn't the loss of salvation but in this world, we brush up against the soil of this world all the time. I love David's prayer in Psalm 57, verse 7:

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall

be clean: wash me, and I shall be

whiter than snow.

Purge: purify

Hyssop: a plant in the mint family. It's familiar to us because of the passover event in Egypt. God's people were given instructions as to how to survive the coming of a death angel who would kill the firstborn in every house. They were to take hyssop that had stiff stems and hairy leaves that worked very well in spreading the blood of a lamb on the doorposts and lintels of the door of a house.

You and I are purified still by blood...the blood of Jesus. No need for blood over our doors. His blood cleans us like nothing else. David was confident in asking to be washed by God. In that request he knew that his heart would be whiter than snow. I don't know about you, but I so want my heart to have that kind of purity...whiter than snow. The next good snow take a good look at it, notice it's whiteness and then praise the Father that He can purge and clean us up compared to the whiteness of that snow. There's no Rinso that can make anything that white. There's a hymn that I dearly love:

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole,

I want Thee forever to ransom my soul;

Break down every idol, case 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.

...James Nicholson

...William G. Fischer

Father...I do long to be whole, idol free and fit for serving You. Wash me, scrub me, purify me no matter how You have to do it. For Your glory, I want to be whiter than snow. In Jesus precious name...Amen

I Thirst

 

For I will pour water upon him

that is thirsty, and floods upon

the dry ground: I will pour

my spirit upon thy seed, and

my blessing upon thine offspring.

Isaiah 44:3

From a visitors center in our national park there is a 2 mile trail one can walk into the nearest and very popular tourist town. It's a beautiful trail through the woods and mostly follows the beautiful roaring stream. Brian and I have walked that trail several times with no adverse effects in the process. The last time we walked the trail, however, and as we neared the visitors center, I suddenly became very tired and weak kneed. I sat down on a wide, rocky bridge railing and Brian decided to go get the car. Before he left we learned through conversing that I hadn't had my usual fluids to drink that morning and hadn't brought a bottle of water with me. Brian went ahead and got the car but also brought a bottle of water from the visitors center. I slowly but methodically drank the water in the bottle and immediately felt renewed physically. I was thirsty to the max and hadn't realized it.

As I've looked at the subject of thirst in God's Word, there were some who like me thirsted for natural water. Noah wasn't one of them, by the way.

God's people were returning back to their homeland from slavery in Egypt. Moses was doing all he could to keep all of the people happy. As a former social worker, I have often admired Moses for his patience and ability in dealing with a whole lot of people who were disgruntled most of the time. In chapter 17 of Exodus, we find the people griping. Moses had camped in one particular place where there appeared to be no water. Thousands of people...thirsty...murmuring, griping were almost threatening. It was all worked out thanks to God's intervention.

There are other places in Scripture where people found themselves really needing actual water to drink. I don't think there is anyplace in Scripture that I find as heart wrenching as when we see Jesus on the cross. In John 19:28, He called out, “I thirst.” Imagine all He had been through the hours previous to that moment. The last we know of His eating or drinking anything was the evening before prior to His arrest. He was beaten and abused and I can't imagine the blood loss let alone sweat loss. He had to have been completely dehydrated. As if His pain and agony wasn't enough, He made a simple statement in the hope that someone would respond...He was thirsty, that very basic physical need that had probably gone far beyond just having a dry mouth. His body was pleading for fluids. The Romans weren't of the mind to be kind or accommodating and never did give Jesus exactly what His body was craving.

If we are physically thirsty, it's as simple as can be for us to pour ourselves a glass of water, open a bottle of water, pop open a can of soda or go for a glass of juice. We know how to satisfy our thirst. But for we Christians, there is a thirst that goes beyond the physical. Psalm 42:2a makes a strong statement:

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God....

Think of one of the thirstieth moments you can remember facing...after mowing the lawn on a warm summer day, after having a huge ham dinner (ham can create a killer thirst), when having been exercising, when arising in the morning after a long nights sleep that leaves us with “dry mouth”, and on and on. Under those circumstances, I am thirsty and want a good drink of water. I have to ask myself though, “What is my thirst level for God...for the living God?” Do I have a thirst for Him that drives me to Him for spiritual satisfaction that only God can meet.

Remember in John 4 where Jesus meets the woman at the well and asks her for a drink of water. They got into a conversation, Jesus explained to her that there is another water other than what comes from a well. In verse 14 Jesus said:

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.

What a wonderful invitation Jesus extended to that dear lady and also extends at the same time to us as well. Notice His water is not force-fed. It's a choice we make. We can have as much of Jesus as we want to have. No need for dusty Bible reading...no more parched and dried up times of prayer...dehydrated attitudes and emotions a thing of the past.

I have been digging into Psalm 63 as of late. In it, David speaks of a yearning for more of God in His life and declares his thirst for God as well. His deep desire for God is so wonderfully expressed in verse 1:

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.

I so want more of God and less of me. I have the thirst and longing but know I can't do this on my own. For me, it will mean consistent and regular intake of that water that Jesus supplies and to recognize my need of it. I never want to lose my longing for Him and all He wants to provide for me in the good times and difficult ones. He stands ready to satisfy my spiritual thirst. I pray you and I will often drink deeply of Him and all He offers for our spiritual strengthening. We should have no hesitancy in going to Him and simply saying, “I thirst.”

Unlike those Roman soldiers at Jesus' crucifixion, He is happy to meet our every physical and spiritual need.

Lord Jesus...You have said, “If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” So here I am...I'm coming to You because I'm thirsty. I want more of You in my life than I have ever known before. I love You. In Your precious name. Amen

Smiling At The Future

Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she smiles at the future.

Proverbs 31:25 (NASV)

Our Southern Baptist ladies magazine “Journey” for February has an article in it with a verse that really stirred my spirit. That verse is from Proverbs 31. Had never noticed this verse before and was so grateful it being drawn to my attention because it reminded me of some wonderful people who have meant much to me. It will probably remind you of some special people as well.

I was reminded of my sister Kay. In her church, she always sang in the choir and was known for being the alto with the smile. I've never seen anyone in a church choir who smiled like she did. She called me that she was seriously ill, I went to the hospital in southern Illinois to see her. I was greeted with her smile. I saw nurses come and go and they all got a wonderful smile from her. I believe Kay knew she was dying upon the time of my first arrival. She did step into Heaven within a couple of months. I was with her as were her daughters on the last Sunday morning she attended her church. She couldn't sing in the choir but was with her when she took her choir folder into the choir room and gave it to the minister of music. He gave her a big hug...both were teary, tears that worked their way around Kay's smile. It was her last church service in a church she had served in and loved. She sat with that smile absorbing every moment. I believe Kay was smiling at the future.

I have a little granddaughter, Madelyn who is a smiler. She wakes up in the morning with a huge smile and has since she was old enough to know how to smile. She goes to bed at night with a smile. During the day, her smile is more than frequent. She doesn't know all of the cares of this world like you and I might know but she can smile in the most insignificance of things, be it a beautiful flower or making a little snowman with me while in the mountains. Her smile is no accident. She has a smiling mother who herself has known adversity in various situations, especially with health concerns. Madelyn has a mother who always smiles at her. That infectious smile has become more a part of that little girls life than she will ever know...her smile is a reflection of her mom's smile.

If I may say so, I'm jealous of ladies with beautiful smiles. I didn't grow up with a smile. I chipped a tooth next to a center front tooth and that chip turned black that seemed immediate. My mom used to tell me to not smile very big or that tooth would show. That's when I was about five years old. For many reasons as I grew, I didn't smile very much and am so sorry I didn't know how to overcome those reasons in order to develop a smile. I continue to work on it, reminding myself at times to smile because with Jesus Christ in my life.

I have stood at the bedside of many very sick ladies, ladies with cancer who were in their last days of that horrible disease. They radiated God's glory with the brightest of smiles even though it would seem they had so little strength with which to smile. I have been at funeral homes more times than I care to think about and have watched ladies in the depths of grief who had lost a husband, but were so steeped in the things of God, that they couldn't help but greet friends and family with a smile...a smile that looks to the future where Heaven will be a sweeter place because of their present loss. I remember a family whose house burned and they were left with a horrible mess. That dear wife and mom told me with a smile through her tears how God would provide for their family. She refused to take her eyes off of the Lord. He did provide and that family's faith was strengthened in a wonderful way. I recall a friend of mine who was in a horrible car accident. We didn't know at first if she would make it or how she would make it. She fought for every inch of improvement in her condition. I told her she had to get well because I was going to be moving and she was my pick to teach my Sunday school class. No matter who visited her through those weeks of rehab and healing, she greeted every visitor with what I would call a “smile of faith” for she truly smiled at the future.

We can always smile at the future when things are going well. It's in the difficult days that we might not feel very “smiley.” Our smile mustn't be dependent on the circumstances of life or the seasons thereof. Our smile isn't to be inappropriate, pasted on our faces or appears when someone smiles at us. However, people cannot be judged by their smiles or lack thereof, but they are certainly a blessing and encouragement to others. Different personalities respond in different ways to different situations. Let's determine to allow the glow from God radiate from us through smiles or pleasant looks. Let's determine to smile at the future, no matter what it holds and greet it's coming as God brings it to us however He deems best.

Dear Father...You've given me every reason to smile on the outside and inside of my life. Thank you for Your every benefit in my life. Help me to be more of a smiler as I look to the future...smiling with a confidence that comes only from You. In Jesus name...Amen

In Season

 

To every thing there is a season,

and a time to every purpose under

the heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Preach the word; be instant

in season, out of season...

II Timothy 4:2a

About this time of year, many folks experience falling into the doldrums. In our country, we've gone through lots of holiday hoopla. It started October 1 and ended January 2...lots of celebrating, purchasing, eating, decorating, dressing up, anticipation of parties and gifts...and on an on. Whether we like it or not, or whether we even participate in all of the hilarity, we are caught up in it all emotionally. January 2 arrives and about all there is to get excited about are football teams, pro and college finishing up their seasons. If we aren't into football, we don't even have that going for us.

I spoke with a friend many years ago who was a part of the funeral business. That funeral home had just had a service for someone who had committed suicide. In our conversation, I asked if there are certain months in the year where the suicide rate seems to be higher than other times. Two months were mentioned. One I couldn't understand but the other was obvious....August and January. January I understood because it is a real “downer” month after all of the holiday highs. Perhaps when it comes to August, there can be a lot of change, but I'm not sure about this month.

Believe it or not, we Christians are just as affected by the three months of holiday events as is anyone else. Even though we may take part in church activities that consists of class parties, children's Christmas programs, family Thanksgiving dinners, choir specials and there are probably more I could list, we are still affected. All of these events for we Christians are wonderful, wholesome, blessings and memorable in every way. We may be busy singing all of the Christmas hymns (as I choose to call them), read the familiar holiday Scriptures, extend generosity to those in need...all good things.

Here's the sad thing in it all...our Father is usually pushed to the back of our minds, if not left out completely. It's easy to become lax in our usual activity for Him that often replaces our love and service for God. When we get past it all, it's as if we suddenly wake up to the fact that we'd better get back to some normalcy. The problem is that it's hard playing catch up. We can't really make up the time lost because of our intensive involvement in so many other things. Those three months of holiday activities can move us backward instead of forward spiritually speaking.

So how do we get back on track?

We first need to confess our spiritual negligence to God and make any necessary corrections. Hopefully we learn from mistakes and try with all that is in us to do better the next holiday season in sticking with spiritual priorities. In order to solve a problem, we have to admit that there is one and then make necessary changes.

Secondly, embrace the new year. There are things we can plan for 2014 to look forward to...vacations, weddings, birth of babies in the family, spiritual retreats, etc. All such things will keep us looking forward.

Third, we need to set some goals, spiritual and otherwise that will bring some real growth in our lives. Some of these things could be: work to get out of or stay away from debt, or focus on being physically healthy (physical checkup, dental checkup, be faithful to taking any prescribed medications, exercise, eat healthy, etc.). We need to evaluate where we are spiritually. One of the dangers of holidays and their frivolity is that we are pulled away from our normal spiritual routine. This is where it gets difficult because it's hard to get back to some normalcy in our own power. We have to rely on the Holy Spirit for the power and resolve to serve God in every way. We also have to determine some things within ourselves. We are too quick to give in to defeat, declaring our weakness and helplessness. As God's kids, there should be no such thing as giving up spiritually when we have His power at our fingertips.

If we go by feelings, we will rarely read our Bibles, pray or remain faithful to spiritual responsibilities. There must be a determination and a grit in us to do what is right in God's sight. In this case, determination and obedience go hand in hand. My hope for us all is to be faithful...in season and out of season. No matter the days or times, our faithfulness in relationship with our Father must be maintained. This will be done through Holy Spirit power in each of our lives.

Dear Father, forgive me for my lack of spiritual discipline no matter the days or holidays. I want to be faithful to You and maintain my fellowship with You no matter the times. Thank You for Your forgiveness and for the love You pour into my life, knowing that nothing can separate me from Your love. In Jesus' precious name...Amen.

Holy Ground

 

And He said, “Draw not nigh
hither: put off thy shoes from
off thy feet, for the place
whereon thou standest is
holy ground.”

Exodus 3:5

I have always been fascinated in the books of Genesis and Exodus with the response of men to whom God spoke and their reactions. These were men, who for the most part didn't know the God you and I know. God appeared to Abram and right out of the shoot told Abram to move from the place he was living to a land he knew nothing about. Imagine that conversation with Sarai:

Abram: “Sarai, we're moving.”

Sarai: “Where to?”

Abram: “Don't know the place.”

Sarai: “Who told you we were moving?”

Abram: “God.”

Sarai: “Who's God?”

Abram: “Don't know Him very well.”

The conversation could have gone on and on. I'm judging a lot from what some of my reactions have been when Brian has come home to tell me that we were moving. You can't imagine my questions even with full information. In Abram & Sarai's day, doing a lot of moving to some other country wasn't the usual. Abram's response to God, however, was one of obedience. As he stood in God's presence, there was an immediate respect and positive response.

What about Noah? He didn't know God either. The future existence of the human race was to rest on his shoulders if he obeyed the voice of God. The comical thing to me with Noah is that he didn't know what an ark (boat) was. He didn't even know what rain was. At that time the earth was still watered by a mist. He didn't know about any waters in the deep that could erupt to the surface of the earth. Think what it took Noah to obey God and then to try to explain it all to his family. Worse yet was doing the job with everyone around him laughing and making fun of him.

Moses, too, had a major encounter with God. He stood before a burning bush, one that wasn't consumed and from it, we read how God spoke to Him. He too was asked to do something major for God that was going to take a great deal of faith like Abram and Noah. What I find interesting is what God said to Moses that is our opening verse. Moses was out shepherding that was his regular job. He was out minding his own business when something very dynamic happened. God appeared to Moses...the great I AM appeared to Moses with a really big charge that was to take place in his life. A bush that was burning drew Moses' attention and then God spoke from the bush.

Moses was told three things by God in the beginning of a lengthy conversation:

“Draw not nigh hither”...Moses could have been burned or even died because of the fire, but being in that much of God's presence could have also caused some serious physical problems. Don't know on this one all of the why's and wherefore's.

“Take off thy shoes from off thy feet,..” Of course in that day, sandals were worn but to remove ones shoes under these circumstances was an indication of respect toward one who was considered to be a superior. It was also a thing of trust. Sandals were important to one like Moses who was working out on rocky, and often treacherous ground. Adults kept sandals on their feet for protection. However, it must be noted that slaves of that day went barefoot that indicated their own personal relationship of respect and obeisance toward their owners.

“For the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.”... This is the most important part of the verse that fascinates me. What made the ground where Moses was standing “holy ground?” I believe it was because he was in the very presence of God, and it was where He chose to meet with and speak with Moses. With that being the case, I believe Abram and Noah stood on that same kind of ground minus the burning bush. What did those three men have in common? All three of them had a personal encounter with God Himself. All three were called upon by God to do some things that would change their world. All three responded in positive ways to God's bidding.

When was the last time we felt like we stood on holy ground...yes, we born again people? I will venture to say that we should look forward to times on holy ground for it is exactly that when God speaks to us in such a meaningful way that we feel we have been with everything holy. Do we anticipate when walking into our churches on Sundays that we are about to stand on holy ground, feeling that God is about to speak to us. What about when we read our Bibles and the Holy Spirit speaks so clearly into our minds and hearts? Do we feel like taking our shoes off because of being in the presence of God's holiness.

I am the one who types the church bulletin for our church. Someone asked me the other day why I don't put cartoons or humorous things in the bulletin instead of Scripture verses and meaningful quotations. I told her that it's because when entering the church, there's nothing funny going on as far as I'm concerned. We need to be preparing for walking on holy ground. We are so into spiritual entertainment that we want to get lots of laughs and fun stuff at church. What a horrible way to treat God. He wants to speak and we want to laugh and joke...there goes the holy ground. I'm not saying we can't smile, be pleasant and even laugh. However, we mustn't loose sight of the importance of that holy ground that makes up our spiritual hearts where God wants to speak and us respond.

We don't have to back away from Him or even remove our shoes. God wants to speak and wants us to regard those times as meaningful and yes, holy. May the words to a familiar song always be meaningful as we think of our relationship with our Father.

We are standing on holy ground,
And I know that there are angels all around.
Let us praise Jesus now,
We are standing in His presence on holy ground.

May we ever long for those precious times on holy ground. It is there we come to know God's heart for us as well as His plan for us. It's where our relationship deepens with Him and we feel His love for us in the most meaningful of ways. So, wherever we meet Him with sincerity of heart, there we are in His presence on holy ground.

Dear Father...I so often take for granted that You want to meet with me regularly and want to be a part of my life like no one else. Help me, Father, and grant me more of a longing for “holy ground” times in my life. I love you...In Jesus precious name...Amen

Unspiritual Clutter

Therefore if any man be in Christ,

he is a new creature: old things are

passed away; behold, all things

are become new.

II Corinthians 5:17

Every now and then, I watch one of the “hoarding” television programs. To be honest, they make me sick but that's okay. I watch such for one purpose. I want to be reminded that almost anyone can end up with a very cluttered house because in the beginning it seems like such a slow happening. People who are hoarders have generally accumulated their “precious stuff” over a period of time. Even though a psychiatrist may be brought in to help a hoarder cope with the cleaning up process, the whole clean up event can become hostile. In the beginning, the attending psychiatrist will usually pick up something from off the floor...something very insignificant like a scrap of paper. He will usually ask the hoarders permission to throw it way. That's when he's really confronted with what he's in for because most hoarders will give a reason for saving a dirty, torn scrap of paper.

With everything going on even with a counselor present with the hoarder, it's amazing how the smallest, dirtiest item is protected, not to be discarded. I've often wondered if the hoarder didn't want to throw out that filthy piece of scrap paper, then what's going to happen when they get to the really big stuff.

People working on such a project find some things in common upon their arrival. First of all, upon entering the house the experience a horrible smell. Many respond by putting a handkerchief over their noses and mouths. Then there is the sight...stuff, junk, garbage stacked and packed floor to ceiling. Rotten food, infestation of bugs and even rodents is evident. It's also noticeable that there's no place to sit. The hoarder may have a chair and part of a bed that is clear for use but that's about all. The kitchen is totally unusable. The refrigerator is usually packed with spoiled food and beverages. No clean dishes can be seen, so paper plates have been used and then thrown on the nearest pile of junk in the room. I won't even go into the condition of the bathroom. One of the major problems (and a dangerous one) is that there is only one very narrow path through the house and very often it is obstructed at times with more junk making the house a real hazard for falling and even a house fire.

With the condition of such a house, it becomes obvious that people living in the house seem to have their share of mental or emotional problems. One could say that the hoarding is caused by mental issues. However, hoarding can also lead to mental and emotional problems. You see, space is very important to us as individuals. We need space to move and a place to breathe. We need light coming through the windows and we also need to be able to move about unhindered. There ends up being so many health issues for folks who have become accustomed to the hoarding way of life that they don't even consider that.

As sad as it is for folks who get caught up in hoarding, keep the hoarding problem in mind, but let's switch to the problem of hoarding in our spiritual lives. As sad as it is to see folks so miserable in their junked up houses, it's also sad if we as Christians find ourselves hoarding some things in our lives that ought not to be so. We can ignore our spiritual clutter/junk just like hoarders living in an immeasurable mess. Most don't mind the mess they live in...it's become a way of life and a means of security for most.

We may live in nice houses that don't have to be mansions or castles...they are just home to us and I don't know a one of my friends who live in a filthy mess due to hoarding. However, how about the temple that we are as Christians? We are told that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit...it's where He lives if we are born again Christians. I wonder how cluttered up our individual temples are with spiritual junk. In some cases (and I hope not) folks may have become accustomed to such spiritual junk, used to it and comfortable with it but God isn't. It isn't physical junk that we can tough or see with our physical eyes. It is junk though that occupies our minds and hearts.

Let me list some things that can fall into the category of spiritual junk that we might we guilty of hoarding:

+Unfaithfulness to the things of God...church attendance, service, devotions. Most hoarders can't even locate a Bible in their cluttered houses.

+Unforgiveness...this is one many almost hold and caress, proud of their unforgiving spirits

+Hurt feelings...this is going to happen...forget it, get over it and walk away from it

+Dirty mind...there are Christians who feed their minds on the things of the world and their spirits are contaminated

+Temper...how quick are we to be upset with people or situations and are quick to blow a gasket

+Gossip...I don't even think Christians consider this a sin anymore but it is and keeps our minds cluttered with information we don't have any business knowing or remembering

The list could go on and on. We have the best Psychiatrist there ever could be to help us with this de-cluttering project. We may resist but nothing is going to work right if we don't work in cooperation with Him. Ridding ourselves of all this clutter of the world has some huge benefits:

+Open, loving relationship with God...with nothing between ourselves and the Savior

+Our testimony will please God and can be of influence in the lives of those who need our example

+We will see more answers to prayer in our lives

+God's word with break through our minds and hearts with a new and powerful refreshment we perhaps haven't known in a long time

+We will have the joy of being in partnership with the Holy Spirit in this cleaning up process that will bring about a whole new relationship with Him.

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.

Amen and Amen!!

Something Old and Something New

Remember ye not the former things,

neither consider the things of old.

Behold, I will do a new thing; now

it shall spring forth...

Isaiah 43:18-19a

Well...what did you get for Christmas? Even as an adult, did you get something you really wanted or perhaps you got things for Christmas that you didn't expect but that you liked very much. Either way, I think we enjoy new things. As I've been out and about over the last few days, it's been fun to observe children at church, malls or restaurants. Some little girls I saw were carrying new baby dolls. I saw a little girl at Kroger’s pushing her new little grocery cart. Boys have computer games for the most part but I saw a couple of Tonka trucks being carried around. New outfits were being worn by many girls and women. Christmas is a fun time for the new.

I love the verses above. First God says to His people to not remember or think about things past. I'm sitting here typing on New Year's Eve. I have a choice while on the brink of 2014. I can think of my mess ups of 2013, and believe me, I've had them. I didn't mean to mess up but I'm a member of a fallen people and you are as well. I've found more with Christians the tendency to look back and grieve over past mistakes. God plainly says that we aren't to look back to those times of regret and disappointment.

In this new year though, I believe God puts before us some new things. Knowing my Heavenly Father, I'm sure He has some wonderful things for my life already prepared for me to experience. Thrown in the mix though I know will be times of testing. Those things should not come as any surprise for we are promised testing and trials that are meant to fine tune us in our walk with the Lord.

So, 2014 is a time to look forward. I try to do my part as I look forward to a fresh new year. I don't choose to make resolutions. A resolution indicates what a person resolves to do in her own strength. They rarely work for me beyond the month of January. However, I do jot down some goals because I don't want to just flat line spiritually in this new year. I don't only want to be more for the Lord this year, but want to grow in Him like never before. My desire is to really know Him and rid myself of past junk.

I find myself feeling bad right now. I've searched high and low for a church that might be having New Years Eve services....watchnight services, we used to call them. One of my fondest memories about the new year is going to church new year's eve and seeing in the new year in prayer with fellow believers. The service didn't start until 8:00 or 9:00. We would have a regular church service and then break for a big potluck meal. After the meal, we would then view a Christian film or have some other activity. There were testimonies and lots of singing. Then at about 15 minutes before midnight, the group went to prayer. By then, little kids were asleep with their blankies on various church pews. Right at midnight or a minute afterward, the pastor would then lead the group in prayer. After prayer, people were hugging and wishing God's best for the new year for friends and family.

What happened? Well, if you've noticed at all, it's next to impossible to get Christians out for a Sunday night or Wednesday night service. As I've inquired as to why there are no New Year Eve services, I've been told pretty much the same thing...people won't come. A couple of people told me that things are different now. They say that there are lots of activities for folks to take part in...some spiritual but mostly not. I guess it's a spiritual indicator of how far we've fallen.

So at home tonight, I'll look forward to 2014, something new. I'll take a good look at myself and how I can do better with Holy Spirit help. I need more of the basics...prayer life, more time spent in the Word, working more with my Sunday school class...I even need more piano practice so that I can do a better job with the church music program.

I have learned through the years that if I aim at nothing, I'm sure to hit it. There are things all of us can do to walk in closer relationship with the Lord. The day is going to come, however, when in Heaven, we can be assured of God's loving intent no matter the year.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes;

and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying,

neither shall there be any more pain: for the former

things are passed away.

And He that sat upon the throne said,

“Behold, I make all things new.

Revelation 21:4-5a

Perhaps 2014 will be the year that Jesus will come for us. Wouldn't that be a wonderful thing. Talk about something really new...can't beat that. Come, Lord Jesus...come quickly!

Dear Father...I thank you for 2013 and the things I learned during that time. I'm so grateful for Your guidance and love during the hard times, but I'm looking around the corner to 2014. Walk me through it...may I not walk ahead of You or behind. I want to be right where You are.   I love you....In Jesus' name...Amen

Lost Relationships

A new commandment I give unto you,

That ye love one another; as I have

loved you, that ye also love one

another. By this shall all men know that

ye are my disciples, if ye have love

one to another. 

John 13:34-35

They happen in the course of life...lost relationships. There are relationships in our lives that change or are altered in some ways that aren't to our liking. Marriage, relocation, illness, divorce, death, job transfers and even relationships we were meant to have for only a certain time are things that can affect relationships and friendships with others for a very long time. In many cases, people can work through some of those things, but it takes a lot of forgiveness, love and patience to work through obstacles that affected a close relationship with another.

I have for sometime, struggled with a lost relationship. It has been a heartbreak I can't even describe. I've done every thing I know to do to try to mend things. I may even have apologized for breathing. Experience tells me that this person is not a forgiving person, who almost thrives on situations like this. As a Christian, I can't be satisfied with being at odds with anyone. I believe God's people are supposed to love each other and get along, be they friends or family. It doesn't mean they will be best friends but at least can be friendly and caring.

There is comfort for me as I look at Scripture. Jacob and Esau had some real problems. There was a lot of family conflict with one brother finally determined to kill the other. In later life they were able to reconcile, but a lot of time was wasted. There was much jealousy in Joseph's family with him being the favored child above 11 brothers. Those brothers really went overboard in selling Joseph off to traveling merchants. Much later in years, when Joseph was second in power in Egypt, he ended up being the person who saved the lives of his family. Joseph could see that although his brothers had meant what they did for evil that God had meant it for good and that was certainly verified. Paul mentioned two ladies in Philippians 4 who were at odds with each other to the point that he encouraged some church members to mediate a reconciliation between them. Job went through a time of real loss...family, wealth and health as well. After awhile, all his wife could say was that he should just curse God and die.

Some of the above relationships were mended after a period of time. However, the lost relationship between David and Saul was never mended. They started out on good terms with David serving as a friend and musician for Saul but unfortunately, jealousy raised it's ugly head in Saul's heart and things were never again the same, even up to the time of Saul’s death. The same is true with David and his son Absalom. Absalom did all he could to take the throne away from his father, but in the end Saul died in battle with nothing being resolved between them.

I wish I could tell you how often someone has said to me, “I can never forgive her no matter what.” That is a strong and ugly statement. It is so full of ungodly pride that it is pitiful. I can't even imagine Jesus having such an attitude. True, God expects repentance from us for sin we've committed, but His love is sure and isn't going anywhere unlike some folks in our lives who want to dump us when we have disappointed them.

If we aren't careful, there is something that can happen in all of our lives that can trap us. Many of us can remember the old black records we used to play on a phonograph. We had to be careful putting the arm down on the record with the needle attached. If a scratch occurred, then every time the record would play it would repeat over and over three or four words at the point of the damage. The needle was caught in a scratch. The record for the most part became useless and was fit for the trash can. I think the same can happen with us. We can get deeply hurt (scratched) and in our minds, we play the offense over and over and over and over again. We tell whoever will listen of the same offense time and time again. I recently spent some time with a friend who has been deeply hurt by a family member. She relayed that incident to me several times while I was with her. In fact, she was word perfect in going over it as if she hadn't ever told me or anyone else about it. I thought of a scratched record.

Here's the thing about a scratch on that record...if it is allowed to play over and over, the needle will deepen the scratch and it will only turn into a gouge. The more we play over hurts with others in our minds, the more the hurt goes deeper and deeper and it becomes obsessive in our minds. It causes severe mental and spiritual damage. We can get to where we want to hang onto the hurt for dear life because it's almost become a warm blankie for us. Just the retelling of our hurts, however, deepens the rut and we can become very obsessive just in relaying an incident repeatedly.

In it all, a relationship is often lost, a relationship God meant for good, meant to benefit both parties. In God's power, we can forgive and we can forgive that initial hurt and later hurts as well. With God, nothing is impossible. Very often, the thing that will keep the offense growing deeper is pride. In each Biblical example I listed, pride was involved somewhere in whatever went wrong.

We are called to love...in fact we aren't called to love, we're commanded to love. God doesn't suggest we forgive...He commands it.

HOWEVER...what if you've done all you can do to resolve differences, to mend fences? What if that person on the other side of your life still does things to hurt you. They will talk about you believe me because they are caught in a rut of hatred they refuse to deal with.

 

 

What do we do? I would suggest two things...always keep the door of reconciliation open even if it's the opportunity for a casual conversation. The other thing is to really pray for that person. Sometimes it's hard to pray for someone who insists on doing us harm but we are also called on to be people of prayer, and not always to pray for good friends and others we are close to. There are times when we have done all we can possibly do and we must wait on the other person. That person may come around or may not. We must rest in the peace that we've done all we can do.

Anything that is lost, needs to be found. Lost relationships need to be brought back into harmony as God will be pleased and both parties will be blessed.

Dear Father, thank You for wonderful friends and family. If things go wrong in some way, give me Your wisdom as to what I can do to mend those things. You want Your children to get along and may I always seek to do my part in that process. I love You. Amen

'Tis the Season

For unto you is born this

day in the city of David a

Saviour, which is Christ

the Lord.

Luke 2:11

Yes, 'tis the season to be.... whatever we want to be just as it is the rest of the year. Merchants began touting their Christmas wares as early November 1. I hate that Thanksgiving takes a back seat to December celebrations, but that's just the way it is.

It's all too easy to get caught up in the things of the world this time of year. You, like me, saw on news reports the shopping frenzies that took place at Thanksgiving time where people trampled on people and in some cases fought and killed people in their effort to purchase the last Xbox on the shelf. People physically fought over parking spaces. One woman I saw on the news killed another customer by bashing her in the head declaring while hitting the other person that nothing was going to keep her from buying an Xbox for her child. The thing is, that now she's in jail and her child won't get that Xbox for Christmas and will be missing his jail-bird mother for the holidays.

As Christians, we very often get caught up in the exuberance of the holidays as well. Included in that can be church choir programs, children's programs at school and church, parties and yes, shopping. The common thing between the world's concept of Christmas and the Christian's is that we can lose sight of what these days are supposed to mean to us. Do we center thoughts on dolls, bikes, computer games and whatever the latest rage is, or do we remember a Baby in a stable, a baby with not rattles or even stuffed animals. Do we think of the latest TV's, camcorders, handy appliances or a humble couple with no place to deliver their Baby but in a stable with none of the conveniences we are accustomed to.

So what should be our mindset as we participate in the Christmas season, a mindset that would please God any day of the year. We've already concluded that we should celebrate Thanksgiving every day of the year, so why not Christmas as well. There are many ways we can be more for Christ than we've ever been before, thus some reminders (not exhaustive by any means), of some spiritual qualities we can put into action in our lives that would please the Lord. However, all such goals can be attained only through Holy Spirit power. These are gifts that will keep on giving.....so.....

'Tis the season to be:

C – hristlike

H – oly

R – ighteous

I - nfluential

S - erving

T - hankful

M - erciful

A - doring

S - acrificial

The words are simply reminders of the kind of thinking we should incorporate into our lives not just in the Christmas season but every day. Philippians 2:5 reminds us to have the mind of Christ, seeking to be more like Him. Holiness is our being clean before God. When we are righteous, we are simply doing what is right in God's sight. Our influence is in our witness both verbal and in our lifestyle. We are to be servants everyday we live. Thrown in here is our being thankful and that list could go on and on without end. It's a season to be merciful, showing mercy all of those in this season who are in need. Many are needy financially but many are lonely during holidays. Adoration of our Saviour should be with almost every breath we take. Being sacrificial means to take our eyes off of self and looking to the needs of others even if it is costly to us. That could mean giving up material things or even giving up our time.

All of these things mean taking eyes off of self which is the hardest part of it all. However, isn't that what Jesus was about. He came from Heaven to us (Emmanuel: “God with us”) to live a perfect life. We see pictures of a Baby in a manger but must also look ahead some 33 years later. The baby pictures in the mind of Mary are gone and Mary sees her son, a Man on a cross and then standing by an empty tomb. We see the spirit of Christmas from the beginning to Jesus ascending into Heaven...mission accomplished. Christmas day and all it means should be an everyday experience for those of us who dearly love the Christ of Christmas Who fills us with hope and life itself.

Thank You, Lord Jesus for coming to us as You did. I have never deserved one ounce of Your love and sacrifice for me. Help me to look to the needs of others like You did, but keep my focus on You and all You are. Merry Christmas, Jesus. I love You. In Your precious name. Amen