God's "Whispers"

 

Be still, and know that I am God...

Psalm 46:10a

A particular subject has been bouncing about in my mind for several days. I think most Christians have experienced special times with God when He seemed to speak so clearly to their spirits to the point of it being rather surprising. For a long time, I didn't quite know what to make of these experiences with God, but with the aging process, I believe many things spiritual in nature are becoming more and more clear.

What do I mean by “God's whispers?” Perhaps we've all experienced a stirring in our spirits... the voice of God that seems almost audible, but isn't. However, these stirrings seem very clear and pronounced in the way of some kind of instruction or even warning. We look back in review and see that such appears to be a word that could only be from God. I'm not talking about something kinky and crazy, but is a quiet thing occurring in the stillness of our own spirits.

For example, my friend Sandy is such a blessing in my life. I learn spiritual things from her all the time. Just today we were sharing some things spiritual in nature. She has in recent days gone through the heartbreaking loss of a dear friend. Although the friend had some health issues, her Home-going certainly didn't seem eminent. Not even two weeks ago, Sandy was at a hospital with another dear friend who was having surgery. After her friend was taken into surgery, while sitting with other friends in the waiting room, Sandy felt almost like she was being spoken to in a very quiet voice. The message was: “Go see Becky.” Becky was her ailing friend who was in a different hospital from where Sandy was at the time. Sandy couldn't quite grasp why there should be a feeling of urgency.

Sandy obeyed the prompting and went to the other hospital and found her friend, sitting up in bed doing some usual activities and for the most part looking well. Sandy had a wonderful visit with Becky and left feeling good that she had made the visit. I'm not sure if it was evening or the next day Sandy received a call that Becky had gone to Heaven. Some complication had crept up and Becky didn't survive it. Sandy said she was so glad she had listened to that prompting from the Lord. She would have forever regretted having not made that visit.

Many times in days past when I left our house to go to work, it wasn't unusual to feel that I should go a different route from my usual one. There were times when I learned I had avoided getting stranded behind a wreck site. Perhaps I could even have been at that site when the wreck occurred. How many times did I avoid any kind of mishap of some kind I didn't even know anything about. I have been prompted in my spirit, just out of the blue, to pray for someone. I didn't necessarily know what was going on in the person's life nor would I pry, but often learned later there had been a crisis of some kind for that individual.

When looking at God's voice in Scripture, no matter how it came to various people, there was one word I found to be associated with it a majority of the time and that word is OBEDIENCE. No matter when or how God chose to speak to people, He had an expectation of those He spoke to. He didn't want them second guessing, considering or thinking about His voice or His prompting. In every instance I saw, God expected action...instant obedience.

There are some things very important to think about when we look at this topic. One of the most important things I can think of is the importance of being honest. Hand in hand with this is one's relationship with the Lord. I've heard people speak of the Lord speaking to their hearts who are living in the depths of sin. They don't attend church, some curse God's name, while others are living in immorality (even declaring that God said it was okay). This I know about God...HE HATES SIN. God will not bless or condone it. In this process though, God gets blamed for a lot of what folks say He has said when He didn't speak to them at all.

God loves to speak to an individual who is in close relationship with Him. When friends walk together, they talk and share. God's desire is to have that kind of relationship with us. When we are people of the Word and of prayer, He feels He can entrust us with personal and more intimate instructions. We may not understand His leading at times, but He will never be wrong. He will never speak anything to you and me that goes against His Word. He will only lead in ways where He is glorified.

I wrote prior to this blog that we often use the phrase, “Just thinking about you.” I'm so grateful for promptings from the Lord when my friends have sensed that I needed a phone call. I've often received a call from a friend saying, “I was just thinkin' about you and thought I'd call.” Something (Someone) prompted her to call. Invariably it was a call I needed.

My suggestion is for us to be more alert to that still, small voice that often speaks to our spirits. If we are sensitive to our Lord as we should be, that voice may be His leading, often in ministering in the lives of other people. As Sandy and I sat talking about her visit with her friend, I shared some things in that same vein of thought I had experienced. She smiled through her tears and simply said, “It's God's whispers.” How precious when He chooses to whisper sweet somethings in our spiritual ears.

Dear Father, forgive the times I haven't been sensitive to your voice and the opportunities I've missed in following your bidding. Give me an ear to hear Your every word whether in Your written Word or in one of your special “whispers” into my spirit. In Jesus' name...Amen

Thy Word

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

When I was a young girl in grade school, I asked my Mother if I could have a Bible. My friend Donna had a Bible. She even underlined things in her Bible. Can't tell you how much I wanted a Bible, but it didn't have to be like Donna's Bible. Today, even babies receive New Testaments. Receiving one's first Bible was a very big thing. My Mother said I could have one when I “joined the church.” That was her way of referring to my accepting Jesus as my Savior. To be honest, I forgot about it. It was only a year or so after that when on a sunny Sunday morning, I went forward in our church and accepted Jesus as my Savior.

Surprise, surprise...in about a month after that, I received a package from my Aunt Lee. It was a brand new Bible. It didn't look like Donna's Bible, but that was okay. I dearly loved that Bible, but I have to tell you that since that time, I have had several Bibles. Some of my Bibles are different translations, different colors, and different sizes. All are marked in with notes galore in the margins. Recently, Caleb, one of our grandsons passed by the book case in our living room where I keep most of my Bibles. He said, “Boy Grandma, you have a bunch of Bibles.” I told him, “Yes...and I use each of them at one time or another.”

Reading God's Word serves several purposes in my life. I never want it to just become routine to sit and read it. I love reading it when I'm happy, seeking counsel, preparing a Sunday school lesson or Bible study curriculum, reading it when speaking to a group of ladies, but love it especially when I'm reading it just for recreation. No matter what my state of mind or circumstances, I always want to walk away from it having learned or benefited from it's reading in some way. Most of all, it keeps me in right relationship with my Lord. There are times when I find great pleasure in just spending time looking at it's pages.

I recently came across a verse in Psalm 119. It had special meaning and still does because in the last few weeks, I've gone through a bit of a difficult time. I don't do well with change and am going through a major change right now. Verse 71 stood out as if in neon lights.

It is good for me that I have been
afflicted; that I might learn thy
statutes.

The key word for me in that verse is the word “afflicted.” When I think of that word, I think of someone who has been in a bad car wreck or who has come down with a terrible illness. “Affliction” is a word that has always indicated to me something that is physical. However, the definition, although involving something physical, can also be something that is emotionally troubling.

Change...how I hate it...and it was troubling, but how could it possibly be a good thing in my life? That verse spoke to my heart like never before. I've read it many times as I love Psalm 119 so have read it often. I saw that even in the tough times, be they physical or emotional, God's plan is that in those times, I will learn more about Him and more about His Word. The word “statutes” in this verse has to do with being obedient to God's commandments. Even in times of trouble or affliction, God wants us to walk in obedience.

One major thing I know for a fact, that although I detest change in almost any form, Hebrews 13:8 tells me that Jesus will never change. I see in that verse that Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever. My relationship with Him can only grow in positive ways, ways that will change me for His good and glory. That verse also says to me that if Jesus never changes, His Word won't change either. Oh, there are Bible translators I wouldn't trust to translate my last first-grade Dick and Jane book, but when it comes to the basic and trusted translations of God's Word, I can base my very salvation and life on them.

Another precious Bible I received was prior to my leaving for college. My Mother and Grandmother bought me a bright red Bible with the what we called “onion skin” pages. I still look at it and all of the markings I made while in various Bible classes. Another precious Bible I received was from my future husband for the Christmas before our February wedding. I bought him one at the same time. It would seem that for many of us, our Bibles indicate some landmark events in our lives.

No matter where my Bibles have come from, they are each precious, not because of the giver, color or types of paper. Each is precious because they are God's Word to me, His love letter to me. It's His love letter to all of us. God's Word continues to be my source of guidance and direction. Psalm 119:105 says: “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Can't make it in a difficult world without it. Remember the chorus we used to sing?

“The B-I-B-L-E
Yes, that's the book for me.
I stand alone on the Word of God.
The B-I-B-L-E”

Thank You, dear Father, for the privilege of owning a copy of Your precious Word. May I never take for granted that privilege. Forgive my laxity at times when I don't read it as often as I should and for not obeying what You say to me through it. Help me to do better. In Jesus Name...Amen

Thinking of You

But I am poor and needy;
yet the Lord thinketh upon me:
thou art my help and my deliverer;
make no tarrying, O my God.
Psalm 40:17

All of us want to be thought of by someone...anyone. We live in a busy world where it would seem in the cluttering of our minds there is little thought for family, friends or acquaintances in general. People can work full time with co-workers for long periods of time without saying a kind or encouraging word. It's not necessarily deliberate, but is thoughtless to say the least. Families are spread all over the country these days. In most cases, such moves haven't been deliberate; it's just the way it's turned out with a mobile society. With that has come a lot of “out of sight, out of mind” thinking. People get busy where they are and keeping in touch can become slack.

Just because I don't live near any three of our children and don't have the privilege of seeing them as often as I'd like, doesn't mean I don't love them or don't think about them. I am happy for those who have had parents, grandparents in the same town or even neighborhood. I haven't known that kind of thing since leaving for a college in Kansas after high school graduation. However, I have found from what some ladies have told me that living near family doesn't mean that relatives give loving thought of one another.

I have received cards, letters and even e-mails that may say the usual in a closing statement: “Thinking of you.” I have said that very thing under the same circumstances and I try to be honest when I say it. If I say I'm thinking of someone and haven't, then I've lied. That I know of, the governor of my state hasn't been thinking about me. I know the President of our country hasn't been thinking anything about me. I could name spiritual leaders in our country that I'm sure as I can be who don't even know my name and that's no fault of any persons I've mentioned.

Here's the unbelievable fact of my life, and by the way, of yours as well:

God thinks about me!

Yes, me...one of millions...God thinks about me. In various places in Scripture I read from God: “Thinking of you.:” For instance:

How precious also are thy thoughts
unto me, O God! How great is the
sum of them.
Psalm 139:17

What a precious thing that the very God of the Universe, Creator, Protector, Provider and every other characteristic of positive note, thinks about me. He thinks about me not just once in awhile, but thinks of me more times than can be counted.

                For I know the thoughts that I think
toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts
of peace, and not of evil, to give you
an expected end.
Jeremiah 29:11

I get chills as I read the above verse. God is firm in His thinking. He wants me to have His peace in my life. I'm also assured God knows my end because He's in charge of my life and the lives of everyone else. In that process, He's thinking about me.

Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful
works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts
which are to us-ward: they cannot be
reckoned up in order unto thee:
if I would declare and speak of them,
they are more than can be numbered.
Psalm 40:5

The Psalmist, David, had more enemies than he knew what to do with. He was on the run for a very long time. If it wasn't King Saul, it was his son Absalom who was after him. David loved both, but that love wasn't returned. With little love, there is generally little thought for someone. David consoled himself in the fact that if no one else on the earth thought of him, God did...in abundance. He saw God's wonderful work on his behalf and the thoughts of God toward him that were more than he could comprehend. He states in his words that those thoughts couldn't even be counted. I pray you and I will realize that God's thoughts toward David weren't just for David. Those same thoughts and good works shown toward David are available and available in our lives as well.

On my loneliest day, even though it may be a time when I don't think anyone in the world is giving me a thought, I can rest in my mind and spirit that THE God of the universe thinks about me. He thinks about me because of His love for me. No, I don't see a face as we know faces, but I can see Him by faith, I sense His face turned toward me as He lovingly showers me with His thoughts. Every day...in every way...my Heavenly Father says: “Thinking of you!”. By the way, He says the same thing to you as well. You can hear Him in nature around you and through His precious Word.

Thank You Father for thinking of me like You do. I know Your thoughts come as a result of Your love and I so love You for loving me. I'm not deserving of that love because I let You down so often. You see everything about me and yet You consistently shower You thoughts and love on me. I can't express to You how much I love You....in Jesus' precious name....Amen

Go Wash Again

Wash me and I shall be
whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:7

I can remember really struggling with the hand washing before a meal when I was about it. It really came to a crisis point then. Mother would tell me to wash my hands which I did. However, upon checking, she was clean hands...at least on one side. I then had to go wash again so that both sides of my hands were clean. She could also tell if I had used soap by looking at the towel on the rack. If I hadn't used soap, the towel revealed where the dirt on my hands had gone.

Since that time, I've learned the importance of clean hands. Working in a hospital and doctor's office taught me that I would have to wash my hands what seemed like every ten minutes. As hard as we may try though, our newly washed hands don't stay that way. We have to wash them consistently to keep them clean and even then, we can never wash them to where they are totally germ free.

We are all very well acquainted with David, the second king of Israel. He had everything going for him, we know the unfortunate events that occurred in his life, much of his own making. Through a long sage of events and heartaches, David managed to survive even when God's prophet called him out regarding his sin. Rather than rationalizing and making excuses, David went before God in true repentance. We get just a glimpse of David's sorrow over his with Bathsheba. For instance, David cries out to God:

Wash me throughly from mine iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin. (v 2)

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be
clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter
than snow. (v 7)

I don't get the impression from David in his prayer that he thought just one side of his sin would be cleansed or any of it left on a towel. I get the impression that the cleansing God does is thorough, even to the point of a clean that is whiter than snow. How can anything be whiter than snow, but God can do anything.

Jesus did a lot of washing that we can list here. He put clay on the blind eyes of a man and told him to go wash it off. When the man did, he found he had perfect vision for the first time in his life. He also chose during that eventful Passover meal with his disciples, to wash the feet of the disciples. Culturally during that time, even slaves weren't required to wash the dirty feet of anyone. Jesus chose to do this task. Probably the disciples' feet had already been washed as they entered the room but now, Jesus chose to wash their feet. It would appear that the washing wasn't so much for the purpose of cleaning dirty feet but was more symbolic of being a servant.

Paul spoke of washing as he wrote to the Corinthian church. At one point, he spoke why the unrighteous won't inherit the kingdom of God. In I Corinthians 6:11, he wrote:

And such were some of you: but ye are
washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are
justified in the name of the Lord Jesus,
and by the Spirit of our God.

Notice that washing is listed first. The sin problem has to be taken care of or there can be no sanctification or justification. Washing of one's sin is just that important.

Paul also wrote to the Ephesians with regard to washing. He spoke of how husbands are love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for it...

That He might sanctify and cleanse it
with the washing of water by the word. (5:26)

Recently heard something interesting I don't think I'll ever forget. Brian and I were in a conference where Michael Card, the composer (El Shaddai) and in-depth Bible teacher was speaking. He turned to a portion of Scripture and asked us to not turn to it with him. As I recall, it was a lengthier portion of Scripture. As he said we didn't have to turn to it, he said:

“Let me wash you with the Word.” I had already turned to the Scripture and had it on my lap but found myself relaxing and taking in that Scripture like I've not done before when hearing Scripture read. “Let me wash you with the Word”...I think even when we sit with our Bibles open in the privacy of our own special sitting spot, I believe that statement is at the heart of what the Holy Spirit wants to do with His Word in us.

How is all of this possible? Read with me Revelation 1:5:

And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness,
and the first begotten of the dead, and the
prince of the kings of the earth. Unto Him
that loved us, and washed us from our
sins in His own blood....

All is made possible through Jesus, His dying for us, raising from the dead in victory and providing us with victory in our lives through His washing us and cleaning us up.

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.

AMEN

The Big "IF"

This then is the message which we have
heard of Him, and declare unto you,
that God is light, and in Him is no
darkness at all.
I John 1:5

Little words in our English language are interesting. Our little word “if” is no exception. It has even been stretched into a little longer word...”iffy.” If something is “iffy” in it's use, the indicator is usually that something is uncertain, or something that could go either way. Otherwise, “iffy” indicates uncertainty or what is questionable. I don't like anything that is “iffy,” especially when someone tries to trip me up with a spiritual question or statement.

“If” is a conditional word and we've all used it or heard it used in some familiar ways, such as:
“IF you get your chores finished, THEN you can go with your friends.”
“IF you study hard, THEN you will pass this test.”
“IF you accept Jesus as your Savior, THEN you will have a home in Heaven.”

I think you get the idea of the word being used in a conditional way. Also notice that with”if” statements, the word “then” may appear after the initial statement. Otherwise, an “if” statement almost always requires a “then” reply. Scripture is full of “Ifs.” As I've been studying in the book of First John 1:5-10, I found, as I love to do, a pattern in many of the words.

The opening verse 5 lays a foundation for the rest of what John wants to say in this chapter and each of the last five verses has an important “if” statement. Three of those verses (6,8 and 10) are “If we say” statements. The other two verses (7 and 9) are “if” statements that requires action on our part. No matter the type of verse, we are still confronted with conditions we are called on to meet. As you read, you will see a * in each verse, that indicates where the word “then” should be.

If we say that we have fellowship with Him,
and walk in darkness, * we lie, and do not the truth. (6)

If we say that we have no sin, * we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (8)

If we say that we have not sinned, * we make Him
a liar, and His word is not in us. (10)

But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light,
* we have fellowship one with another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son
cleanseth us from all sin. (7)

If we confess our sins, * He is faithful and just
to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness. (9)

I have in my possession a very tiny book, written by Amy Carmichael entitled IF. Some college friends gave it to me in January,1991 as a birthday gift. The first time I thumbed through it, I thought it surely wouldn't take long to read. After some introductory pages, I found, through the rest of the book, only one sentence on each page. Every sentence begins with the word IF. Each sentence is meant to really pry into the heart of the reader. It probes the depth of one's Calvary love, (a love Jesus had for us on the cross) in many of life's situations. In fact, one is instructed to not move to the next page until the one page being read has been fully absorbed. For instance:

“IF I covet any place on earth but the dust
at the foot of the Cross,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.”

Back in 1991, I could never have thought of coveting any place on earth. But now I live in one of the most beautiful places on this earth that I dearly love. I was forced anew to consider that page.

Here's one other of several probings from this little book:

“IF I can write an unkind letter, speak an
unkind word, think an unkind thought
without grief and shame,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.”

These and the other statements in this book are all “If/then” statements. The “if” parts of the sentences aren't meant to make excuses for oneself, but to force one to come face to face with Jesus and His sacrifice of love for all.

Most of us don't need to use the word “if” when it comes to the spiritual. We basically know who and what we are before God, what our shortcomings are and what we need to do about them. I love that Scripture brings us to the basics; nothing terribly hard to understand of the issue of sin. Our problem is being obedient to the Word of God because of our love for Him with no Ifs, ands or buts about it.

Dear Father, I don't want there to be any “if's” on my part in my relationship with You. Help me to be transparent all the time with You and respond with obedience to Your Spirit's convicting prompts in my life. Thank You for not giving up on me. I love you. In Jesus' name....Amen.

BROKEN

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and a contrite heart, O God
thou wilt not despise
Psalm 57:17

Several years ago, I spent about a year going back to school for training in the medical assistant field. Aside from many career choices available to me when young, I wanted very badly to be a nurse. Circumstances prevented that choice at the time. That time of training as a Medical Assistant only served to give me a deeper appreciation of God's creative genius in forming the human body. Think of the functioning of these miraculous human machines, things the body does to take care of itself...things we don't have to give any thought to. I don't tell myself to breathe nor do I have to make my heart beat. My eyes blink, my hair grows, the digestive system does it's job and on and on it goes. Again I say that God is just so very smart.

One of the amazing things I learned during that time of training was how the human body takes care of broken bones. I broke a bone in my wrist on one occasion. I could only recall the pain and the resulting cast that was put on that wrist. It had to be on there for what seemed like an eternity. The pain subsided and I then had to learn to do many things left handed. When the cast came off, there were therapy sessions required and soon, life got back to normal.

All I could see for a time was swelling, but the miraculous healing was not brought about through a doctor's instruction, the cast I had to wear (although it was a necessary nuisance) and even therapy sessions. The healing was taking place inside the wrist where I couldn't see what was happening. The moment that bone broke, that bone, though broken apart began an amazing process. Without using long words, I learned that at the time of setting the break, a fluid was released that began to wrap itself around that broken area of the bone. That milky looking fluid, the bone's super glue, kept wrapping itself around that break and formed what is called a “callus.” Specialists will tell us that if we have had a broken bone, that at that break is one of the strongest places on that bone that can be imagined. On an x-ray, it's noticeable where a break has taken place. That's how doctors can read an x-ray and give a bone history either to a patient or even to a court of law when looking at child abuse issues. So the bone, by God's masterful design, quietly does it's job and we don't have to think about it.

We read of shepherds in Scripture. One thing a shepherd did if he had a sheep that insisted on straying from him and the flock was to break the leg of that erring sheep. The shepherd would then carry that sheep around on his shoulders. The shepherd, for the sake of the sheep's safety, had to break a leg of the sheep in order to break the will. I've had times in my life when I wanted to go my own selfish way and because of my resistant will, God had to take measures to break that sinful will in me. He may not have allowed one of my bones to be broken, but His methods were holy and sure and often were heart breaking for me personally. The result of that brokenness though, in the end, was very beneficial and brought me back and near to my Shepherd.

Some broken things just can't be fixed. One day while emptying my dishwasher, a large handled knife dropped from the top rack to the bottom one. I suddenly heard the sound of breaking glass. Looking in I saw that the knife had landed on the inside of a 9x13 glass cake dish and had broken that dish into three large pieces. It had been my Mother's dish. It still had an old piece of tape with her last name on it taped to the underside of the dish. She had used that dish to take food to church potlucks or to homes where there had been a death in the family. That dish meant a great deal to me and with great sadness, I carefully wrapped its pieces and placed them in the garbage can. Broken...no super glue could mend it or even salvage it in any way. It was like something special in my life had died. But we are not dishes of glass. Life may have brought some chips and nicks here and there into our lives. We may go through times of breaks, but with the Lord, never to the point of total destruction.

Any loss in our lives can break us if we try to handle it alone. God will never waste those times and will bring us back to wholeness. A broken bone even after healthy healing will never be as it was before...the mark on that bone will always be there. However, in God's plan, that bone becomes stronger because of that break. The same is true for us. God wants us to learn from those broken times in our lives and come out stronger in the end. There are any number of things that can bring about breakage in our lives, such as:

...betrayal
...divorce
...death of loved one
...erring children
...persecution
...financial woes
...health issues
...broken friendships
...teenage breakups
...job loss

You could add to that list any of those things that caused you to go through a broken time in your life. We have to keep in mind that as those things happen, God is working to bring mending to our situation even though we can't see Him working. He will bring a new strength into our lives that we never thought could be possible.

In all of this is a reminder found in Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.” There are two things to remember from this verse when we go through those broken-heart times. The first thing is that our Lord is nigh...close...to them of a broken heart. Then He honors those who are of a contrite spirit...that person who is repentant of personal sin and self seeking.

I must also remind us that Jesus knew a lot about being broken as He walked this earth. He saw broken people everywhere He went and their needs. He also went through His own time of brokenness. We too often forget what the perfect Son of God endured for us. In First Corinthians 11:24, Paul takes us back to that last supper time of Jesus with His disciples. “And when He had given thanks, He brake it (the bread) and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.” Jesus didn't have any broken bones on that cross, but He certainly had a broken heart for the sins of mankind. No matter what we go through in this life that breaks our hearts and spirits, we must remember that Jesus suffered like no other. He can relate to our breaks and hurts. He's not a removed Savior but is near, sustains and heals us.

Someone put a wonderful prayer on Facebook lately that I thought was so encouraging. No author was given but it reads as follows:

Lord
Enlighten what's dark in me
Strengthen what's weak in me
Mend what's broken in me
Bind what's bruised in me
Heal what's sick in me,

and lastly, bring

to life what
has died in me.
Amen

By the way...God wants to use our brokenness in ways we can't imagine possible.

Warm and Cozy

In the multitude of my thoughts
within me thy comforts
delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19

Growing up, I never had a jacket. Let me quickly say that in my early grade school days, that wouldn't have been unusual for most of my friends and me. One either needed coat or sweater. My grandmother was an expert at knitting. I always had a heavy, wool sweater to wear to school and to wear outside for play. Of course, when the cold weather set in, I always had a warm winter coat. As warm as my sweaters were, being wool, they were often itchy when I got a little overheated during play. Just that fact often led me to try to get out of the house without my sweater. I can still hear in memory, a familiar reminder ringing in my ears ...”Glendarae, put your sweater on..it's chilly out there.” or “Put your sweater on or you'll catch your death of pneumonia.” I must admit I never really understood that last statement.

I must confess that more often than not, those sweaters were warm and even cozy on chilly fall days in Southern Illinois. My grandmother finally quit knitting them for me because I grew so fast she couldn't keep up. I knew every sweater she ever knit for me was done with love and a certain amount of pride.

There are many places in Scripture that are warm and cozy spots. We almost feel guilty at times when we go to those places to soak up our Heavenly Father's tenderness and warmth He feels for us. I often feel I must read the deep, theological places that teach complicated truths and that convict me of sin and wrongdoing. Those places are important for us to take in, but there are other places, many found in Psalms, where we can curl up with those precious passages, something warm to sip on and just soak up God's love and care for us.

For instance, I have loved how Jesus responded to the little children who wanted His attention. Ever been with adults with children acting up to get attention? Most adults would shoo them away for a brief time so the adults can visit.. but not Jesus. Reading Psalm 23, that speaks of my Shepherd always calms my spirit...it speaks of His deep love and care for me. We almost casually read about Jesus feeding more than 5,000 people. Jesus was concerned for their physical welfare while the disciples wanted to just send them home. I love reading about Jesus' visits to the home of Mary and Martha. It would seem, He could just relax and unwind there...good food, warm fellowship. Jesus was so very human and we often lose sight of that fact.

Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter, filled with promises from God that encourages and warms the heart. It's a New Testament chapter I curl up with often. I feel the warmth as much as putting on that wool sweater on a chilly fall day. To know there is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ; to be assured that as we are led by His Spirit; we're assured all over again of our security in Jesus; the assurance that ALL things in my life work for good; that if God is for me, who can be against me; and how good to know also that nothing can separate me form Jesus' love and through Hi., I'm assured I am more than a conqueror. If those things don’t warm the spiritual cockles of our hearts, I don't know what will.

The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were given to us for a purpose. If all God had to offer of His Son Jesus was to die on a cross, then there would have been need for only two or three short chapters describing the events of Jesus' death and resurrection. God wanted us to know His Son, Jesus' love for people in every day life, leadership, firmness in conviction, concern for people of varied afflictions, and His attention to those of all ages and walks of life. I can be encouraged and comforted in reading of His varied miracles knowing that He is still working miracles in my life and the lives of others. Jesus isn't just the Man we read of in a book. We need to fall in love with Him all over again and allow His Words to wash over us with comfort and warmth:

Chapters 14-17 in the Gospel of John are chapters of comfort. It was Jesus last opportunity to comfort His disciples prior to His being betrayed in the garden. Cozy up and read:

Let not your heart be troubled;
ye believe in God,
believe also in me. (14:1)

I will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you. (14:18)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give
unto you: not as the world giveth, give I
unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid. (14:27)

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in
you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall
be done unto you. (15:7)

Chapter 17 in most Bibles is written in red. This is the true Lord's Prayer. The other He gave to the disciples wasn't a prayer for them to pray. It was an outline of things to include in a prayer. This chapter is one big prayer that Jesus prayed for His disciples and is a prayer that is just as much prayed for you and me today.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also
which shall believe on me through their word; (17:20)

So read that chapter as if sitting in the physical presence of Jesus as He prays for you.

Jesus is still actively working on our behalf and that concern began back into Eternity. He is still waiting for those special times with us when He can speak peace,comfort and warmth to our hearts. As my mother would say, “Don't forget to put your sweater on...it's chilly out there.

Thank You Father for the way You love and comfort me all the time. I find such warmth in Your presence not just in tough times, but at regular times when I just want an extra portion of Your friendship. Thank You for who You are in my life. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

What Goes Around

And let us not be weary in well doing:
for in due season we shall reap,
if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us
do good unto all men, especially unto them
who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9,10

We received a phone call from our grandgirl Madelyn. She had some really huge news to share with her Grand-dad and me. We were at her house just a week or so ago. With her birthday coming up, we decided to get her a nice scooter she had been saving her money to purchase. My husband and I both remembered with fondness childhood days of riding a scooter, so with pleasure, we bought Madelyn a scooter. We realized there was an added benefit for us in having our scooters. It taught us about balancing on a bicycle and using handlebars at the same time. Madelyn's great news was that after riding her scooter for a few days, she was finally able to ride the bike she has without the training wheels.

With that phone call, came a flood of memories. When in first or second grades of my youth, children didn't automatically get bicycles. For one thing, bikes didn't come in assorted sizes and colors. Most of my neighborhood friends started with scooters. As much as I loved my scooter, I looked forward to the day when I could ride a bike.

A friend on my block got a new girl's bike. I was at about third or fourth grade at the time. I asked her if I could try riding her bike. With some reluctance, she agreed to let me try. I didn't tell her I had never ridden a bike before. I got on that bike and took off like an expert. I didn't really know much about applying the breaks, but managed. A dream was born in me that day of having my own bike.

One September before Christmas, my mother took me to a friends house. That friend had a bike for sale and my mom wanted to see if it was the size bike she should purchase for me “some day.” That Christmas, by the Christmas tree was a bright, shiney, red bike. To be honest, I recognized it right away to be the one I had seen with my mom that Fall, but it had a new red paint job, a basket attached to the handle bars and it looked brand new. From that day on, I was a bike addict. When I left home to go to college, several years later, one of my last ventures was to ride that bike out to our city lake on some back country roads.

After college graduation, for a time, I worked at a Baptist children's home an hour or two from home. I was in charge of some of the girls there. A favorite thing to do was going for bike rides as there was a nice park close to the facility. Just the thought brought back wonderful memories of my bike-riding days. There were several bikes parked near one of the buildings. One day, I decided to take the older girls on a bike ride. We took off into the wind. Suddenly I noticed that the left pedal on the bike I was riding was clicking against a part of the bike frame. That sounded and felt familiar. The handle bars, an odd shape also felt very familiar. I had the group stop while I checked a hidden crease of the blue bike I was on. There in that crease, was the leftovers of red paint. I stood with tears coming down my face in front of those girls...it was my old bike...my friend for years from grade school through high school. When I left home, my mother had asked me if she could give my bicycle to someone who could enjoy it as much as I had. I never knew what my mother had done with my bicycle and now I knew. She had given it to the children's home for other children to enjoy. Just as she had done for me, she had the bike repainted, but a different color.

My encouragement for us is that we faithfully serve God and others. Sometimes we may be called upon to serve others in big ways, but most often, it will probably be in very small ways. I have been learning over the past few years that I may not know the results of such kindnesses until Heaven. However, many times, it is the little things that can often come to our attention. These times are encouraging to us and blessings beyond words. Our service for others isn't supposed to be for what rewards we receive for giving of our time, belongings or even money. In fact, we should do such, not even anticipating earthly rewards. How wonderful, though, when our Heavenly Father gives us a little peek back at how He was able to use something we might have thought insignificant that turned out to be of great importance to someone(s) we might not have even known.

It's such fun serving the Lord just knowing we can be a blessing to someone in His name and at times being what I call, “Jesus with skin on” in the lives of others.

Thank you Father for honoring us by using us in Your service. Help us to serve with humility, not seeking the praise of others. Help us to be willing to serve You in any way possible with no expectation of reward or praise. By the way, thank You for my bicycle that other girls in a children's home could enjoy and for my mother's generous spirit. I love you...in Jesus' precious name...Amen.

Warm and Cozy

In the multitude of my thoughts
within me thy comforts
delight my soul.
Psalm 94:19

Growing up, I never had a jacket. Let me quickly say that in my early grade school days, that wouldn't have been unusual for most of my friends and me. One either needed coat or sweater. My grandmother was an expert at knitting. I always had a heavy, wool sweater to wear to school and to wear outside for play. Of course, when the cold weather set in, I always had a warm winter coat. As warm as my sweaters were, being wool, they were often itchy when I got a little overheated during play. Just that fact often led me to try to get out of the house without my sweater. I can still hear in memory, a familiar reminder ringing in my ears ...”Glendarae, put your sweater on..it's chilly out there.” or “Put your sweater on or you'll catch your death of pneumonia.” I must admit that I never really understood that last statement.

I must confess that more often than not, those sweaters were warm and even cozy on chilly fall days in Southern Illinois. My grandmother finally quit knitting them for me because I grew so fast she couldn't keep up. I knew every sweater she ever knit for me was done with love and a certain amount of pride.

There are many places in Scripture that are warm and cozy spots. We almost feel guilty at times when we go to those places to soak up our Heavenly Father's tenderness and warmth He feels for us. I often feel I must read the deep, theological places that teach complicated truths and that convict me of sin and wrongdoing. Those places are important for us to take in, but there are other places, many found in Psalms, where we can curl up with those precious passages, something warm to sip on and just soak up God's love and care for us.

For instance, I have loved how Jesus responded to the little children who wanted His attention. Ever been with adults with children acting up to get attention? Most adults would shoo them away for a brief time so the adults can visit. Psalm 23, speaking of my Shepherd always calms my spirit...it speaks of His deep love and care for me. We almost casually read about Jesus feeding more than 5,000 people. Jesus was concerned for their physical welfare while the disciples wanted to just send them home. I love reading about Jesus' visits to the home of Mary and Martha. It would seem, He could just relax and unwind there...good food, warm fellowship.

Romans 8 is a wonderful chapter, filled with promises from God that encourage and warm the heart. It's a New Testament chapter I curl up with often. I feel the warmth as much as putting

on that wool sweater on a chilly fall day. To know there is no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ; to be assured that as we are led by the Spirit, we're assured all over again of our security in Jesus; the assurance that ALL things in my life work for good; that if God is for me, who can be against me; and how good to know also that nothing can separate me form Jesus' love and through Him, I am more than a conqueror. It that doesn't warm the spiritual cockles of our hearts, I don't know what will.

The four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) were given to us for a purpose. If all God had to offer of His Son Jesus was to die on a cross, then there would have been need for only two or three short chapters describing the events of Jesus' death and resurrection. God wanted us to know His Son, Jesus' love for people in every day life, leadership, firmness in conviction, concern for people of varied afflictions, and His attention to those of all ages and walks of life. I can be encouraged and comforted in reading of His varied miracles knowing that He is still working miracles in my life and the lives of others. Jesus isn't just the Man we read of in a book. We need to fall in love with Him all over again and allow His Words to wash over us with comfort and warmth:

Chapters 14-17 in the Gospel of John are chapters of comfort. It was Jesus last opportunity to comfort His disciples prior to His being betrayed in the garden. Cozy up and read:

Let not your heart be troubled;
ye believe in God,
believe also in me. (14:1)

I will not leave you comfortless:
I will come to you. (14:18)

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give
unto you: not as the world giveth, give I
unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid. (14)

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in
you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall
be done unto you. (15:7)

Chapter 17 in most Bibles is written in red. This is the true Lord's Prayer. The other He gave to the disciples wasn't a prayer for them to pray. It was an outline of things to include in a prayer. This chapter is one big prayer that Jesus prayed for His disciples and is a prayer that is just as much prayed for you and me today.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also
which shall believe on me through their word; (20)

So read that chapter as if sitting in the physical presence of Jesus as He prays for you.

Jesus is still actively working on our behalf and that concern began back into Eternity. He is still waiting for those special times with us when He can speak peace,comfort and warmth to our hearts. As my mother would say, “Don't forget to put your sweater on...it's chilly out there.

Thank You Father for the way You love and comfort me all the time. I find such warmth in Your presence not just in tough times but at regular times when I just want an extra portion of Your friendship. Thank You for who You are in my life. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

Walking in Darkness

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of Him who hath called you
out of darkness into his marvellous light.
I Peter 2:9

Several years ago when our Jennie was just under a year old, our family made a trip to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. Jennie was riding on her dad's back in a child's back pack. We took a conducted tour of the cave and even had the treat of eating in their underground dining area. Halfway through the tour and I guess as close to the bottom of the cave as the tour went, the tour guide instructed our small group to stop where we were and cluster together as closely as we could. He wanted us at least in close touching distance from each other. His reason for this was that he was going to flip a switch that would turn out the lights in that area of the cave. He cautioned that we would find ourselves in a darkness we had never
experienced before and when the light went out, we shouldn't move at all.

He counted down from three as I recall and the lights went out. From most in the group, there came a quiet,verbal gasp. The shock of the darkness was huge. It was a darkness that was suffocating. Within a few seconds, the tour guide lit a match. You can't imagine the light that came from that small match in that total darkness. I have never been in a physical darkness like I was that day. The guide mentioned that if anyone were to become lost in that darkness, they could go insane in a matter of days. I will never forget the effect we all felt when that one little match was struck. We could feel ourselves as individuals feeling physically drawn, almost leaning in to that little light. I was reminded that in a very dark place, even my little flicker of a flame of witness can have more of an impact than I can realize.

During a recent visit with our daughter Jennie, we went to all sorts of places. We did some hiking in familiar areas, some car touring through beautiful scenery and visited other places of note. One place we enjoyed was Ripley's Aquarium in Gatlinburg. That is a fascinating place for children and adults as well. One thing I noticed while there was the lighting in most of the aquarium...it was pretty dark, especially in the long clear tunnel that featured several types of marine life that seemed to swim above and to the sides of individuals passing through. Many other areas were very dimly lit in order to feature different sized displays of varied fish and sea life. I understood that need of lighting and still do.

In the beginning of our wanderings, it wasn't so bad as the entrance area and a little beyond was well lit, but as we proceeded through the aquarium, the light became dimmer. From there, the various display areas became darker to the point that I personally felt somewhat off balance physically. The unguided tour was wonderful, don't get me wrong, but I was very glad toward the end of a main tunnel, to see the gift shop in the distance, where, of course, there was plenty of light. I didn't buy anything there, but was glad to walk through it to the exit door where, outside, there was a great abundance of light...no feeling of being off balance or off kilter. Darkness can affect us in various ways.

Scripture speaks in several areas about darkness, mostly a spiritual darkness that we can become exposed to or even find ourselves in the very middle of. We live in a country of moral and spiritual darkness. It's a darkness that God hates, but that a good majority of Americans are choosing.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and
good evil; that put darkness for light, and
light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet,
and sweet for bitter!
Isaiah 5:20

This verse speaks where many in our country are right now with regard to morals and standards...good is no longer just good and evil is coming to be seen in more of a good and positive light. What used to be wrong behavior/lifestyles are now being rationalized and accepted by many. Things anymore aren't just black and white, but morals and standards are viewed as being more gray where people can decide for themselves what is good or evil. When this mentality sets in, in reality, a person has come into the realm of darkness and has fled the light God intends for each of us. As Christians, we are meant to be people of light and discernment. The encouraging part of that verse is: “Woe unto them...” The “woes” of Scripture are never positive when God pronounces them. He takes care of things in His time.

As I write, just this week, our country has suffered another tragedy in the killing of nine Christians, while sitting in their church during a Bible study. A visitor to the group stood, shot nine of those in attendance that ushered them right into Heaven. All of the “why” questions began to pour in to various media outlets. It's interesting to see commentators and experts scramble for answers as to how this and similar events can happen. I have the answer...the darkness of evil. Some say it's guns...no, it's evil. Others say it's mental illness...no, it's evil. There are thousands who struggle with mental illness who never kill anyone or even think of it. Some experts say it's a lack of jobs or education, and then, of course, there is the confederate flag that is just another excuse added to the list. We know all have sinned and come short of God's glory. Sin is at the root of it all. As individuals and thus as a country, nothing can be cured unless the problem is diagnosed. The diagnosis is sin/evil and the answer is Jesus. Sound too simple? Well, it is simple. Jesus never made salvation difficult for anyone, other than for Himself.

I have since thought that in this dark world, we make our way through it the best we can with very limited spiritual light. God will give us all we want of His light, but even that light here can't compare to that light we will one day know. We wander through this dark world, but we see light ahead that the unsaved world doesn't see at all. We born again ones find hope in the light ahead of us and one day will realize the fulness of the light of His presence. Gone will be the darkness and shadows we have known in a sin-fallen world. Heaven's light will come from Jesus, THE Light, and we will bask in that Light for eternity.

In “light” of what has been written, I feel the necessity to revisit at least the last part of the opening verse:

... that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you
out of darkness into his marvellous light.
I Peter 2:9b

Thank You, Lord Jesus for being my light in a very dark world. Help me to share Your light to those around me who need Your light in their lives as much as I do. In Your precious name.

AMEN