SEASON AND PURPOSE

To everything there is a season,

and a time to every purpose

under the earth.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Through an elementary-age student, I learned what the word “purpose” meant and also in adult years being a teacher of young elementary students. While on the playground, a sobbing little girl could come to me complaining that “so-and-so” had hit her. My response was usually, “I'm sure he didn't mean to do that.” I was soon corrected with: “Oh no, he hit me on purpose.” Every child knows what that word means in that context. It meant that something was deliberately done...no accidents.

That kind of human intent is a type of purpose. Looking at purpose from an adult point of view, it entails ones destiny and a goal one is meant to accomplish.

The verse begins by using word “season.” We know by now what the four natural seasons are that our country gets to enjoy. I had always lived with four seasons until moving to Texas. Fall and Spring moved very quickly and winters were usually pretty mild. Summer came on strong in Texas. Moving to Tennessee, I got back to enjoying four seasons.

We can look at our lives with relation to our natural seasons: Just as we look at the physical seasons we enjoy, we can view our own personal seasonal times. We are in the middle of all things spring where I live. One can smell the sweetness of flowers because of new growth, blooming trees are showing off all around us. It's that way in beginning years as far as our physical being is concerned.

In our opening verse, we find the words “season” and “purpose” together. When thinking about it, both concepts compliment each other. Whatever the season of life we find ourselves in, there is purpose. Right now we are living in the middle of God's purpose for our lives. Some would say they don't feel they have a purpose, but all believers have purpose in their lives that God has ordained for them. Knowing our gifts can be a help in realizing our purpose as can the Word of God, but it's there whether one feels it or not. We are all in certain seasons of life. Seasons may refer to ones age. but can also have to do with one's life experience. My “season” changed drastically in February of this year when my hubby Brian, went to be with the Lord. Not only am I in a certain season of age but also of experience. Life has changed for me and I will be a widow for the rest of my days.

No matter where you and I are in this thing of life, we are where God has intended for us to be. Some may fret and stew about season or purpose, but God is in charge. God makes no mistakes in our lives and we can rest in that fact. Many of you know I make little “foldies” for my Sunday school class when I teach. The following saying speaks to both season and purpose. It says:

WHERE THERE IS A PULSE, GOD HAS A PURPOSE!

If you and are kickin' and breathin', God isn't finished with us, and aren't we glad!

Thank You Father for Your precious will in our lives, for wanting to use us for Your glory, no matter our age or abilities. We are honored to be used by You. In Jesus' name...Amen 

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me, this I know,

For the Bible tells me so.

Little ones in Him belong,

They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me,

Yes, Jesus loves me,

Yes, Jesus loves me,

The Bible tells me so.

Maybe it hasn't ever happened to you like it has to me, but I'm at a loss for words this week. For ten years I've written a weekly blog. I don't think I've missed a week. The tally I see is over 5,000 blogs written and here I sit at a loss for words. Doesn't sound like me, does it?

Despite the heartache of missing my honey, I'm learning that every prop in my life may be kicked from under me, but there is a constant in my life and in yours as well  that is the consistent and fulfilling love of God. We painstakingly at times feel that there is no love like the love we know now in our earthly lives. That love may involve family, friends, things we love and God wants that kind of love for us, but not when we put those things ahead of the love of God that is deeper, wider, higher and to our very depths...a love we can't grasp or even understand.

I learned a long time ago that we will know broken hearts in this life of ours. I've also come to realize that only God can fill those gaps, filling them with I've often referred to as “God's Love Putty.” No one can mend our hurts like He can, that is if we let Him do it. He stands ready to comfort and heal any negatives in our lives as we snuggle under His precious wings.

Why do we love Him? John tells us it's because He first loved us. Paul tells us that nothing can interrupt or separate us from God's precious love. He speaks of it in Romans 8:38-39:

For I am persuaded, that neither death,

nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,

nor powers, nor things present, nor things

to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any other

creature, shall be able to separate us

from the love of God, which is in

Christ Jesus our Lord.

Yes, Jesus loves me (and you) this I know even when I don't deserve it.  How great is that?

Thank You Father for loving us even when we least deserve an ounce of your attention. May we show our love for You in living obedient lives that honor you. In Jesus precious name....Amen 

The “New Normal”

For I am persuaded, that neither

death, nor life, nor angels, nor

principalities, nor powers, nor

things present, nor things to come,

Nor height, nor depth, nor any

other creature, shall be able to

separate us from the love of God,

which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:38,39

I've been hearing a lot   New Normal's these days. I understand what is meant by the term and know for the most part that it's something that has come my way. In thinking about the term, I've decided that with a New Normal, separation and change of some sort will surely be involved.

Our Bibles are full of folks who due to some drastic circumstances n their lives, found themselves in the middle of a New Normal.  For instance:

Abraham & Sarah...expecting a baby in those way-up years.                                                      God's people taken into captivity into a heathen land                                                                  Mary had a visit from an angel...she's to give birth to the Christ child                                          Disciples having close contact with Jesus for 3 years watch Jesus die 

The list could go on and on so this New Normal thing isn't anything new to mankind

Brian and I moved quite a bit, mostly because of his jobs transferring him and oh, how I hated those moves. It not only involved my personal New Normal but children were involved. Many a time, I went into the bathroom to take a bath and sat there with tears running off my face into the bath water. Brian always said that I hated change more than anyone he ever knew. I know he was right.

The biggest change for now is not having the earthly love of my life sitting in his chair next to mine as I write. Many have experienced this earthly emptiness I now know. I've come to believe that any New Normal has some of the same things involved in all our lives. New Normal's at least for we girls usually involve separation with change washed in tears. This isn't church camp or going off to college.

What I cling to in these days in part are the verses from Romans 8 I have loved for so long. My relationship with Jesus will never end through separation and we read that He changes not. He lovingly understands my tears and sense of loss. But if Jesus were to ask me right now, as He asked Peter, “Lovest thou Me more than these”...put in my present time, I would hope I could say that there is no one or no thing more important than my love and relationship with Him. He will never leave us or forsake us even on our worst day. May we hang on for dear life to this precious, unchanging and ever-present Savior of ours

Thank You Father for Your consistent love and concern for me. I especially thank You for Your nearness and for so many family and friends who have come along side me who have been “Jesus with skin on.” Help me to stay focused on You in these days as I walk this journey one day at a time. I love You more and more each day. In Jesus name...Amen

Stay in Step

The steps of a good man

are ordered by the Lord,

and He delights in his way.

Psalm 37:23

When our children were very young and we made our trips to the Smoky Mountains, we quickly learned when on mountain trails to keep a close eye on our children. In all of the excitement, it was so easy for children to get away from us in an instant.

Our oldest girl was only about twenty months when we walked up the paved trail to Laurel Falls. It was worth the trip and we probably stayed a little longer than we should have. All of a sudden, a lady said, “Someone get that baby.” I turned and there was Jennie on the very edge of the sharp cliff the water fall was going over. She was about to bend over to see the water and would surely have gone over the cliff to her young death. I motioned to people to not speak and hurriedly but quietly came up behind Jennie and swept her into my arms. Later I realized that both of us could have gone over together. It was of the Lord that all went well. What a miracle that was that day. I always felt Jennie was saved for purpose.

We had heard of a youth group who had a couple of young boys go too far ahead of their group and fell over a cliff. They hadn't stayed with the group. We had already established when on a trail, a child had to stay close enough to see us and we see them. If one got too far ahead, they had to come back and stay with the family group for awhile.

Our Lord is more than interested in the steps we take. He wants our walk with Him to be filled with steps that lead us walking in His will. He wants us to walk in spiritual safety. Satan delights in tripping us up, causing us to be distracted from the things of God. The safest place for us to be is walking as close to Jesus as we can possibly be.

He hath shown thee, O man, what is good;

and what doth the LORD  require of thee, but

to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk

humbly with thy God.

Micah 6:8

That's real security no matter what trail in our lives we are walking on. We can never go wrong while walking humbly with our God. Running ahead of Him doesn't speak of humility on our part. Let's determine to walk in step with Him.

Thank You Father for being our walking partner in this life of ours. May we refuse to run ahead of You or lag behind either. May we find our safety staying as close to You as possible. In Jesus precious name...Amen 

GOTCHA COVERED

And when he putteth forth his

own sheep, he goeth before them,

and the sheep follow him: for they

know his voice.

John 10:4

Through the years, I have loved Psalm 23 for so many reasons.  I have loved even more reading in John 10 a reaffirmation of how Jesus is our great Shepherd.  The job of the Shepherd was to see to every aspect of his flock.  He was to protect perhaps even to death for his sheep.  He led them, walking before them to make sure of their safety and finding a lush place where the sheep could feed.  He never walked behind them, but walked before them, even speaking to them.  They knew His voice and followed.

How many times has our Shepherd Jesus, walked ahead of us preparing our way when we didn't even realize it.  He does it all the time even though we may not give His guidance a thought.  Many times, usually looking back, I can see where He had everything cared for by the time I reached a certain point of need.

It's been interesting over the last several days how God has gone ahead of Bev and myself as we have had post-funeral things to take care of. In most cases, we are meeting with people we have never met so we approach them with a little concern. Such happened this last week when we had a major tax thing to see to but hadn't met anyone we knew who could handle what we needed.  With Bev taking charge of our family business affairs, it was a concern especially for her.

I prayed about it and decided to talk to a man in our church who had made his career in the field of tax helps. I felt I should speak with him and he suggested who I could call the next day.  I did just that as he told me who in particular to call.   When I made the call to make an appointment, the gentleman had already received an e-mail from my church acquaintance. He was happy to set up an appointment for us.

We were nervous about the whole thing but our tax expert was more than a gentleman and most helpful.  He is perfect in doing what needs done.  We both commented on how the Lord had gone ahead of us in these difficult days to assure us that He is present and is in control.  He is so faithful in all our lives.  He's that Shepherd going before us to take care of us in every way.  What a comfort He is.

Thank You Father for Your loving guidance in our lives.  Help us to recognize those times when we see You functioning on our behalf.  Give us attitudes of gratitude.  In Jesus name..Amen

SCROLLS ALIVE

Study to show thyself approved

unto God, a workman that needeth

not to be ashamed, rightly

dividing the word of truth.

II Timothy 2:15

If I were to have a “bucket list” which I do not have and will never have, one thing on that list would have been to take part in an archaeological dig somewhere in Israel. I took a course in college entitled Biblical Archaeology. One must be careful in this area of study to make sure information is authentic. I have a book I often read into regarding the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Scrolls are fascinating objects. In their day, they were considered to be what we would call our modern day books, but in different form. They look like two rolls of paper that roll into each other. Each has a wooden dowel on which each end of the papyrus is attached. When reading from such a scroll, the reader simply rolls one side onto the other. Often the reader is very adept at reading in speedy fashion, thus the quick movement of two sides of the one scroll accommodating the other.

In our modern day, we don't hear much about scrolls except for those we might see in a museum somewhere. We have well bound books with covers and pages inside in various sizes. We don't have to roll a scroll back and forth. We simply turn a page and continue that process of reading.

In our modern day, we have been introduced to a new term....scrolling. This is the movement of a text up and down or from side to side to quickly find needed information. On TV we might see scrolling when a song comes on the screen with printed words that move up in sing-a-long fashion.

The danger in scrolling is when we do such a thing with the Bibles we hold in our laps. We're often in a hurry to get a chapter of the day read or scroll down to a favorite verse, ignoring all the other verses. The Old Testament is full of occasions when God's Word was read to people in groups. Those reading from scrolls to the people read it word for word. Amazingly at times the reading was done for large groups, often who stood for hours listening to the Word that was faithfully read by the hour where people stood listening. No shortcuts or scrolling.

How about you and me? When reading our Bibles, do we scroll past very familiar passages to get to the next verses? Do we honor God's Word by being so casual in our “reading?” May we study the Word well in a way God would approve of, and interpreting and living out the word of truth as should be. That won't happen if we take shortcuts in our reading. We can't fool God...scrolling won't change us but feasting on the Word, word for word will.

Father, what a gift You have given us in the form of the Bible. Convict us of our need to be feeding on this precious gift so we may love and serve You better. Give us a renewed love and appreciation of this precious book we call BIBLE. In Jesus' precious name...Amen

GREATLY REJOICE

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
my soul shall be joyful in my God;
garments of salvation, he hath
covered me with the robe of
righteousness, as a bridegroom
decketh himself with ornaments,
and as a bride adorneth herself
with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10

It might have been my junior year in college when I was given the opportunity to read a newly released book written by Elizabeth Eliot. The title of the book was Through Gates of Splendor.  She basically told the story of her husband Jim and four other co-missionaries who were martyred near a South American river by men from THE tribe the men were wanting to reach with the gospel. She and Jim had a young daughter and had given themselves on the mission field to reach the Auca people. She had no intent of singing her own praises and didn't, but a very courageous woman was revealed who faced that sudden chaos in her life.  She never lost sight of her love for and praise of her Savior.

I've known other ladies who have traveled the same journey as I am now walking. I've seen such spiritual strength and integrity that I have been so blessed even though I was not yet where they were at the time. I know some women who have gone through divorce, problems with children, career tragedies and the list goes on. Many have discussed those things with me through the years. I'm happy to say most found their strength in their faith and faithfulness to the things of God.

One thing I have learned in these years that when I get anything done, it's because I made some determination to get things accomplished. I love the above verse found in Isaiah. From that verse, I see that Isaiah REALLY knew God. To start the verse, he started with I WILL. I don't see pride in those two words but a determine to be a person of praise no matter his circumstances. Not only did he say I WILL but added the word GREATLY. There was going to be nothing mediocre about Isaiah's praising the Lord.

Isaiah added that he wanted to be joyful in God. I've known folks who have seemingly lost their joy in the Lord. It must grieve our Savior when that happens. No matter what's going on in our lives, we have every reason to be people of joy. Isaiah mentioned two things that brought him joy, that being God's provision of clothes of salvation and robes of righteousness. You and I have benefited from those two things as well.

As a bride 53 years ago, I recall preparations for being a bride. I wanted everything to be just right. I wanted to please Brian in every way. I didn't have a lot of jewels to put on but I wanted my gown and veil to be as perfect as possible. It's a joyful time. Isaiah felt the same as he compared the joy in both circumstances. No matter what's going on, let's determine we will rejoice

Father I thank You and praise You for Your goodness in my life. Thank You for Brian, who is with you now, who showed me by example what joy in You should be. Thank You Jesus for giving Your all for me and for sustaining me in these days. In Your precious name...Amen

 

 

LOVE LETTERS

The Lord hath appeared of old unto

me saying, Yea, I have loved thee

with an everlasting love; therefore

with loving-kindness have I

drawn thee.

Jeremiah 31:3

He passed the note to me from someone sitting behind me. It was eighth grade, during a class session. The note read the usual juvenile phrasing: “I like you if you like me. If you don't like me, then I don't like you.” I couldn't believe I had gotten such a note even in a lifetime. The guy was a good guy, nice looking. Soooo, I wrote him back: “I like you if you like me If you don't like me, then I don't like you.” My note got intercepted and word got out as only junior high age kids can handle such a thing. I don't think that guy and I spoke to each other even through our senior year of high school year.

Young men have wooed sweethearts from the beginning of history. It was always meant for a young man to draw a young woman's interest to himself. Some suitors sent flowers, bought candy or took his girl of interest out to eat. He may even have written letters of love to her to hopefully seal a loving relationship with her.

Despite how men and women have come together in a loving relationship, no one could ever pursue love for another like our Heavenly Father did with each of us. We are most blessed that our Father God didn't come close to an eighth grade boy who knew nothing about love, whose attraction was only momentary. God doesn't just send us periodic notes to tell us of his love and care for us. He has provided an entire book of love notes that is ours any time we want to read them. One summer, I received a few letters from my college boyfriend. I didn't just read those letters one time and then put them away. I read them over and over. Such is how we should regard God's love letter to us.

Our Heavenly Father has made promise after promise to us in His Word all bathed in the love and blood of His precious son. His love is not conditional like that eighth grade note. God's love came our way first. Psalm 139 tells of His love for us before we were born. Our job is to respond to that love. We may sing: “O how I love Jesus...because He first loved me.” I pray we mean every word of that precious sentence.

Thank You Father for Your unconditional love, a love none of us deserve. Thank You, Jesus, for giving Your all. Thank You for Your every promise that is bathed in love and Your shed blood for us. In Your precious name....Amen

THE WORD SPEAKS

All scripture is given by inspiration of God,

and is profitable for

doctrine, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in
righteousness
That the man of God may be 
perfect unto all good works.

II Timothy 3:16

While looking for a book the first of this week, I came across a blue gift box.  It contained a Bible...not an ordinary Bible.  As I write, I now have in my lap a very old, red leather, Scofield Bible.  It was given to me 54 years ago for Christmas by Brian, not too long before our wedding day.  We hadn't planned to exchange Bibles but must have "read each other's thoughts."

I was quite the sermon note taker in those early days of marriage.  Almost every page bears the tiniest of print.  No way can I print like that now let alone read those tiny words.  I need help for that kind of reading now.

It has been my practice to read five Psalms each day.  I have missed some days, but it's been a blessing when I engage in that daily reading among other parts of Scripture.  This week has been one of the most different weeks of my life with Brian having gone to Heaven, but I've have been reading those chosen Psalms in my newly found, old but still good Bible.  I have been so blessed in all the ways God has gone before me, providing and loving me through my sadness in missing the man I dearly love.  Even in Scripture, He has spoken through His Holy Spirit in blessing and encouraging me.  This last Tuesday, I read Psalm 32:7-8:

Thou art my hiding place: thou shalt

preserve me from trouble; thou shalt
compass me about with songs of
deliverance.
I will instruct thee and teach thee
in the way which thou shalt go;
I will guide thee with mine eye.  

I felt like having a holy hissie fit when I read those precious promises that are mine in this special time in my life.  By the way, those are promises for any of God's children to claim in any time of life.

Thank You Father for You and Your faithfulness.  I rest in You.  In Jesus' precious name...Amen

THY WORD

All scripture is given by inspiration
of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for 
reproof, for correction, for 
instruction in righteousness
That the man of God may be
perfect, throughly furnished
unto all good works.
II Timothy 3:16,17

Before me is a 54 year old Bible, red leather, very worn.  It is the Bible Brian gave me the Christmas prior to our February wedding.  I also gave him one at the same time.  Thus, we began each with a book we both loved very much.  Our plan was to stake our marriage and lives in this precious book.  Mine is so marked up with tiny sermon notes, I don't know if I can even make them out or not.  My intent to is just use this particular Bible for a time.

Yesterday at Brian's homegoing celebration, the Bible was spoken of with regard to Brian's life.  He loved being a part of Bible drilling in his teen years with Youth for Christ.  Through the years, God's Word has remained important in his life as is shown by a consistent life lived.

Big deal, some might think, but God's Word is a big deal when looking at a life well lived having been such an influence on others.  The Word of changes us and then sustains us through every event in our lives.  In the front of this Bible, I copied a poem.  I don't know where it came from or who wrote it but it's good:

Thou truest friend man can every know
Thy consistency I have tried
When all were false, I found thee true
My counsellor and guide.
The mines of earth no treasure gives
That can this volume buy
In teaching one the way to live
It taught me how to die.

That was true for Brian and continues to be for me as well.  Today, the book itself is a precious treasure that came from the man I loved then and even now.  His godly influence in my life will always be a part of me.

Thank You Father for Your goodness in our lives.  You are good all the time and we tend to be very ungrateful.  You are a wonderful Father and may be recognize that through every event and season of our lives.  Thank You for Jesus in whose name we pray...Amen

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