Please Pray!

I want to invite you to pray for me and my daughter and we prepare to go on a mission trip together in a few weeks. By God’s grace this will my fifth mission trip and her fourth.

We will be going to a community in southwestern Mexico. Our team will be working with local churches to provide humanitarian aid to families, and I’m really excited that we will be conducting Vacation Bible School during the week! How awesome that many children will be hearing the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!


My specific prayer requests are:

Safety: Please pray that the Lord will grant all of us safety in the air and on the ground as we gather to our destination, and for safety in Mexico as we serve in our daily mission assignments.

VBS: There are about thirty on our mission team and during the week we will be ministering to over a thousand children. Pray that the Lord will open up the hearts of these precious young people to hear the Gospel and that many will receive salvation!

Shoe Distribution: Not only will the children learn the Bible in VBS, but all of the kids we minister to will receive a new pair of shoes. Pray that the kids will see the visible love of Christ as this need is met in their lives.

Wisdom: Pray that the Lord will give us wisdom as we show love, compassion, understanding, and patience as we interact with the members of the community.

God’s Glory: Above all, pray that the Lord will honored and glorified in all that we do as a team during this wonderful outreach.

I thank you in advance for all of your prayers, and I again I am very excited to see what the Lord will do on this trip!

FOR HIS GLORY!!!

Can You Imagine?

Just recently I visited one of the most beautiful and exquisite homes that I have ever seen. It is a famous landmark and tourist attraction, and I know many of you have heard of it. With 250 rooms and 8000 acres of breathtaking gardens and immaculate landscaping, it is a site to behold. As I toured the home, I tried to imagine actually living there in all of its grandeur.

As I contemplated, “What a house!”, I also thought about another grand and glorious place, a place not made with human hands, a place of infinite wonder and beauty, the sights of which this world has never seen. I thought about heaven.

Do you ever think about heaven? Do you ever wonder how it will feel to be in the presence of our Father and our Savior forever? Can you imagine?

A few months ago, there was a movie in the theaters called, “I Can Only Imagine”. The movie was based on the highly popular song of the same name written by Bart Millard of the group Mercy Me. The song was written at a point of deep sorrow in Bart’s life, and even though the song was conceived out of grief, its message is one of hope.

As I listened to the lyrics of the song, I am moved to imagine what heaven will be like; unending fellowship with the Lord, away from the presence of all the hurt, pain, and turmoil of this world. No more evil. No more sin. Can you imagine?

All of us have seen beautiful and memorable places and have experienced joyful situations in our lives, but none will be able to compare to the glories of heaven!

So...

When life gets tough, gaze on heaven.

When life hurts, meditate on eternity with Jesus.

Wow, imagine that!!

He Did It For You And Me

Passion Week…It was quite an eventful week for our Lord and Savior as He drew closer to the agony and death on the cross. It was a death that He would experience because of His lavish love for you and for me.

As I reflected on Passion Week, I thought about:

• The Upper Room Discourse, where the Lord promises to send the Holy Spirit to teach, guide, and comfort us. That same night our Savior prayed (John 17) an awesome prayer, not only for the disciples that were with Him, but also for those of us who are His followers today.

• The awful betrayal by Judas and the unjust trials that produced false witnesses and false testimonies.

• The excruciating physical torture of our King, stripped and beaten beyond recognition, a crown of thorns placed on His head, spat on, beaten with a reed, mocked, and treated with contempt.

It all culminated at the cross, where Jesus hung for several hours, naked and bloodied, the first time in all eternity separated from the Father, enduring it all to pay for the sins of the entire world. My words are not adequate to fully describe the passion of our Savior. Out of His glorious love, He did it for you and for me.

The true meaning of Easter is not egg hunts, baskets of candy and toys, bunnies, or wearing new clothes.

The true meaning of Easter is the incomprehensible love of God, sending His Beloved Son to die for the sins of wicked, evil, sinful humanity.

AND...

The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, raised to life, conquering sin and death for all time, securing a place in heaven for all who believe in Him as Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of sin.

WOW! Meditate on this marvelous truth during Passion Week, and remember He did it for you and for me!!

Halleluiah to the Lamb of God!!!

He's With Us

The “empty nest”.

What will that be like? How will I feel?

It’s hard for me to believe that about a year and a half from now I will be (hopefully, prayerfully) sending my youngest child off to college. That’s a scary thought…will I be ready?

Indeed, that will be a new season in my life, in our home, in our marriage. I’ve heard of other parents really struggling with letting the last child go. In a sense, I’m already preparing myself mentally; after all the Lord gives us our children to raise them, but we cannot hold on to them.

I guess the thing that has put the “empty nest syndrome” on my mind a lot lately is that we are in the midst of preparing for several upcoming college visits, and some are very far from home!

I know that she will be okay wherever the Lord, in His perfect will, leads her. Yes, we are praying for her to be in the Lord’s will, even if it means sending her all the way across the country! I know, with confidence, that He will be with her. He is always with her; He is always with us.

The longer I walk with the Lord, the more I know and trust that His will is best, and I know that I can trust Him with every season of my life, even with the “empty nest”.

I’ve seen Him comfort and encourage me in all that I have been through. There have been some really wonderful life experiences, and some trials that have left me terribly brokenhearted. Yet, He has always been there, even when I was not aware of His presence.

I actually plan to enjoy these college trips as we navigate the selection process, because my faith tells me that HE will lead us to the right one……. His will be done!

So, trust the Lord with your seasons of life, for HE IS WITH US!

Leave It Behind

Happy New Year!

My sisters, I know that we are a little over two weeks into a brand-new year, but I wanted to give you a new year greeting. Throughout January I’m seeing people for the first time this year, and I love to wish them a happy new year as well.

A new year brings such hope and promise.

Maybe there were some things you left undone from 2017, it’s a new year!

Perhaps there were some relationships that you did not get a chance to mend, it’s a new year!

Unfortunately, those bad habits you vowed to stop doing are still around, it’s a new year!

Whatever you want to do over, makeover, or start over, this is your chance. Of course, we don’t have to wait until a new year to make adjustments in our lives. Yet it seems to be a good place to start.

This year in my church we were issued a challenge to learn a Bible verse a week. I excitedly took the challenge because memorizing Scripture is one discipline that I have loved to do, but over the years I’ve started and stopped so many times. Sometimes, it is easy to get a verse in our hearts by meditating on it over and over again. Through life circumstances, the Holy Spirit will put certain verses on our minds that truly comfort us as we go through trials and tribulations.

I plan to intently search the Word of God for verses or even passages that will help transform my life in 2018. I don’t want to learn the verses, just to have a bunch of Scriptures floating around in my head. No, I want the Bible to transform how I think, act, and speak!

It is not surprising that the first verse I picked out for week one was Philippians 3:13-14. I thought about this verse a lot before the calendar rolled over. Why, because it truly speaks to pressing on in spite of past failures, mistakes, heartaches, and any “unfinished business” in my life.

“13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead. 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

I love the idea of leaving what is behind and pressing forward to what is ahead. It speaks of hope, and our ultimate goal is to be conformed more and more into the image of Christ, who is our hope.

Ladies, would you like to take this challenge with me, learning at least one verse a week in 2018? Perhaps you have some favorite verses or passages you want to sink deep into your soul. I guarantee you that it will not be time wasted, and you will be drawn into a deeper relationship with our Savior!

So, as we continue into a new year, get into God’s Word, and whatever didn’t get done in 2017, leave it behind!

IMMANUEL

Our glorious Savior has many wonderful, awesome, beautiful names! In my blog on this blessed Christmas Day, I want to focus on one of His names, Immanuel.

When the divine Child was born that holy night over two thousand years ago, God came to live with us. His name, Immanuel, means, “God with us”. Oh, what joy to know that God incarnate had come to earth in the form of a tiny baby, born of a virgin! His coming demonstrated the lavish love of God in sending His Only Son to be the Savior for all the world. Today we still rejoice with the angel who announced, “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11

As a tribute to Jesus, our Lord and Savior, I created an acronym for His name, Immanuel:

I Invincible – He is unconquerable; all things are subject to Him, and He overcomes everything!

M Mighty – He is all powerful, and the source of all strength!


M Maker – He is the One who made us, and He was in the beginning creating the heavens and the earth!

A Advocate – He represents us before the Father; without His righteousness we cannot stand before a Holy God!

N Near – He is always in our midst; there is nowhere in all the universe where we can escape His presence!

U Unique – He is the self-existent One; there is no one comparable to Him from eternity past or present!

E Exalted – He alone is to be worshiped, praised, and adored. All glory belongs to Him!

L Love – He is pure love; He manifested His unconditional love by giving His life on the cross so that we could live with Him forever!

Meditate on the greatness of our King! IMMANUEL, He is worthy to be praised!!

Merry Christmas!!!

God Is with Us

Don’t you wish that some people in our lives could be there always?

Unfortunately…

Family members sometimes move away or relationships become strained.

Friends come and go, and may just be in our lives for a season.

Co-workers are there as long as we have a particular job.

Church family is there as long as we are members of a certain congregation.

Dear neighbors are there until someone leaves the neighborhood.

Even if people don’t physically leave us, relationships can turn sour as a result of betrayal, hurtful words, jealousy, and power struggles. And, of course, death is inevitable, and we grieve and mourn those we have lost.

I know that all this sounds very somber, but…

It’s comforting to know that there is ONE who will ALWAYS be there. He won’t move away, He won’t leave under any circumstance, and He cannot die, for He has conquered death forever, Halleluiah!!!

His name is JESUS.

He is also called IMMANUEL, which means that “God is with us”. (Matthew 1:23)

I love to do acronyms, and as a reminder of Who our awesome Savior is, I did an acronym for IMMANUEL.

Read about it in my Christmas Day blog post tomorrow.

Black Friday

By the time you read this blog, many will have shopped, shopped, and shopped some more! After all, this day after Thanksgiving ritual has become a modern American tradition. But, why wait until Friday? In recent years, many stores now offer their merchandise on Turkey Day to entice shoppers who are anxiously waiting to get a good deal.

I was curious about the term “Black Friday” and searched the internet to find out how this day got its name. As the story goes, in a shopping context, the phrase originated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, around 1961, to describe very heavy pedestrian and vehicle traffic the day after Thanksgiving. As the term became more widespread, it’s popular meaning now represents the point in the year when retailers expect to turn a profit, going from “being in the red” to “being in the black”. I am a bit of a trivia buff, so it was interesting to learn this new fact.

I thought about another “Black Friday” that occurred much earlier than 1961. This “Black Friday” occurred over 2000 years ago, and it was the darkest day in human history. I am referring of course to the day that Christ was crucified.

Why was it black? The Bible says that as Jesus hung between two thieves, “from the sixth hour darkness fell upon the land until the ninth hour” [noon to 3:00 pm] Matthew 27:45. Darkness in the middle of the day! But there was another reason why that day was dark; Jesus, the Savior of the world, was dying on the cross. It was dark because for the first time in all eternity, Father and Son were separated, as Christ bore the divine wrath as the once for all time sacrifice for your sins and mine. Our Lord cried out, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46 I call this the true “Black Friday”, and even though it was a dark day, it’s glorious outcome brought salvation to all those who would trust Christ as Savior!

The shopper’s Black Friday, some may say, ushers in the official holiday and gift buying season. But, think about this: there would not have been that true “Black Friday” if there had not been the miraculous and wonderful virgin birth. Our Savior’s first advent is truly what this season is all about. He brought true joy, love, and peace to this world.

So, as you “shop til you drop” on Black Friday, ponder the true “Black Friday”, then meditate on Jesus Christ’s birth, and celebrate the coming of Immanuel, which means, GOD IS WITH US!

Let's Be Grateful

Gratefulness. Why is that mind set so hard for us at times?

Recently, I believe that I got it right…….

Just the other day I was at the store and I started for the checkout line with a few items in tow. The “10 items or less” line didn’t appear to be a fast option, so I proceeded to get in one of the “regular lines”. Even though I noticed that the shopping cart in front of me had a lot of items, I decided I wasn’t going to try to find a “shorter line; I would stick it out.
Well, much to my surprise the lady in front of me noticed that I had only a few items, so she graciously said (and I paraphrase), “Come on in front of me, since you don’t have that much”. Wow! What an act of kindness! I immediately thanked her when she initially made the kind gesture, and actually thanked her several more times before I grabbed my bags and left the store. As I walked to my car, I thought that I had responded with real gratitude for such a kind act.

I went over and above to make sure that the kind stranger saw my thankful heart. Yet how often do I go over and above to be constantly thankful to my Heavenly Father for all that He has done?
A verse that I find myself meditating on from time to time reminds me of why I should be abundantly grateful. Colossians 2:6-7 says: “Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.” (New American Standard Bible)

From these verses, here’s what I see:

I believe that true gratefulness begins with a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ we are made new from the inside out. He has taken away that old nature and given us a new nature that is no longer controlled by sin. In Him, we are set free from sin’s power, and now we are capable of living a life that pleases Him. We can, by His Spirit, continue to “walk in Him” …Thank you Lord!

True gratefulness can manifest itself when we know we are “firmly rooted” in Christ. Our identity in Him and our security in Him are indisputable realities! We are in His grip for all eternity…Thank you Father!

The Lord gives us the desire to be established in our faith by reading, studying, meditating on and memorizing His Word. Growing in Christ just doesn’t happen. By Christ’s Spirit, we can be instructed to serve and honor our Savior, not by compulsion or coercion, but because we love Him….Thank you Jesus!

Our natural response for all that the Lord has done should indeed be gratitude! Why not take a moment, or several moments, to reflect on the goodness of the Lord. I’ve come to realize that even in the midst of my trials and my “bad days”, my Savior loves me and in Him there is glorious hope!

Thanksgiving Day comes once a year, but being grateful can be on our agenda every day of the year! Just as I offered many thanks to the compassionate woman in the store, even more so should I offer up to the Lord continuous words of gratitude and praise, for HE IS WORTHY!!!

Let’s be grateful and Happy Thanksgiving!

When We Are Tempted To Complain...

So much devastation. So much loss.

Our nation has experienced the destructive effects of, not one but two, powerful storms that made landfall in Texas and Florida. Other states in the Southeast also were plummeted with damaging winds and torrential rains.

Our nation has also experienced, even in the midst of such tragedy, people from many different cultures, races, social economic backgrounds, and religious affiliations come together with a common goal of helping those in need, whether it be aiding in heroic rescue efforts or providing essential supplies such as food, water, and toiletries.

As I contemplated the horrible losses: the homes and businesses that were destroyed, the lives displaced, and worst of all the loved ones that were lost, I was convicted about all of the “petty” things that I sometimes complain about, especially in light of this type of suffering. For myriads of people, life changed in an instant. Homes and businesses can be rebuilt, but loved ones cannot be replaced.

Some of my reflections:

The next time I am tempted to complain about not getting a good night's rest, I will reflect on the fact that I have a bed in my home to sleep in tonight. Many are sleeping in shelters.

If I am tempted to complain about the selection of food in my house or about having to cook, I will reflect on the fact that I still have a kitchen in which to prepare food and a refrigerator to store it.
Many don’t know where their next meal is coming from.

If I am tempted to complain about “not having anything to wear” (ladies we are good at this one!), I will reflect on the fact that I have a closet full of clothes. Many had to leave their homes with just the clothes on their backs.

If I am tempted to complain about the old car that I drive, I will reflect on the fact that I do have reliable transportation to take me where I need to go. Many had their vehicles swept away in the floods.

I could go on and on, but you get the picture.

And as we think on those that have lost much, please let us pray for them, that our Lord will comfort, heal, and restore. Also, we know that our Father in Heaven can bring salvation from these tragedies, as many place their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ!

So, when we are tempted to complain, let us remember our innumerable blessings.

Just Be You

I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14

My sisters, every now and then we, as pastors’ and ministers’ wives, need a reminder or maybe a little bit of encouragement to assure us that we are who we are and there is NO possible way we can please everybody in our churches. Ladies, we are in awesome company, because even our Lord and Savior, who was and is perfect in every way, didn’t please the masses. In fact, the religious leaders in His day were constantly finding fault with just about all that He said or did, and He is King of kings and Lord of lords! So, don’t let us think that we will escape the fault-finders and the criticism that come as a part of what it means to be a wife in ministry.

In my blog this month, I just want to give a few edifying encouragements, because at times people can be really insensitive or down right mean. This is nothing new, just a dose of comfort if you are feeling discouraged.

Remember:

When people don’t like you, remember you can love them. Sometimes you’ve done all you know to do to be kind and compassionate, and to show the love of Christ to all, yet hearts are cold. Pray and love on them anyway; it’s the Lord’s job to change hearts. Only He can do the impossible. “We love because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:19

When people try to pressure you into doing something you are not called to do, remember the gifts that the Lord has given you to serve Him. Sometimes we have to say, “No”; that’s not always easy in the church, but it is necessary when we want to truly be in God’s will. A “good cause” may not be your “cause”. Church members sometimes expect the pastor's wife to do everything in the church—play the piano, sing in the choir, serve in the nursery, teach Sunday School, and so on. Whoa! That’s not possible! It’s unfair to put those expectations on anyone! “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.” “But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.” 1 Corinthians 12: 4,11

When people say critical things about you, your husband, and your kids, remember that no family on the face of the planet is perfect, and the same people who lash out with hurtful comments have issues and dysfunctions in their own families. We all have trials and sufferings that we go through in life---pastors’ families are not exempt! Our Father is still doing a sanctifying work in all of us, and one day we all will be conformed into the image of His Son. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

When you feel lonely and don’t think anyone understands your unique role in the church, remember God called you to be your husband’s support, to love him and pray for him. A pastor’s wife sees and hears things and experiences situations that no other person does. Use your calling in His kingdom to influence others for good. “Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches.” 1 Corinthians 7:17

One day we will be perfect, we will have our new glorious bodies, not subject to growing old, sickness, or decay (aren’t we all looking forward to that!). Yet until then, let us allow God to work on us with our imperfections, flaws, and blemishes. Remember you are fearfully and wonderfully made! One day we will be like Christ; for now let us be patient with ourselves, and with our critics until that day arrives

So, my precious sisters, just be you!

True Freedom

Happy Independence Day!

My sisters, I hope that you all have a wonderful, restful day filled with good food, family gatherings, and time away from the normal routines of life. Each year on this date, July 4, we celebrate the birthday of our nation, a time when the thirteen original colonies declared their independence from England. It was a time of rejoicing over 240 years ago, and it is still a time of rejoicing today as we recall the price that was paid to set our nation free!

As I thought about writing this blog, I called to mind another event, the MOST SIGNIFICANT event in all of human history. This event happened over 2,000 years ago: One Man, the God Man, gave up His life to gain freedom, not for Himself, but for all the world who lived under the oppression and bondage of the Enemy, Satan. Victory was gained those many years ago, and it is still being celebrated today. This glorious news is that Jesus Christ, our Savior, gave His life on the cross, took the penalty of sin upon Himself, so all who trusted in Him for the forgiveness of sin would be free from its hold and the punishment it brings. Hallelujah!

Yes, our Savior died for us, but was raised from the dead, for death could not hold Him, and we who have trusted Him as Savior will experience eternal life in a beautiful, awesome (words cannot adequately describe) place called heaven. Wow, that’s something to truly celebrate and rejoice over!!

To me true independence came when Jesus Christ became my Lord and Savior. I am free from the power of sin in my life, and He paid the precious price for the penalty of sin. What about you? Do you rejoice in the new life that is found only in Jesus?

As we go through this day remember that true freedom is found in Christ……”So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

Don't Complain

I attended three funerals in the last three weeks.

I lost a great aunt.

A beloved church member passed away.

A dear member of our church buried an aunt who was like a parent.

Three funerals in a relatively short period of time.

We hear this cliché all the time: life is short, live it to the fullest.

None of us knows when the Lord will call us home to be with Him. Death is an unavoidable reality, but for those of us who know Christ Jesus as Savior, we know and firmly believe that death is not the end. We believe the apostle Paul when he said, “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21) Also, “To be absent from the body [is to be] home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8) I believe that of each of the three who were laid to rest, all had a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ! The funeral services were more like “home going” celebrations.

As I thought about the brevity of life and all of the pain and the trials that come with our time here on earth, I began to wonder: Why do we complain so much? I say “we” because I am so guilty!! What if we determined to live each day thanking the Lord for His grace and His mercy, and ALL of His goodness towards us, instead of focusing on what’s wrong and what we don’t have?

We complain about our……

Spouses: They are not perfect, but neither are we. Accept them, flaws and all…..God accepts us flaws and all!!

Families: Be thankful that God gave you a family, people whom you can love and they, in turn, can love you back! No family is perfect; we all have dysfunctionality of some kind. That’s why we need a Savior!

Churches: Sometimes we spend a lot of time zooming in on what’s wrong with the church instead of what’s right. Just as spouses are not perfect, neither are our churches, which are made up of imperfect people who have issues just like us. If you belong to a church that is teaching the truth of God’s Word, encouraging the members to live it out, and striving to reach the unsaved with the Gospel, be thankful! Let’s pray for the church to be strong in the areas where it is weak. Pray, don’t pout!

Nation: All of us can find a lot of things wrong with our nation and many of our elected officials. Government was created by God (Romans 13: 1-7), yet unfortunately mankind has corrupted it. We are commanded to pray for those who are in authority over us (1 Timothy 2:1-2); the situations may not change, but our attitudes surely will!

I could list many more things that we find ourselves complaining about. Again, we absolutely cannot change people or situations (only God has the power), but we CAN change our attitudes toward people and situations! When that strong urge hits us to dwell on the negative, let's think on all the wonderful, beautiful, positive things that the Lord has put in our lives. God has been so faithful, and we see new mercies every day! (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Remember, life is short; may we live it to the fullest for God’s glory! So………..

DON'T COMPLAIN!

So Amazing!

Have you ever had something you really wanted to see or do, and you waited and waited, and it finally came to fruition? Well, after fifteen long years (it seemed long to me!) of waiting for something I really wanted to do, it finally came to fruition!

I recently had the privilege of visiting the gloriously amazing Grand Canyon! Oh my, it was more breath taking than I had ever imagined!!

Words really cannot describe the beauty of this natural wonder. My husband, youngest daughter, and I walked along the South Rim of the Canyon, stopping at the various viewing points to bask in the view of this marvel of God’s creation. Also, the beauty of the Canyon was so unique at each lookout point; no two vistas were exactly the same. It absolutely filled my heart with worship:

“Sing to Him, sing praises to Him, speak of all His wonders.” 1 Chronicles 16:9.

God is so good, that not only does He meet all of our needs, but He also allows us to experience many of our wants, such as this trip that I waited 15 years to take!

During our time out West, not only did we see the Grand Canyon, but we also visited Hoover Dam (I’m still in awe of that spectacular engineering feat!) and Red Rock Canyon National Park; it was as if God took a cosmic crayon and literally painted those massive rocks in different shades of red, truly amazing!

Although we experienced some incredible things on our trip, nothing compares to the amazing wonder of God’s provision of giving us, who are broken people, a perfect Savior!

I know that we have just celebrated Resurrection Day, but the celebration does not end when the day passes on the calendar. Every day we can celebrate God’s awesome plan of redemption; how wonderful that the Lord provided a way for lost people to be reconciled to Him, and it is only through His Risen Son!!

Jesus paid it all for OUR sins:

He suffered, so we would not have to suffer.
He died, so we would not have to die spiritually.
He arose, so we can be raised to a new life.

“Easter Sunday” is over, yet the meaning of all that Christ accomplished for us on the cross is an everyday reason to rejoice!!

Yes, I waited fifteen years to see the amazing Grand Canyon; but what is even MORE amazing is that a person can receive Jesus Christ today, at this very moment, and have all of their sins paid for in full!!

The cross of The Lord Jesus Christ…. So Amazing!!!

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.” Titus 2:11

Planting, Watering, and Pruning

Ladies, do you like to garden?

I have to admit that I most assuredly do not have a “green thumb”. However, I understand (a little) the concept of having a successful garden.

Maybe it can be summed up in three simple steps…

First, there’s the planting, tilling the soil, and putting the seeds in the ground. Also, there’s the watering; if we want our flowers and shrubs to thrive, they must be nourished with lots of H₂O. The third step (which I sometimes fail to do if I plant anything at all) is also extremely crucial, the pruning, which cuts away the deadness that can hinder the plants from reaching their fullest potential.

Hmmm……. this process also sounds a lot like our growth in Christ. Maybe I can sum up this very important process in three (sometimes not so easy) steps...

First, the soil is our hearts and the seed is His Word. We have to position our hearts to receive instruction from the Lord. This can be equated to the tilling process. Having a heart that is tender and teachable means striving to get out all of the “junk” that keeps the seed from taking root. Bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, anger, jealousy, strife, impatience, and things like these can hinder the Holy Spirit, our Teacher, from strengthening us in the Lord. We all need to “do business with God” often and ask Him to show us the “soil” of our hearts; then the Precious Seed, the Scriptures, can transform us more and more into the image of Christ.

Also, the watering is spending daily time in prayer and reading and meditating on the Word. None of us can live a life that's pleasing to our Father unless we spend that wonderful one-on-one time with Him, talking to Him and allowing Him to speak to us. What an awesome privilege to have access to His throne room, and we can call on Him whenever and wherever we desire. We also have His Word to teach us, train us, rebuke us, correct us, comfort us, and encourage us! His Word indeed does water our hearts, but we must be intentional to seek the treasures that are found there.

Finally, the pruning can be painful, but oh so vital to our walk with Christ. I have some things in my life, and you have some things in your life that desperately need to go! I love the metaphor of the vine and the branches that our Savior tells His disciples shortly before He goes to the cross. The Lord cuts away the evil, sinful, unrighteous elements in our lives that keep us from bearing fruit for Him. Sometimes, He uses trials and suffering as part of the process. It hurts! Yet, without allowing the Lord to prune us, we could never grow in Christlikeness without it.

Planting, watering, and pruning…our gardens need these essential elements, and so do our hearts!

“Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

True Love

Valentine’s Day……hearts, candy, cards, gifts, jewelry, dinner dates, etc.

My sisters, is this one of your favorite holidays? I love the holiday because I really like hearts, candy (especially chocolate candy), cards, and of course I really like receiving gifts! But what if there were no hearts, candy, cards, and gifts? Would I still like this holiday? What about you?

Valentine’s Day is all about expressing your feelings for the ones you love. It’s fun to let the beloved people in our lives know how much we care by giving them a small token of our affection. Also, for those who are single, widowed, or don’t have a significant “other” in your life, you still have special people in your life, maybe parents, siblings or friends, whom you can remember on this day.

Since Valentines’ Day is all about love, it can also be a time to reflect on the One who displayed His awesome, wonderful, unconditional, sacrificial love for us all by giving up His life by being nailed to a cross. Our Savior suffered, bled, and died to pay the ultimate price for the forgiveness of our sins. We all deserve punishment for all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). But God so loved this sin cursed world that He sent Jesus, so we could believe in Him for the forgiveness of our sins and live with Him forever in a perfect glorious place called heaven!

Even if there were no hearts, candy, cards, or gifts, we are loved. In fact, we are loved lavishly! The Lord Jesus Christ has perfect love for us; and the only way we know how to love others is because He first loved us.

So, as you enjoy the holiday with all of its pleasantries, think about our one True Love. Think about Jesus.

“We know what real love is because Christ gave up His life for us.” I John 3:16 (New Living Translation)

Turn Over Your Burdens in 2017!

Happy New Year, my sisters!

We made it through another year. I don’t know about you, but every time the calendar turns to mark a new year, I get excited about new beginnings. The changing of a year is also a great time to reflect on what took place the year before; I rolodex in my mind the things that played out in my life, month by month. I can’t remember every single little detail of course, but something significant always comes to mind that helps me to recall what was special about that month.

Also, as the old year goes away, unfortunately, old baggage from the previous year sometimes tries to follow. The burdens from 2016 somehow leap their way into 2017, and just because it is a new year, doesn’t mean the old trials, the headaches, the drama, and the conflicts will disappear. I’m not being a pessimist, only a realist, because in this life we are going to have trouble, yet we are not without hope!

We have to remember the precious words of Jesus when those burdens and the cares and anxieties of life continue to bear down on us. His Word says, “Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about what happens to you.” 1 Peter 5:7 New Living Translation (NLT) Wow! So simple and profound, yet difficult to practice at times because we want to handle things ourselves.

Whatever burdens you are still carrying, turn them over to the awesome “Burden-Bearer” who can handle anything! We sometimes forget that we belong to a BIG GOD; our problems are no match for Him. He can handle our puny problems (puny in His eyes, but huge in our eyes).

I found myself meditating on Matthew 11:28-30 just this week:

“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” NLT

Wonderful, glorious, faithful promises from our Faithful Lord and Savior!!

May we welcome Christ’s invitation to come to Him; may we bask in the rest He desires to give; may we trade our burdens for His yoke and receive freedom from worry and anxiety.

COME…REST…. RECEIVE! As I said earlier, so simple but so profound.

My sisters, I don’t know what burdens followed you into the new year, but the Lord Jesus Christ can handle them ALL!!! I don’t make resolutions, but I can claim promises from His Word, and you can too! We will find rest when we believe what He has said in His Word!

Turn over your burdens... HAPPY NEW YEAR!

REJOICE!

Christ, our Savior, is born!

My sisters, as we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, may we always keep in our hearts that Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the greatest gift that we will ever receive.

His birth, our rebirth

His life, our abundant life

His death, our victory over sin’s power and control

His resurrection, our hope of eternity secured

The sinless Savior lying in a manger on that first Christmas morning is the King of Kings who will return one day in all of His glory!

Rejoice and celebrate the true meaning of the season, not just once a year but every day of the year!

Merry Christmas!

Prayer in the Midst of Tragedy

A horrific bus accident

Wildfires

Violent storms

These catastrophic events have taken place in our state in the last month. Precious lives were lost, and terrible heartache and sorrow still remains.
In times like these we feel so hopeless and helpless, but we can……

PRAY

The fatal bus accident that took the lives of six beautiful little children devastated our community. Many more children were injured, some severely, and words don’t seem adequate to express how this tragedy affected the lives of those involved. But, we can PRAY. WE can ask the Lord to heal broken hearts. WE can ask our Savior to strengthen and comfort the moms and dads who will never hold and hug their little ones again. WE can ask our Father to counsel the extended family members, friends, and teachers who will no longer experience the joy of being with these boys and girls whose lives were taken so suddenly. WE can ask the Healer to send help in any form He desires in order to help our community heal.

The wildfires that raged took lives, consumed many acres of forest, and destroyed countless buildings. Again, WE can pray for God’s peace to abound in the hearts of those whose loved ones were lost. WE can pray that resources will be provided to remove all of the charred debris, and that God will raise up the funds so businesses and homes can be rebuilt from the ashes.

The violent tornadoes and storms also took precious lives and devastated property. Again, we can pray, pray, pray!!

All of these things serve as a stark reminder of how helpless we are to prevent and control the tragic things that happen in life. We truly don’t understand when bad things occur, but we have a Savior who told us that, “……in Me you may have peace. In this world you will trouble. But take heart I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

The Lord promises, “….in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28) Most assuredly, all of these events were definitely NOT good things. Yet, those of us who know Christ believe and have seen God take the most painful of circumstances and bring rays of hope. The Lord is Faithful to His Word!! I look with anticipation to the day when He wipes away every tear, and takes away death, mourning, crying, and pain FOREVER! (Revelation 21:4)

After the bus accident, many in our community came out to donate blood (donors were lined up outside the building!). Almost immediately, a special fund was established to help the suffering families. The school bus company graciously offered to pay the funeral and medical expenses of the families involved. Prayer vigils were held to remember victims. So, we have already seen the compassion and love of The Lord Jesus Christ at work in the midst of tragedy.

So, my sisters, when life seems unbearable and it feels like the world is spinning out of control, leaving us feeling hopeless and helpless, remember we can always PRAY!!!

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Early Thanksgiving

In my earlier blog this week, I urged everyone to go out and vote.

On Wednesday morning, after the official results were in, we awoke to a new president elect of the United States. Many were elated; yet, many were very disappointed. We don’t exactly know what this means for us as a nation, but I am so glad that we can all put our faith and trust in the One who rules the nations!

We can vent, cry, protest, get angry, grumble and complain, pout, etc. OR, we can choose to be THANKFUL!

In the Word of God, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Yes, we can be thankful, even when things don’t go our way.

Here are just a few things to be thankful for…….

• We live in a country where we can choose to vote, and not have a self-appointed dictator to rule over us in an atmosphere of fear and oppression.

• We live VERY affluently compared to billions of people in many parts of the world.

• We have access to clean water; many in the world don’t and daily succumb to disease and death.

• We have cupboards that are overflowing with food; close to 800 million people in the world suffer from chronic malnourishment.

• We are blessed with families and friends who love us and care about us deeply.

• We can freely go to the church of our choice and worship without fear of imprisonment or loss of life.

• Most of all, we have a Savior who loved us and gave Himself up for us so that we can be forgiven of our sins and have an eternal home in heaven!!

As we choose to be thankful, also let us not forget that the Lord works ALL things together for our good; this is a faithful promise from a Faithful God!

Trials, tribulations, disappointments, and heartaches will come, but remember God is our Father, Jesus is our Redeemer, the Holy Spirit is our Helper; three of the best reasons to give thanks.

So, my sisters, I wish you an “early” Happy Thanksgiving!!