Category: Deuteronomy

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Trail Blazers

Each day takes us somewhere new; somewhere we have never been before. Our house might be the same; our place of business and our co-workers may not have changed but the day is new and so that makes the situations different and unique. With each day we are trail blazers following God’s plan.

Five years ago today everything we owned was either in a U-Haul box van or in the back of the Excursion. We said good bye to neighbors and friends and left Montana for our home in Arizona.

I think we felt like the children of Israel coming to the Promised Land. We had been marching in the wilderness for more years than we had cared to admit. Trying to do things our way and not realizing what the Lord was directing us to do was frustrating to say the least. All that time we “thought” we were following the Lord but we had missed the trail.

When good things would happen we would give Him glory and when times were tough we were praying and asking His direction. However, many times we would go with the thing that “seemed right” and logical instead of really waiting to see if that’s what He wanted.

God was always faithful. His arms were always open wide and His love was always unconditional!

Five years later, we can look back and see how He did guide us even when we chose the path and how He brought us full circle to bring us Home!

Thank you Father for your faithfulness.

“You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. 2 I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship. 3 Your love means more than life to me, and I praise you. 4 As long as I live, I will pray to you. 5 I will sing joyful praises and be filled with excitement like a guest at a banquet. 6 I think about you before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night. 7 You have helped me, and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings. 8 I stay close to you, and your powerful arm supports me.” Psalm 63:1-8 CEV

“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” vs 8

Five years later we have such joy to know that the Lord led us here. It’s Jesus who goes before us leading the way, setting the course. We need to listen as He says this is the way – walk in it and be obedient.

“So you people must be careful to do everything the Lord commanded you. Do not stop following God! 33 You must live the way the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will continue to live, and everything will be fine with you. You will live a long life in the land that will belong to you.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33 ERV

Happy Trails!

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Tell Me Bout the Good Old Days

We have friends visiting with us for the weekend. They have served the Lord for many years as pastors, missionaries, Bible study leaders and Mom and Dad.

Yesterday, we spent a good portion of the afternoon and evening talking about God’s faithfulness. They shared stories with us of times that things seemed hopeless and desperate. And we shared similar times with them. Each and every time we were able to share with each other had the Lord had moved miraculously and how He provided for all our needs.

God is faithful!

There were stories of the Lord providing financially, others where He brought physical healings and some where the Lord filled our lives with peace and direction. How great is our God!!

We were able to agree that God’s word was always a source of comfort and direction. It brought us strength when we had felt weak and searching for answers. We have seen the Lord provide for us from His goodness and also seen His hand reaching out to our children and our grandchildren.

The stories were testimony to God’s goodness and His love! It’s so important that we look back and recall how it used to be – the good and the bad – because in this we can see God’s faithfulness and His provision. Moses told the children of Israel to retell the stories of how God provided for them from the deliverance out of Egypt to arriving at the Promised Land.

“Listen, Israel! The Lord our God is the only true God! 5 So love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and strength. 6 Memorize his laws 7 and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.” Deuteronomy 6:6-8 CEV

We need to be storytellers of God’s goodness.

“My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. 3 You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. 4 But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything.5 If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking. ” James 1:2-5 CEV

Last night we had joy as we recalled the wonderful things the Lord had done and continues to do. The things we faced as mountains were removed when we trusted God and His word. It’s important that we retell these stories so that others will know of God’s faithfulness.

I had the words of a country song come to mind this morning as I was thinking on last night’s conversation.

“Grandpa (Grandma), tell me bout the good old days
Sometimes it feels like
This world’s gone crazy
Grandpa, take me back to yesterday
When the line between right and wrong
Didn’t seem so hazy

Did lovers really fall in love to stay
And stand beside each other, come what may?
Was a promise really something people kept
Not just something they would say?
Did families really bow their heads to pray?
Did daddies really never go away?
Oh, Grandpa, tell me ’bout the good old days” The Judds

Let’s take the time to tell our grandkids ’bout the good ol days and the faithfulness of our God!

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Going the Right Direction

This morning I find myself sitting in a log cabin, in the White Mountains in northern Arizona. I visited this area as a small girl. It was my favorite place to come for summer vacations; we camped on the banks of the White River, fished all day in the steam and played games with our new friends in the evenings.

As I sit here this morning in the glow of my computer screen, trying to be quiet so I don’t wake Dave, I am imagining the wonderful times we will have with our grandchildren. The memories we will make and the joy we will share.

And then my thoughts are interrupted.

I hear it…the morning song of the mountain birds. No matter where we are God reminds me of his loving care through the song of the birds. Each morning starts the same way. It starts with a chorus of those winged creatures who lift their voices in song and praise their creator for the countless ways He provides for them.

Our lives have dramatically changed since I came here as a girl. There are been some real rough patches, things I choose not to relive and there have been some great joys. As I look back I can always see the Father’s faithfulness. It’s not something I was quick to recognize in the moment but He was always there, He always provided.

Years ago when we were young in faith and learning to listen to the Lord’s voice we had a cowboy preacher, a dear friend, tell us this; If God says go South, He will provide; If you go North you’ll think you died! Now that’s not scripture but it is scriptural.

“Trust the LORD completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the LORD and stay aay from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.” Proverb 3:5-8 ERV

And then this one:
“Turn to the LORD for help in everything you do, and you will be successful. 4 The LORD has a plan for everything.” Proverbs 16:3-4a ERV

God has a plan for each day – it doesn’t really matter what the activities are in the day; He has a plan! Some days His plan is to change our plan but He has a plan.

When we listen, He speaks and when we follow His leading we are blessed! “Today I am giving you a choice. You may choose the blessing or the curse. 27 You will get the blessing if you listen and obey the commands of the LORD your God that I have told you today. 28 But you will get the curse if you refuse to listen and obey the commands of the LORD your God. So don’t stop living the way I command you today, and don’t follow other gods that you don’t know.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28 ERV

We have a choice – it would be silly, even disastrous at times, to think our own plan is better. Following Him is the right way to go and His wisdom is perfect. His way will keep us from being lost and give us something to sing about each morning.

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the LORD. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 ERV

Trust the Lord today. He loves us and His desire for us is good! He wants to make wonderful memories with us and He wants us to teach our children and grandchildren about His goodness and provision.

Go South today – He will provide!!!

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Who Do You Serve?

I read about the final days of Moses this morning. He had led the Israelites through the desert for forty years; he was one hundred twenty years old. His first forty years were spent in the pharaoh’s court because he had been adopted at three months of age. The second forty years of his life were spent in Midian herding sheep and raising a family. That’s where he saw the burning bush and the Lord called him to go back to Egypt and lead his people to freedom.

Moses was not a perfect man, not even close, but he had a heart for God. He spent his finals days preaching and teaching, encouraging the Israelites to keep their faith and trust in the Lord, their God. He told them as long as they served and honored the Lord things would go well for them. His life was over and theirs were just beginning.

It really made me stop and think. Here I am sixty-five, soon to be sixty-six. What does the Lord have for my future? Will I still be writing morning blogs ten years from now? Will my family and people around me see me as an old woman who has lost touch with the “normal” things of life because all I want to do is garden, bake, knit and tell people about Jesus?

Moses repeated over and again that the Israelites should never forget their God and how he had always provided for them. He was promising to go with them into this new land and give them victory over their enemies.

“Be strong and be brave. Don’t be afraid of those people because the Lord your God is with you. He will not fail you or leave you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 ERV

Jesus said the same thing to His disciples.

“Listen to me. A time is coming when you will be scattered, each to his own home. In fact, that time is already here. You will leave me, and I will be alone. But I am never really alone, because the Father is with me.

33 “I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!” John 16:32-33 ERV

Cheer Up! Jesus, our Saviour, has defeated the world. The Apostle John heard and lived that message so he wrote this to in his letter to Christians everywhere.

“Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:4-5 CEV

We have been promised victory, not because we are so talented, wise or gifted. The victory comes because of our relationship with the Lord! I never get tired of telling people about the victory that is our in Christ.

An old hymn has special meaning to me, especially at this time of year. As we approach Easter it’s so important that we remember the battle fought and victory won when Jesus left the tomb. Jesus hasn’t forgotten us. When he died, rose and ascended to the Father, He lives each day to make intercession for us. He is our source of strength and our example of victory.

He Lives

I serve a risen Savior He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living, Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy; I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him He’s always near.
• He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
• In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And though my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading, Through all the stormy blast;
The day of His appearing Will come at last.
• Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs To Jesus Christ the King!
The Hope of all who seek Him, The Help of all who find,
None other is so loving, So good and kind. Lyrics by Alfred Ackley

As Moses reminded the children of Israel I want to remind us, our Saviour is risen! Serving Him brings us into a place of victory.

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Digging In!

Ever heard the expression “digging in your heels”? It’s a statement used to indicate determination to stand your ground, strength of position, fighting against resistance, steadfastness.

I don’t see it as a sign of stubbornness. Instead, I see it much like an anchor. It’s the kind of determination that keeps us from being drawn astray or floating off with the tide and winds of popular opinion.

In the last few days I have been reading in Deuteronomy. This is Moses final instructions to the nation of Israel before the get to cross the Jordan River to their “Promised Land”. He is taking this time to remind them of the promises the Lord made to them and also of the laws that God gave them to obey. Moses is reminding them to be steadfast on God’s word.

“I taught you the laws and rules that the Lord my God commanded me. I did this so you could obey them in the land you are ready to enter and take for your own. 6 Obey these laws carefully. This will show the people of the other nations that you are wise and sensible. They will hear about these laws and say, ‘Truly, the people of this great nation are wise and sensible.’

7 “The Lord our God is near when we ask him to help us. No other nation has a god like that! 8 And no other nation is great enough to have laws and rules as good as the teachings I give you today. 9 But you must be careful! Be sure that as long as you live you never forget what you have seen. You must teach these things to your children and grandchildren.” Deuteronomy 4:5-9 ERV

Moses wasn’t going to be able to go with them when they crossed the Jordan and he wanted to make sure that they knew how important it was to them and all future generations to follow God’s law.

“So you people must be careful to do everything the Lord commanded you. Do not stop following God! 33 You must live the way the Lord your God commanded you. Then you will continue to live, and everything will be fine with you. You will live a long life in the land that will belong to you.” Deuteronomy 5:32-33 ERV

God had led the Israelites with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night since the time they left Egypt. If the cloud or pillar moved they moved; it if stayed in one place they did too. Moses words reminded them to keep following the Lord and not to move unless He directed it.

They were to dig in their heels and stay put even if everything looked good to them.

Oh for that kind of determination to be close to the Lord. Too many times I have found myself running out a head of the Lord and calling back for Him to hurry and catch up. Those are the times I found myself in situations that were not good for me. Those are the times I found myself asking the Father to rescue me once again.

How much better it would be if I simply sat down and said I’m not going if You’re not. Period. End of conversation.

We get caught up in our own plans, defending our own reputation, making our way when we should be waiting on the Lord’s lead.

“…But now you will again see the Lord, your teacher, and he will guide you. 21 Whether you turn to the right or to the left, you will hear a voice saying, “This is the road! Now follow it.” Isaiah 30:20b-21

Just as the Lord led the Israelites, if was prophesied that Jesus would lead us but we need to listen for his voice.

“My sheep know my voice, and I know them. They follow me, 28 and I give them eternal life, so that they will never be lost. No one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father gave them to me, and he is greater than all others. No one can snatch them from his hands, 30 and I am one with the Father.” John 10:27-30 CEV

The Lord promised to lead and protect the Israelites as they followed Him and Jesus promises the same to us as we follow His leading. God will lead us by a peace in our hearts. Become determined that you won’t let your own ambitions, pride or desire for things lead you. You won’t let the enemy deceive you into following him.

Dig in your heels and say, “Lord if you don’t go, I’m staying put!”

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Call For Assistance

We had an interesting morning yesterday. We had some errands to run in Nogales, it’s only 15 miles south of us. An easy drive. We figured to get everything done, maybe stop for lunch and then be home in a couple of hours.

It didn’t quite happen that way.

We had just gotten off the interstate and on to the surface street when the tire on the front passenger side blew! Dave was able to keep the truck under control and get us to the side of the road. Thank God it hadn’t blown a few moments earlier when we were traveling 75 mph on the freeway.

Dave got out to check the damage. The tire was shredded. It was a little more than we could deal with on our own so we called Roadside Assistance. Only the second time in all our years of driving that we’ve had to do that. Anyway…talking to someone who wasn’t familiar with the area and the names of the road at first seemed challenging and then she said “I’m sending you a link in a text, click on the link and I will be able to locate you.”

For those of you who have On-Star or other vehicle navigation locating devices this isn’t very interesting but for us, it was technology at it’s finest. Then she told us she would be contacting providers in the area and we would receive a text message as soon as someone was on the way.

We were able to stay updated on the app and knew when the driver would be arriving. There was an indicator of our vehicle on the map, along with the make and model of our truck. While we were waiting some nice people stopped and offered to help. Got to love helpful people.

We were expecting a tow truck, not that we needed to be towed but the information we received was that it was a towing company who had responded. We were surprised when a little Jetta pulled up in front of us, backed up on the shoulder, the driver jumped out in his safety reflective vest, got a jack out of his trunk and went to work.

He was such a pleasant young man. He seemed to enjoy his job and in no time at all we were ready to head down the road.

I had several Scriptures come to mind as we sat there. Dave and I both told the Lord how grateful we were for our safety and His protection.

“You can go to God Most High to hide.  You can go to God All-Powerful for protection.
2 I say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety, my fortress. My God, I trust in you.”
3 God will save you from hidden dangers and from deadly diseases. 4 You can go to him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield.” Psalm 91:1-4 ERV

“You have looked deep into my heart, Lord, and you know all about me. 2 You know when I am resting or when I am working, and from heaven you discover my thoughts. 3 You notice everything I do and everywhere I go. 4 Before I even speak a word, you know what I will say, 5 and with your powerful arm you protect me from every side.
6 I can’t understand all of this! Such wonderful knowledge is far above me.” Psalm 139-1-6 CEV

“Good will come to you in the city, and good will come to you in the country…6 Good will come to you when you come in, and when you go out.” Deuteronomy 28:3&6 NLV

I know the Lord is the originator of GPS tracking, God’s Protection Service. Long before On-Star He has been able to watch over all of us, His system doesn’t overload and shut down. He knows where we are!

As I said, I was expecting a tow truck but our help came in a Jetta. I love how the Lord continues to teach me each day to step outside of my preconceived ideas and just let Him work.

Before you head out today take time to thank the Lord for His protection. Let Him cover you with His wings, that is where we can safely dwell.

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Super Bowl Stars

Super Bowl Sunday!! Only a few days away.

I know this has millions of people’s attention. I’m not a big football fan and I must admit I know very little about the two teams playing. I couldn’t name one player on either team.

I do appreciate good sportsmanship, the talent of the players and good strategy. So I may watch part of it. However, it does remind me that each one of us is in a much more important game. The game of our lives. We are each starring in our own Super Bowl. And the choice of who wins is ours.

“Today I am giving you a choice of two ways. And I ask heaven and earth to be witnesses of your choice. You can choose life or death. The first choice will bring a blessing. The other choice will bring a curse. So choose life! Then you and your children will live.” Deuteronomy 30:19 ERV

We’ve got the best coach and He will give us game winning plays; we just need to tune in to His directions.

“Always remember what is written in that book of law. Speak about that book and study it day and night. Then you can be sure to obey what is written there. If you do this, you will be wise and successful in everything you do. 9 Remember, I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t be afraid, because the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:8-9 ERV

Our quarterback has never lost a game. He’s been bloody in battle but He played through the pain and came out the victor when the final gun was fired.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:2-3 ERV

So here’s to winning the big game and receiving the crown of victory!

“Then I heard a voice from heaven shout, ‘Our God has shown his saving power, and his kingdom has come. God’s own Chosen One has shown his authority. Satan accused our people in the presence of God day and night. Now he has been thrown out!

11 Our people defeated Satan because of the blood of the Lamb and the message of God. They were willing to give up their lives.” Revelation 12:10-11 CEV

“The man who does not give up when tests come is happy. After the test is over, he will receive the crown of life. God has promised this to those who love Him.” James 1:12 NLV

WE WIN!!!!

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Get Ready!

I’m doing something this year that I haven’t done in a number of years. I am using a Daily Bible Reading plan and when the year is complete I will have read through the Bible. Most of the time I pick a book in the Bible to read and study. Then I add to that a chapter from Proverbs and also from Psalms. This way I read through multiple books in the Bible each year but I don’t necessarily make it through the whole Bible. I’m excited about accomplishing this.

This morning I was reading about Abram. God asked Abram to go to a new land and then He promised to bless him there.

“The Lord said to Abram: Leave your country, your family, and your relatives and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will bless you and make your descendants into a great nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed because of you.[a

4-5 Abram was seventy-five years old when the Lord told him to leave the city of Haran. He obeyed and left with his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and slaves they had gotten while in Haran.” Genesis 12:1-5 CEV

Abram was an ordinary man. We aren’t told that he had any great talents or abilities. He was a descendant of Shem, one of Noah’s sons but other than that we don’t know much about him. We really have no insight as to why God chose him. What we do know is he was obedient when the Lord spoke to him.

That is my heart’s desire! Lord, when you speak I want to be quick to obey. I don’t want to try and force my own agenda. I don’t want to hold a committee meeting to see if this is the right time, place or financially feasible; I just want to willing obey.

“4 You bless all of those who trust you, Lord,  and refuse to worship idols or follow false gods. 5 You, Lord God, have done many wonderful things, and you have planned  marvelous things for us. No one is like you! I would never be able to tell all you have done.

6 Sacrifices and offerings are not what please you; gifts and payment for sin are not what you demand. But you made me willing to listen and obey. 7 And so, I said, “I am here to do what is written about me in the book, where it says, 8 ’I enjoy pleasing you.
Your Law is in my heart.’” Psalm 40:4-8 CEV

Abram was not a perfect man. He had his shortcomings and failures but God used him because He was obedient. All of the people that God used in the Bible were men and women just like us. They came up short in life; some had temper issues, some had problems with pride, others had moral failings and still others felt they were too insignificant to be used.

But what God saw was men and women who loved Him and were willing to be obedient. They had a desire to know God and make His word their first and final authority.

When Jesus came and started his preaching ministry He told the people the same thing. He gave them, and us, instruction on right living. He had a lawyer ask him what was the most important law that God wanted us to keep. I think he was startled by what Jesus said.

“One of them was an expert in the Jewish Law. So he tried to test Jesus by asking, 36 “Teacher, what is the most important commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus answered: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. 38 This is the first and most important commandment. 39 The second most important commandment is like this one. And it is, “Love others as much as you love yourself.” 40 All the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets are based on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:35-40 CEV

When we love God with all our heart we want to obey Him. We want to please Him. We don’t do this to earn His love; we do it in response to His love, it’s unconditional. God desires to provide for us and to bless us.

“Be faithful in obeying the Lord your God. Be careful to keep all His Laws which I tell you today. And the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. 2 All these good things will come upon you if you will obey the Lord your God.” Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NLV

Our motive for obeying the Lord shouldn’t be to get His blessings. No, that motive is called greed. But when we obey with hearts filled with love, the Father’s blessings fall on us. As we live in willing obedience we are blessed.

Get Ready!

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Thankful for Choice

As you begin to think about tomorrow’s feast is your mouth already watering?

Which to choose? Turkey, ham, yams, mashed potatoes, pumpkin or pecan pie, I know, you want a little bit of everything don’t you?

The freedom to choose or as some phrase it, free will, is something that we can all be grateful for. Imagine how boring life would be if there was no variety. What if every vehicle was a Ford and each dress was blue? All houses were Cape Cod style and the only college degree to attain was one in Physics. All flowers were red and all dogs were beagles.

No choice, no choice at all.

If that isn’t an appealing idea then you should be thanking God right about now. He is the one that established free will. In the Garden of Eden He created a large variety of fruit bearing trees and God told Adam he could pick from any tree he wanted but one.

“The Lord God put the man in the Garden of Eden to work the soil and take care of the garden. 16 The Lord God gave him this command: “You may eat from any tree in the garden. 17 But you must not eat from the tree that gives knowledge about good and evil. If you eat fruit from that tree, on that day you will certainly die!” Genesis 2:15-17 ERV

Now some may think that God was unfair to restrict Adam from the tree that would give him knowledge of good and evil. Far from it. God’s desire was that Adam would only know good; God didn’t want him knowing about evil. God also knew that choice would separate them because God can’t have relationship with evil; man’s relationship with God would die, it would be spiritual death.

We do a similar thing with our children. We tell them “play with all these toys but don’t touch the stove, it’s hot and you’ll get burned”. So many good and wonderful things to do and play with, just choose the good.

Adam made a choice and God didn’t usurp his will. God’s desire is that we love Him and obey His word by our free will. He wants a relationship with us not a robotic obedience.  So, God gave another instruction on choice.

“ I call heaven and earth to speak against you today. I have put in front of you life and death, the good and the curse. So choose life so you and your children after you may live. 20 Love the Lord your God and obey His voice. Hold on to Him. For He is your life, and by Him your days will be long. You will be allowed to live in the land the Lord promised to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” Deuteronomy 30:19-20 NLV

Freedom to choose life or death, blessing or curse and then God seemed to say, in case you’re not sure which one to choose, let me give you a hint – choose life.

God has also made a choice. He has chosen us to be His sons and daughters. He doesn’t want  anyone to miss out on His goodness. His love extends to everyone.

“Before the world was created, God had Christ choose us to live with him and to be his holy and innocent and loving people. 5 God was kind and decided that Christ would choose us to be God’s own adopted children. 6 God was very kind to us because of the Son he dearly loves, and so we should praise God.

7-8 Christ sacrificed his life’s blood to set us free, which means that our sins are now forgiven. Christ did this because God was so kind to us. God has great wisdom and understanding, 9 and by what Christ has done, God has shown us his own mysterious ways.” Ephesians 1:4-9 CEV

“My dear children, I write this letter to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone sins, we have Jesus Christ to help us. He always did what was right, so he is able to defend us before God the Father. 2 Jesus is the way our sins are taken away. And he is the way all people can have their sins taken away too.” I John 2:1-2 ERV

God has made His choice; He has chosen us. Now we have the freedom to choose. He wants to be our choice but He won’t force His will on us.

“He gave the right and the power to become children of God to those who received Him. He gave this to those who put their trust in His name. ” John 1:12 NLV

I wholeheartedly recommend choosing God and the wonderful life that He has planned for us.

I’m so thankful for the gift of choice. My choice is to receive God’s gift of life!

 

 

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Cornucopia Gratitude

Do you remember being younger and learning “adult” words?

That’s the way I was with the word cornucopia. I remember being in first and second grade when the teachers would put out the Thanksgiving  decorations with the Pilgrims, turkeys, corn stalks and the horn-of-plenty.

They would have pictures of a horn-of-plenty filled to overflowing like the one above. They would tell us how the Pilgrims nearly starved that first year in the New Land and from their friendship with the Indians they learned to grow good crops. They all celebrated together and enjoyed the plenty of their harvest.

Then there was third grade. Mrs. Griffin put out a horn-of-plenty and asked if we knew what it was. Lots of hands went up and we all responded with the same answer. It was then she told us that this was a cornucopia. Now, that was an adult word.

Nearly every year I put out my cornucopia and it reminds me of the wonderful plenty that God has given to me. My life is full and running over just like the arrangement.

This morning, let’s be grateful for “plenty”.

“Then all the people in that land will see that you are called to be the Lord’s people, and they will be afraid of you.

11 “And the Lord will give you many good things. He will give you many children. He will give your cows many calves. He will give you a good harvest in the land that the Lord promised your ancestors to give you. 12 The Lord will open his storehouse where he keeps his rich blessings. He will send rain at the right time for your land. He will bless everything you do. You will have money to lend to many nations. And you will not need to borrow anything from them.” Deuteronomy 28:10-12 ERV

The verses above are part of the summary of blessings that Moses told the Israelites God would pour out on them if they were obedient and followed the Lord.  In one translation the word “many” in verse 11 is also listed as plenty.

God has promised that He would supply all our needs according to the riches that we have in Christ.

“ My God will use his glorious riches to give you everything you need. He will do this through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 ERV

When Jesus taught about giving. He said when we give we receive. That’s the way it is in farming. We give the ground the seed; we give the seed the water and the seed gives us a harvest.

“Remember this: The one who plants few seeds will have a small harvest. But the one who plants a lot will have a big harvest. 7 Each one of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give. You should not give if it makes you unhappy or if you feel forced to give. God loves those who are happy to give. 8 And God can give you more blessings than you need, and you will always have plenty of everything. You will have enough to give to every good work. 9 As the Scriptures say,

“He gives generously to the poor;
    his goodness will continue forever.”

10 God is the one who gives seed to those who plant, and he gives bread for food. And God will give you spiritual seed and make that seed grow. He will produce a great harvest from your goodness. 11 God will make you rich in every way so that you can always give freely. And your giving through us will make people give thanks to God.” II Corinthians 9:6-11 ERV

That’s the way it is with God. We take what He has given us and with a joyful heart we give back. Then God multiplies what we give so that we always have plenty.

Today is a cornucopia day – a day of plenty. Plenty of gratitude, plenty of joy, plenty of peace, plenty of friends and plenty of what we have need of!

Thank you Lord that you are the God of plenty.

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