Category: Book

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Never Alone

Yesterday we got together at our oldest daughters for swimming and a bbq. Our youngest daughter and her family were there too. It was a great afternoon.

Our oldest daughter mentioned that she and her husband were going on a morning trail ride with friends today. To me, it’s an almost perfect start to an Easter. You see when she and her brother were little, before their younger sister was born, we spent nearly every Easter at Cowboy Church Sonrise Service.

Before dawn, we would gather up in the grandstands at the arena and celebrate the resurrection of our wonderful Lord. We’d sing, give testimony of God’s goodness, preach a little and pray.

Those were the thoughts filling my heart as I felt off to sleep.

Jesus is our risen Lord!

We met so many people during those days, some of them still stay in contact with us. Life is good when you can join together with others who love the Lord. There’s a bond – a connection – a common love. There’s something about being together with people who know that they are loved by Christ, have been forgiven and know they will never be alone.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. 4 In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. 5 And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. 6 And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves. 7 In Christ we are made free by his blood sacrifice. We have forgiveness of sins because of God’s rich grace.” Ephesians 1:3-7 ERV

If you feel lonely, abandoned, “forsaken”, outcast and unloved. I have one word for you – Jesus!

Jesus’ mission was to the lost and the hurting. He came for those who were hopeless, helpless and alone. His promise is real:

” Don’t fall in love with money… The Lord has promised that he will not leave us or desert us.” Hebrews 13:5 CEV

Money and things will never fulfill our hearts desire. They can satisfy for a while but Jesus has promised to never leave us – He won’t abandon us, desert us or leave us unprotected and without help.

“ Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:15-16 CEV

That was the message we preached in those moments just before dawn. In those grandstands and bleachers at rodeo arenas across Arizona. That’s the message that we will be preaching today.

Christ is faithful. He is forgiving. He knows our needs. He is risen! and because He rose, we will never be alone, abandon or left without help and hope. He is risen indeed!

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Get Up & Go!

This week has presented me with some real challenges and in fact, I was sidelined for a few days. Maybe you were too. Things just not the way you planned, and you faced set backs? Well, today it’s time to get up and go again!

Today is a day of victory!!

I went to Bible Gateway and looked up the words “arise go”. Definitely didn’t find the vernacular I’m accustomed too, “saddle up and ride” but it means the same.

The prodigal son said “I will arise and go to my father’s house”; Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Arise take up your bed and walk and go to your house”; he also told the leper “Arise and go thy way, thy faith has made thee whole”; then there was the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus when the Lord spoke from heaven and told him to “Arise and go into the city”. Of course, we have the angel telling Joseph to “Arise and go to Egypt” with Mary and baby Jesus to keep him from being killed by Herod.

However this morning I want us to look at a story of victory “Arise and Go” from the Old Testament. Let’s put the story in context, there is a famine in the land. The Syrian army is in full siege against the Israelites. The Israelites are hold up in the city and things are so bad they are eating animal dung and even their own children. There are 4 lepers outside the city wall, and they are starving to death.

“… Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.

5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there.

6 For the LORD had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, …7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.

8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it.

9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king’s household.” II Kings 7:4-9 KJV

Notice the thought process of the lepers. If we sit here we will die so they “arose up to go” to the Syrian camp. And when they did, God not only provided for them but He provided deliverance for all the Israelites and destroyed their enemy.

When we arise and go forth, we are moving in the right direction. We can trust the Lord to direct our paths and to secure our outcome. Don’t become complacent and sit where you are until you die. Rise up – go forth – go forth in His name and He provides the victory.

Saddle up – victorys is ahead!

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A Life-Giving Tree

Living in the desert we have unusual trees and most of our flowers bloom on cacti. It truly is a sticky situation!

For the last several weeks I’ve been watching a Palo Verde tree come into full bloom. Watching the desert go from brown to green and yellow is a touch of kindness to my senses.

This tree is an example of the verses I’ve been reading.

After prayer this morning, I had just one verse in mind. When I went and looked it up I found that the others around it all spoke of the same thing.

My words – my mouth and keeping the peace. Don’t know what today has in store for me or for you but this is a pretty strong reminder of how we need to act.

“A gentle answer makes anger disappear, but a rough answer makes it grow. 2 Listening to wise people increases your knowledge, but only nonsense comes from the mouths of fools. 3 The Lord sees what happens everywhere. He watches everyone, good and evil. 4 Kind words are like a life-giving tree, but lying words will crush your spirit. 5 Fools refuse to listen to their father’s advice, but those who accept discipline are smart.” Proverbs 15:1-5 ERV

Sounds like what our Mommas always taught us. If you can’t say something nice, say nothing at all.

“ People will make weapons to fight against you, but their weapons will not defeat you. Some people will say things against you, but anyone who speaks against you will be proved wrong.” The Lord says, “That is what my servants get! They get the good things that come from me, their Lord.” Isaiah 54:17 ERV

I want my words to be life-giving and kind. I will let the Father defend me against the words of others and I will be an example of Him with my speech today. In the name of Jesus!

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Our Past is Forgiven

Returning to one of my favorites this morning. I know some of you are battling with your past and feeling you just don’t measure up. Here’s the thing, none of us do but the good news is we are all forgiven and the Father isn’t bringing up our past so why should we?

Yesterday I mentioned how the only one of the three hanging on crosses that day rose from the dead. True. And there was also only one who receive forgiveness for his past. Jesus cried out, “Father, forgive them. The don’t realize what they have done”. That wasn’t just for the soldiers and those who had accused Him unjustly – It was for all of humanity.

“My dear children, I am writing this to you so you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, there is One Who will go between him and the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the One Who is right with God. 2 He paid for our sins with His own blood. He did not pay for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.” I John 2:1-2 NLV

There are those of you who are dealing with serious physical issues. The same Lord who forgives your sins, heals your diseases. There’s no big and little sin to Him or big and little sickness. He’s covered it all.

“Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrow that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins!5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 NLT

And for those of you who are feeling alone and that no one cares – He’s there! Let His words – not mine bring you forgiveness, healing and comfort today!

“With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise his holy name! 2 With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3 The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4 and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. 5 Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.

6 For all who are mistreated, the Lord brings justice. 7 He taught his Law to Moses and showed all Israel what he could do. 8 The Lord is merciful! He is kind and patient, and his love never fails. 9 The Lord won’t always be angry and point out our sins; 10 he doesn’t punish us as our sins deserve.

11 How great is God’s love for all who worship him? Greater than the distance between heaven and earth! 12 How far has the Lord taken our sins from us? Farther than the distance from east to west!” Psalm 103:1-12 CEV

Someone may tell you that God hasn’t forgiven the sins we commit today but He does. When He died all of our sins were still in the future and His sacrifice covered them all.

Praise God! Our past, our present and our future sins have all been paid for! Calvary covered all of them.

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He Lives

There were three that died that day on crosses but only One lives!

You all know how I feel about the old hymns. There is so much truth and power in those songs but because I sang them over and over again as a child I didn’t realize the value of the words. Also, sad to say, the message of those songs didn’t line up with the message that many times was being preached from the pulpit.

I often heard “this life down here will always be a struggle BUT when we get to heaven it will all be worth it”. I agree with the fact the heaven will be so much greater, not even comparable, with the life we live here but we are called to be victorious and world over comers living the abundant life of Christ while we are here. So many times, Christians live as if they were saved and stuck.

Jesus didn’t live that way and He doesn’t want us to either. When he died, rose and ascended to the Father, Jesus lives to make intercession for us. He is our source of strength and our example of victory.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 NKJV

“But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:24-25 NKJV

Remember our message a few weeks back on the resurrection – Jesus spoke Mary’s name and told her to tell the disciples that He is risen! This old hymn reminds us that Jesus is alive and walking with us, giving us a life of victory.

• 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

HE LIVES! He lives within my heart.

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A Sweet Smelling Fragrance

Have you ever walked through a rose garden when it’s in bloom or sat on a bench surrounded by gardenias?

Some years back my mother was living in Dillon, MT where we lived. She had moved into a duplex and right outside the back door was a tall lilac bush. Each time she opened the door to walk out she would be greeted with the smell of lilac. She told me that she remembered being a small girl and smelling lilacs at her home.

That smell, that sweet smell, reminded her of home!

Our sense of smell is very strong – we can smell a favorite food cooking and our mouth will water, even if we have just eaten. Or the smell of vinegar and cleaning products can make us wince.

What type of smell do we emit?

No, I’m not asking if you’ve bathed recently or what type of cologne you wear but I’m asking about your life.

“You may prepare sacrifices to give thanks in any of these three ways. Bring your sacrifice to a priest, and he will take it to the bronze altar. 9 Then, to show that the whole offering belongs to me, the priest will lay part of it on the altar and send it up in smoke with a smell that pleases me. 10 The rest of this sacrifice is for the priests; it is very holy because it was offered to me.” Leviticus 2:8-10 CEV

Offerings of thanksgiving to God were to be a mixture of fine flour, olive oil and incense. And when they were burned by the priest, the offering had a sweet smell that was pleasing to the Lord.

Is our life one with the sweet smell of thanksgiving? Do we spend more time thanking God for His goodness and His love than we do complaining about how things could/should/would be better “if only”? As Christians – Christ like ones – our lives should be an offering that pleases the Father.

“Do as God does. After all, you are his dear children. 2 Let love be your guide. Christ loved us and offered his life for us as a sacrifice that pleases God.” Ephesians 5:1-2 CEV

We are to be like Christ and our lives should be like His, a sacrifice that pleases God. Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 that we are to present our bodies a living sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God. Just as the priests presented the sacrifices to the Lord and it pleased Him, we should offer our lives as a pleasing sacrifice.

And it’s not only the Father who notices that our lives are a sacrifice, those around us will notice too.

“I am grateful that God always makes it possible for Christ to lead us to victory. God also helps us spread the knowledge about Christ everywhere, and this knowledge is like the smell of perfume. 15 In fact, God thinks of us as a perfume that brings Christ to everyone.” II Corinthians 2:14-15 CEV

As we enter this week of Easter I desire that my life “smells sweet” with praise and thanksgiving to the Father and forgiveness and love to those I meet.

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Knowing What’s Ahead

How many times do we wish we could know our future? What will happen next week, next month, next year? If we only knew…

Jesus knew.

He had preached a message that He was the Good Shepherd and like a good shepherd He would give His life for the sheep. He boldly proclaimed, “I am the Son of God”. Some people believed Him but most wanted to arrest Him and have Him killed. (John 10)

Jesus knew what was ahead. He separated Himself and His disciples.

A few days later He received word that His friend Lazarus was sick. He stayed where He was another two days. He knew what would happen.

Lazarus died. He went to Bethany and He knew that He would perform another miracle. He would raise Lazarus from the tomb after he had been dead for four days. This miracle sealed Jesus fate. The religious elite were determined to have Him killed.

“ From that day on, the council started making plans to put Jesus to death. 54 Because of this plot against him, Jesus stopped going around in public. He went to the town of Ephraim, which was near the desert, and he stayed there with his disciples.” John 11:53-54 CEV

Jesus knew. It was almost Passover and people were asking if Jesus would come.

“The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors 13 took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted, ‘Praise God! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!'” John 12:12-13 NLT

This incident has become known as Palm Sunday. The day we celebrate today!

“Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord.” Psalm 118:25 NLT

Jesus knew. He also knew this would lead to His arrest, mock trial, beating and crucifixion. He knew.

So why did He put Himself through all of this?

“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” II Corinthians 5:21 NLT

Jesus knew the Father’s plan and He submitted to it willingly.

“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

He knew and He endured the cruelty because He also knew that joy that was waiting for Him.

Jesus knew that His obedience of suffering for sin would keep us from having to pay that price!

Now we can look ahead and see that we have been made right with God and our future is glorious!

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What a Difference a Day Makes

Yesterday morning the sun was shining, the birds were singing and people were out enjoying a morning walk. I don’t know what they had planned for this morning but no one’s out, even the birds are holed up and the wind is blowing pretty hard.

Physically there is a difference in this day. Just as quickly as the wind comes in, emotionally and circumstantially our days can change. Things aren’t quite how we planned.

You ever have one of those mornings when you get up and wonder what the day will have in store? You’re wondering if it will be bright and sunny or you will have the strength to face it? Will you have the answer for the day’s questions or are you in need of help?

A very real part of our relationship with the Lord is knowing that His mercy is new every morning and that He has promised to never abandon us. When we get up each morning do we thank the Father for His mighty acts; for His strength, peace, joy and His abundant wisdom? Or do we complain about our circumstances?

It’s not all about me – it certainly is all about Him! So focus…

“Praise the Lord, because he is good! His faithful love will last forever! 2 Everyone the Lord has saved should repeat that word of thanks. Praise him, all who have been rescued from the enemy.” Psalm 107:1-2 ERV

“Thank the Lord for his faithful love and for the amazing things he does for people. 9 He satisfies those who are thirsty. He fills those who are hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9 ERV

“He gave the command and healed them, so they were saved from the grave. 21 Thank the Lord for his faithful love and for the amazing things he does for people. 22 Offer sacrifices of thanks to him. Sing with joy about all that he has done.” Psalm 107:20-22 ERV

“Whoever is wise will remember these things and begin to understand the Lord’s faithful love.” Psalm 107:43 ERV

Starting the day with praise, makes an indelible difference. Throughout the day take “Praise Breaks”. Praise reminds us of the Lord’s faithful love and all He has done!

What a difference praise makes in our day!

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Hope & Victory

I know we’re still a week away from celebrating Easter but the heart of everyone who has chosen to put their faith in Christ celebrates His resurrection each and every day.

We serve a risen Savior – He lives!

This morning I am sitting here quietly and again I’m thinking of the first Easter morning. Thinking what it must have been like when Mary ran to the tomb and found it empty.

She was heartbroken, thinking that someone had stolen Jesus body. And then it happened – she heard her name.

“Jesus asked her, ‘Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?’

She thought he was the gardener and said, ‘Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.’

16 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’

She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni.’ The Aramaic word “Rabboni” means “Teacher.” John 20:15-16 CEV

I’ve thought of that so many times,. What must it have been like to hear Jesus speak her name? In her heartache, He was there!

In my heartache, He is here. In my joy, He is here! In my day to day moments He is here and when I’m quiet, I can hear Him speak my name.

So I gladly declare to all this morning

“The angel said to the women, ‘Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. 6 He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. 7 Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee.'” Matthew 28:5-7 CEV

He is risen as He said! He lives within my heart. Hallelujah!

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A Kiss from God

Today I want to talk to you a bit about little kindnesses. In the Bible we see time and again where the Scriptures say, “He was moved with compassion” or “His loving kindness”.

Little kindnesses are like a kiss from the Father.

Loving-kindness – you know, like when the waitress brings you the wrong meal and you don’t go off on her, but you are kind in your words and sincere in your appreciation for her hard work.

You know what loving-kindness is.

It’s when you show patience at the grocery store with the cashier when she has just been cussed out by the client before you. Or when your child hasn’t cleaned up the yard or taken out the trash like you told them to do and you find out that they were wounded by a friend or embarrassed by a teacher and they were just too distracted to get it done.

All of these are practical examples of loving kindness.

Yesterday, I had two people tell me how much what I had done for them meant to them. Truthfully, I really didn’t feel I had done anything special – nothing big, not grand but I had just come along side when they were feeling overwhelmed and helped out. No biggee…but it was to them.

Jesus calls it giving cups of cold water!

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who welcomes a prophet, just because that person is a prophet, will be given the same reward as a prophet. Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same reward as a good person. 42 And anyone who gives one of my most humble followers a cup of cool water, just because that person is my follower, will surely be rewarded.” Matthew 10:40-42 CEV

Now I know some will look at these verses and focus on the reward but I really think what Jesus is trying to get us to see is that nothing, no matter how small, goes unnoticed to the Father when we are reaching out in love. Extending loving-kindness to those around us is an example of the Christ that lives in us.

Over ten years ago I spent a week in the hospital and when I came home I wasn’t able to do much for a several weeks. Some sweet ladies brought me cups of cool water.

One neighbor came over each morning to take our dog for a walk and then she took my ironing to her home and did it for me. Another neighbor cooked extra dinner each night for Dave to enjoy when he got off work. She kept the refrigerator filled with the things I had been told to eat on a special diet. And she did my laundry. These acts of love were priceless!

All these years later I remember how their kindnesses were a reminder of God’s love and provision for me. Kisses of His unfailing love.

“The king will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” Matthew 25:40 CEV

We can change the world, one life at a time. “Father make me more aware of those that need a cup of cold water today.”

Let me give them kisses of kindness. I want the world to see my Father through me!

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