Category: Book

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Technically It’s Morning

So many thoughts have been racing through my head I had to get up. I know chaotic dreams that interrupt my sleep are not from the Lord, so it was time to get up and take every thought captive.

“ We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does. 4 The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, 5 and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” II Corinthians 10:3-5 ERV

Technically, it’s morning!

I’ve been up since 1 a.m. but so has my Father. He doesn’t mind that I call in the middle of the night or the wee hours of the morning. It doesn’t wake Him and He’s always waiting to give advice and restore my peace.

“He will not let you fall. Your Protector will not fall asleep. 4 Israel’s Protector does not get tired. He never sleeps. 5 The Lord is your Protector. The Lord stands by your side, shading and protecting you.” Psalm 121:3-5 ERV

I’ve prayed…we’ve talked…my heart is lighter and at peace.

Yesterday morning I woke with the lyrics “joyful, joyful, we adore thee”. This morning it was different. The enemy was trying to steal my joy. Instead of fretting, I did the same thing I had done yesterday. I sang, but with different lyrics –

” In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise,
In the morning when I rise,
Give me Jesus.

Refrain:
Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus.
You may have all the rest,
Give me Jesus.”

Technically, it’s morning and since it’s morning, I just want to be immersed in the presence of Jesus. Now, I’m going to lay down, covered with my cozy blanket, listen to the rain and sleep in peace.

“When I go to bed, I sleep in peace, because, Lord, you keep me safe.” Psalm 4:8 ERV

In a few hours I will wake again with a song in my heart but it’s already been a good day because technically, it’s morning.

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Fill Your Day With Praise

Dave and I like to watch flashmob videos on YouTube. Last night, right before we went to bed, we watched one of my favorites.

It starts with one man in a tuxedo, standing in the middle of a city square. When a little girl puts some coins in a hat on the ground, he begins to play his stand-up bass. In just a few minutes, he’s joined by more musicians and finally a choir.

They were playing Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy”. Not only is it a beautiful melody but my heart began to sing the lyrics which were written by Henry van Dyke in 1907.

“Joyful, joyful, we adore You
God of glory, Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before You
Op’ning to the sun above

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day!

All Your works with joy surround You
Earth and heav’n reflect Your rays
Stars and angels sing around You
Center of unbroken praise

Field and forest, vale and mountain
Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea
Chanting bird and flowing fountain
Praising You eternally!”

What a wonderful way to fall asleep and wake again. Praising the Lord with all my heart!

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle…19 The Lord has set up His throne in the heavens. And His holy nation rules over all. 20 Praise the Lord, you powerful angels of His who do what He says, obeying His voice as He speaks! 21 Praise the Lord, all you armies of His who work for Him and do what pleases Him. 22 Praise the Lord, all His works in all places under His rule. Praise the Lord, O my soul! Psalm 103 NLV

For a few brief moments in that city square it was if the whole earth was praising the Lord. The orchestra, the choir and those listening were caught up in one special moment of praise, whether they realized it or not.

Praise is our opportunity to recount the many wonderful things the Lord has done for us.

“Your thoughts are of great worth to me, O God. How many there are! 18 If I could number them, there would be more than the sand. When I awake, I am still with You.” Psalm 139:17-18 NLV

We are always a part of God’s thoughts. From the beginning of creation, we were part of His plan.

Our Good Shepherd leads us, guides us, brings us to a place of rest and protection. He is with us always and when life on earth is over, eternal life with Him in heaven will begin!

Let that fill your day with praise!

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“Walk” in Obedience

Have you ever been crippled? Maybe you’ve broken an ankle, a leg or had foot surgery. Perhaps you had a crippling fear that weakened you; possibly you were an emotional cripple or even financially unable to move.

Most of us have been crippled at one point or another. Imagine now that this wasn’t something you could get over and the longer you lived with limitation it began to steal away your hope.

That describes the man Jesus met by the pool side. He had been a cripple for thirty-eight years. 38 years! Thirty-eight years he waited for his miracle and quite frankly I think he had lost hope.

“Many sick people were lying on the porches beside the pool. Some of them were blind, some were crippled, and some were paralyzed. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for 38 years. 6 Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been sick for a very long time. So he asked him, ‘Do you want to be well?’ 7 The sick man answered, ‘Sir, there is no one to help me get into the water when it starts moving. I try to be the first one into the water. But when I try, someone else always goes in before I can.’” John 5:3-7 ERV

Do you hear him? “Nobody will help me, there’s nothing I can do about my situation, I’m stuck!”

“Then Jesus said, ‘Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ 9 Immediately the man was well. He picked up his mat and started walking.” John 5:8-9 ERV

The man thought there was no help but the power of the Word of God spoken over our lives is life changing.

“ With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

I’m sure this man sensed the power in Jesus’ words. This was no ordinary man, these were not empty words. They brought hope and hope brought action; this man went from a cripple to a person of determination and strength.

This isn’t just a nice story of healing that happened in the Bible long ago, it is an example to us for today. We have an open invitation to come to God’s throne and when we come, we find the help we need.

“16 Jesus was doing all this on the Sabbath day. So these Jews began trying to make him stop. 17 But he said to them, ‘My Father never stops working, and so I work too.’…19 But Jesus answered, ‘I assure you that the Son can do nothing alone. He does only what he sees his Father doing. The Son does the same things that the Father does.‘” John 5:16-19 ERV

Our Father never stops working! He is still working today and the things He does, He does because He loves us.

“Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.20 With God’s power working in us, he can do much, much more than anything we can ask or think of.” Ephesians 3:19-20 ERV

Our part is to walk in obedience.

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Don’t Be Afraid in the Darkness

I feel this is the message of Psalm 23. Yes, I am still in Psalm 23.

Do you have a loved one, a dear friend, that maybe you haven’t seen in ages and then you get together and catch up on all that has been going on in your life and theirs?

That’s where I have been the past several days by camping out in Psalm 23 with my dear friend, Jesus.

I’ve heard the Shepherd say, “Come lay down in the pasture. Get a cool and refreshing drink. Sleep, rest. Be still. I am filling your life with goodness, up to the very rim and more – I’m running your cup of life over with My love”.

Then my heart has said, “Lord, there are dangerous things happening all around me. Hurtful, heartbreaking situations, physical dangers and emotional unrest”. Then comes this reminder.

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.” Psalm 23:4-5 NLT

King David, before he was king, was a shepherd. He cared for his sheep, and he let his experiences be life lessons to teach him about the loving care of the Good Shepherd.

The Lord knows a lot about dangerous and frightening situations. Just ask Noah (the ark builder), David (the giant slayer), Daniel (the lion tamer), Peter (the water walker), Paul (the shipwreck survivor) and oh yes, Jonah (the fish bait).

These were all everyday people – there was nothing special about them except their willingness to obey God.

“ I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. 19 And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power 20 he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places. ” Ephesians 1:18-20 ERV

The last few weeks I have had several people very close to me face some pretty tough stuff. As I was praying for each of them the Lord kept bringing me back these verses in Psalms and Ephesians.

In the darkest valley, don’t be afraid. Know the blessings God has for you. Know the mighty power of God.

“I, I am the one who wipes away all your sins. I do this to please myself. I will not remember your sins. 26 But you should remember me. Let’s meet together and decide what is right.” Isaiah 43:25-26 ERV

The Lord wants us to meet with Him, in the quiet places, away from the distractions where we can remember His power, His strength, His unfailing love. He wants us to be worry-free, completely trusting Him and filled with joy because His love never fails.

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Time for a Cuddle

Here I am – back in my quiet place. You know the one – the one in green pastures beside still waters!

“Be still, and know that I am God:” Psalm 46:10 That’s what I am hearing this morning.

Be still! I remember when our youngest daughter, Kaci, was just around a year old. She awaken in the middle of the night and I got up with her and took her to the living room to rock her. She shared the bedroom with her sister and I didn’t want to wake her too.

When I got to the living room I sat down on the couch and began to rock back and forth, thinking the rocking motion would lull her back to sleep. She really wanted none of that. She began to lean her body in the direction of the family room and kitchen. (You know that kind of lean, the one little kids have when they want you to take them somewhere, their body language before they can talk.) I told her softly that there really wasn’t anything in there and she just needed to cuddle in and sleep. Her body continued leaning so I got up, with her in my arms and walked into the family room, then to the kitchen, through the dining room and back to the living room – all the while being led by the leaning of a child.

Once back in the living room we sat down on the couch again. As I began the rocking motion that I had tried to comfort her with just minutes before, she settled in and went to sleep. I looked at her smiled and thought, “This is where we started, why couldn’t have we done this the first time?”

With that I heard the Lord minister to me; “How many times do I take you somewhere and you only insist on leaning/leading to another place? I patiently give in to your will and then we go full circle and end up back where I had you at the start. I take you back and there you find peace.”

Wow! Lord what a graphic lesson. There have been times when I thought I knew best – I thought I want to be any place but here and so I good from place to place, room to room and come back to find “Be still and know that I am God!”

This doesn’t mean we take a fatalistic approach and just give up on our dreams and desires. What it does mean is that we can trust God with our dreams and let Him bring them to pass.

Thanking God today for His mercy – for allowing me to come back to the place of peace where I can “Be Still and Know that He is God!”

Just cuddle into the Father’s arms and find rest!

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24/7/365

What does your day have in store? We’re going on a short road trip and will spend most of the weekend with friends.

People think that when your retired that you wake up each morning with a blank slate and you aren’t subject to the pressures of the “working class”. However, 9 to 5ers, stay-at-home moms or dads, retirees, students we all have the same 24 hours each day and we need to be good stewards of the time we have.

Almost 50 years ago I found these verses in Proverbs 16 and began to pray God’s Word over my plans for the day. Have I ever messed up and gone off and done my own thing? More times than I care to admit. Have I ever wasted a day selfishly? Sadly, yes!

But I do try to honor the Lord in my busy times and in my quiet, do-nothing times. Sometimes it’s much harder to sit quietly and rest than it is to spend the whole day in strenuous, working activity.

As we all start this weekend let the Lord direct. As He does, we will have good success.

“The plans of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue. 2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). 3 Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:1-3 AMP

Let me ask again. What are your plans today? Give them over to the Lord and let them succeed! We can trust the Lord moment by moment – those little moments lead us to a 24-7-365 lifestyle of faith.

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Quiet Streams

I’m still camping spiritually this morning. Yesterday, I showed you the tent that I call home while on this earth. And this morning I want you to see the camp site.

It’s beautiful. Lush green pastures beside a quiet stream.

I can lay down in the lush green meadow grass after I’ve eaten my fill and rest. Then I can rise and walk to the edge of the stream to drink from the cool, refreshing water. Oh yes, it’s a beautiful site.

A place where all worries and fears can be handled by the Shepherd.

“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. 2 He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.” Psalm 23:1-2 AMPC

What is it I came here wanting, needing? Peace, hope, rest for my weariness, confidence, security, help, wisdom…

“ And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 AMPC

“If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.” James 1:5 AMPC

“Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].” Hebrews 4:16 AMPC

“A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure.” Proverbs 16:9 AMPC

Today, September 11th, is a hard day for many of us. A day of remembrance, a day we will never forget. Or maybe today is just another day, like so many recently, that is filled with moments over an unknown future.

“ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NLT

He is worthy of all our praise because He has done and is doing great and mighty things on our behalf.

Join me at the campsite the Lord has led me too. Join me in green pastures, beside still waters and find rest for your soul.

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Camped Out in Love

This morning the Lord took me to one of my favorite spots and told me He wanted me to camp out there for a while.

It means so much to me when that happens – having read and pondered these verses for so many years, and then to have the Lord say but there’s more for you to see, to experience, to enjoy!

“Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life, and I will live forever in your house, Lord.” Psalm 23:6 CEV

I want you to look at these words – kindness, love, always be, each day, forever.

If you’ve ever been tent camping you know the importance of having the tent poles secure. They are what hold up the canvas, keep you for getting wet in a rain storm, keeping your bed covered at night and giving you a place of comfort.

The Apostle Paul said that are lives are like a tent.

“Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever.” II Corinthians 5:1 CEV

It’s God’s kindness and love that secure our tents, each day, they are our support. They are always with us, every day of our lives. And when we are finished with our temporary tents on this earth, He promises to bring us to His home that will last forever.

I hope that has the same impact on you that is has on me!

His kindness and love are with me EACH DAY of my life. Always! It’s not something I have to wonder about or hope for. It’s a promise of God, it’s unbreakable, it will stand forever.

Those words have meaning – they are powerful, they bring strength and support even in the darkest times.

Kindness, Love, Always Be, Each Day, Forever

The older I get the more I appreciate or treasure the word of God. I have more life experience to prove His faithfulness.

“Even when you are old I will be the same. And even when your hair turns white, I will help you. I will take care of what I have made. I will carry you, and will save you.” Isaiah 46:4 NLV

I really enjoy camping, I do. So, for the next few days or maybe even weeks, you’ll find me sitting in my tent of life, supported by the poles of God’s love, kindness, each day enjoying His presence.

You’re invited to camp out with me!

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It Takes My Breath Away

Sometimes when I am reading my Bible, it takes my breath away!

The capacity of Almighty God to love me – to reach out for me – to choose me, goes beyond my comprehension. There is only one answer to the “why” and it’s because He is God and He decided to do so.

But, not only did He decide to choose me but that is the decision He made for all of us.

“ 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

God’s love and provision is not just for a chosen few but He has chosen everyone who has ever lived or is yet to be born, to be a recipient of His love and forgiveness.

“ Even before the world was made, God chose us for Himself because of His love. He planned that we should be holy and without blame as He sees us. 5 God already planned to have us as His own children. This was done by Jesus Christ. In His plan God wanted this done.

6 We thank God for His loving-favor to us. He gave this loving-favor to us through His much-loved Son. 7 Because of the blood of Christ, we are bought and made free from the punishment of sin. And because of His blood, our sins are forgiven. His loving-favor to us is so rich.”4-7 NLV

Before the world began we were chosen!

“What can we say about all these things? Since God is for us, who can be against us? 32 God did not keep His own Son for Himself but gave Him for us all. Then with His Son, will He not give us all things? 33 Who can say anything against the people God has chosen? It is God Who says they are right with Himself. 34 Who then can say we are guilty? It was Christ Jesus Who died. He was raised from the dead. He is on the right side of God praying to Him for us. 35 Who can keep us away from the love of Christ? Can trouble or problems? Can suffering wrong from others or having no food? Can it be because of no clothes or because of danger or war? 36 The Holy Writings say, “Because of belonging to Jesus, we are in danger of being killed all day long. We are thought of as sheep that are ready to be killed.” 37 But we have power over all these things through Jesus Who loves us so much. 38 For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot! 39 The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:31-39 NLV

The love of God takes my breath away!

He has chosen us. So, now the question comes, do we choose to Him?

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Labor to Rest

Do you know that Labor Day was God’s idea? You didn’t? Let me explain.

All through Scripture the Lord has given us instruction to rest. It started in the Garden of Eden. “And on the 7th day, God rested.”

When the children of Israel left Egypt, they needed rest. They had been enslaved for 400 years, making bricks, under the rule of a cruel pharaoh and his task masters. When they crossed the Red Sea and started toward the Promised Land one of the first things God did was given them a set of rules which would make life easier.

Love the Lord with all their heart. Don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t covet, don’t commit adultery. And honor the Sabbath – rest! God rested and so should they. Rest was an outward sign of an inward trust. It was a sign of putting God first, a day set aside to focus on Him and all He had done for them.

The writer of the book of Hebrews said they failed.

“We should do our best to enter the place of rest, so none of us will disobey and miss going there, as they did. 12 God’s word is alive and powerful! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts. 13  Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything…14 We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. This is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. 15 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 CEV

The Israelites failed to believe God’s message. He promised to be their provider, their defender, their God but they chose to make gods of gold. When He showed them the fruitful land He had for them, they choose to look at the giants and backed away in fear. They didn’t rest in who God is and what He had promised.

Hebrews tells us that Jesus understands every one of our weaknesses – our fears and our failings. But we aren’t left to be overcome by our circumstances. No! Instead, we are told to come bravely and find help, we are told to come and rest in who God is.

It takes work to rest. We have to develop strong faith, not in ourselves, but in God and His word. Instead of seeing the giants, we need to trust the promise of provision. We work to make God’s word come alive in our lives.

Jesus said this: “Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest. 29 Follow My teachings and learn from Me. I am gentle and do not have pride. You will have rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 NLV

We learn from Him; follow His teachings and we will have rest!

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