Category: April2023

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Great Joy

This was a weekend of great joy!

Our children blessed us with a 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration and it was wonderful! Our oldest daughter is quite the party planner and she saw to every little detail. It was the first time in years that all our family had been together. Kids, grandkids and great – my mother’s heart was full and running over.

Dave and I aren’t the same young couple that said I do 50 years ago but the meaning of those words has never been stronger. I do promise to love you, I do promise to be your support and strength, I do promise not to leave, I do promise to keep you in the center of my heart and my prayers.

Like all older married couples life has given us up’s and down’s. A few we wondered how we would ever get through but God’s grace and time saw things change. Never give up on God’s abundant, amazing, flood of grace! There are promises from His word that have strengthened us and given us hope when we our hearts were broken.

So let me ask you this, are there things in your life that appear to be impossible or nearly impossible to change? Maybe not impossible but highly unlikely? Give them to the Lord – place them under His control.

God has a way of changing the impossible!

“Nothing is impossible for God!” Luke 1:37 CEV

I’ve learned over the years that part of that changing process begins in me. I have to begin to see things differently and have to get past being offended or intimidated. I have to be willing to change. The Father wants my heart to conform to His.

A boy was brought to Jesus who needed to be healed. The father had some doubt. He knew Jesus could do it but he wasn’t sure Jesus would.

“Jesus said to the father, ‘Why did you say ‘if you can’? All things are possible for the one who believes.” 24 Immediately the father shouted, ‘I do believe. Help me to believe more!’” Mark 9:23-24 ERV

Sometimes we just need to be honest with God, recognize our own weakness and limitation and then say “Help me believe more”.

Jesus’ own disciples doubted on many occasions. There were storms to overcome. Jesus calmed the storms and brought peace. He wants to do the same in our lives. Whether you’re married 50 years or 5; unmarried and facing a new career or move – God is faithful!

With God all things are possible!

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Great Expectations

As I’m sitting here this morning it’s not yet dawn. The early morning sky is still dark – stars and the moon give light but there is no glow of dawn.

I put myself with the women who are preparing to go to the tomb. They are anxiously waiting. This is the one last act of love they can do for the Messiah, their friend.

As they place the cloth and the spices needed for burial in a basket there are muffled sobs. Tears still flow freely, only to be wiped away with the brush of the hand. The apostles, Peter and John are there also.

Now, it’s while it’s still dark they are off to tend to the Master’s body. On the way they discuss how they will move the stone away from the opening. I’m not sure if they knew the religious leaders had stationed soldiers at the tomb or not.

“It was the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene came to the grave early in the morning while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been pushed away from the grave. 2 She ran to Simon Peter and the other follower whom Jesus loved. She said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the grave. We do not know where they have put Him.’ 3 Then Peter and the other follower went to the grave.” John 20:1-3 NLV

What they had expected to find that morning wasn’t there. Jesus’ body was gone! Had it been stolen? Peter and John left, leaving Mary alone at the tomb with her grief. Everything she expected to do that morning was no longer valid – her last act of love was incomplete.

She sobs!

Then she tells her heartbreaking story to the angels. “He’s been taken away and I don’t know where they have taken Him”. She also repeats it to the man standing in the garden.

What happens next shakes me to my core every time I read it.

“She said to Him, ‘Sir, if you have taken Jesus from here, tell me where you have put Him. I will take Him away.’ 16 Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned around and said to Him, ‘Teacher!'” John 20:15-16 NLV

Jesus called her by name. And when she heard him said it, she knew immediately he was Jesus! 

No longer was she experiencing unfulfilled expectations – no, she was filled with a living hope.

“Mary Magdalene went to the followers and told them, ‘I saw the Lord!'” John 20:18 ERV

In our time of heartache, when all our great expectations have fallen away, we will hear the voice of the Savior, speaking out our name.

There’s no need to stand crying at a tomb of empty dreams. We have a living Savior who calls us by name!

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The Day Was Silent

If you had been a follower of Christ at the time of the crucifixion this day would have been silent.

There was no familiar greeting of friends, no smiles, possibly hugs and sobs and the questions – those haunting questions.

Could I have done something to stop the terrible beating and crucifixion? Are they coming for me next? I’ve spent the last three years following a man who is dead and gone? Where do I go, what do I do?

We know they weren’t prepared for the possibly of a resurrection. In fact, the women were preparing the spices which were a part of a proper burial. They had plans of going to the tomb the next morning.

These were apostles, disciples, family and friends in mourning. The day was silent!

But not so for the religious leaders who had been responsible for Jesus’ arrest, beating and crucifixion.

“The next day, the day after Jesus was killed, the head religious leaders and the proud religious law-keepers gathered together in front of Pilate. 63 They said, “Sir, we remember what that Man Who fooled people said when He was living, ‘After three days I am to rise from the dead.’ 64 Speak the word to have the grave watched for three days. Then His followers cannot come at night and take Him away and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead.’ The last mistake would be worse than the first.” Matthew 27:62-64 NLV

In their fear, they sent soldiers to the tomb to seal it and guard it. At the tomb there was silence.

In hell there was a battle raging.

“When you were dead in your sins, you were not set free from the sinful things of the world. But God forgave your sins and gave you new life through Christ. 14 We had broken the Law many ways. Those sins were held against us by the Law. That Law had writings which said we were sinners. But now He has destroyed that writing by nailing it to the cross. 15 God took away the power of the leaders of this world and the powers of darkness. He showed them to the world. The battle was won over them through Christ.” Colossians 2:13-15 NLV

Christ fought to free us from the power of sin. He fought for our redemption. He defeated the powers of hell!

“The Law could not make me free from the power of sin and death. It was weak because it had to work with weak human beings. But God sent His own Son. He came to earth in a body of flesh which could be tempted to sin as we in our bodies can be. He gave Himself to take away sin. By doing that, He took away the power sin had over us.” Romans 8:3 NLV

In the silence of that day all hope seemed lost but in reality hope for the salvation of all the world was birthed.

The angels had heralded His birth. The silence reverenced His death.

Let’s take time today to be silent, not in fear, but in gratitude for our great gift of salvation.

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Shaking in the Wind

Yesterday afternoon we had friends stop by for a visit. It was so good to see them, we always enjoy our time with them.

Somewhere in the conversation we began to talk about hurricanes and tornadoes and the fierce winds that come with them. This morning that conversation ties in with my Bible reading.

“When news reached the royal palace that Syria had joined forces with Israel, King Ahaz and everyone in Judah were so terrified that they shook like trees in a windstorm.

3 Then the Lord said to me: Take your son Shearjashub and go see King Ahaz. You will find him on the road near the cloth makers’ shops at the end of the canal that brings water from the upper pool. 4 Tell Ahaz to stop worrying. There’s no need for him to be afraid of King Rezin and King Pekah. They are very angry, but they are nothing more than a dying fire. Ahaz doesn’t need to fear” Isaiah 7:2-4 CEV

I’ve seen those trees shake in the wind. And there are times when I have felt fear that has shaken me to my very core. I know, you have too!

There are no words to express the sense of relief and comfort that come from hearing the Lord’s voice say “Stop worrying, there’s no need to fear”.

I struggled for years with fear. Fear of unknown circumstances, fear of people’s opinions, fear of failure. I remember being on a camping trip and we were warned of bears in the area – that brought a whole new kind of fear.

Fear can be immobilizing.

“ Late in the afternoon, when the breeze began to blow, the man and woman heard the Lord God walking in the garden. So they hid behind some trees…10 The man answered, ‘I was naked, and when I heard you walking through the garden, I was frightened and hid!'” Genesis 3:8&10 CEV

Fear was one of the first emotions that Adam and Eve experienced in the garden after they sinned. The first was shame followed by fear. Fear has been used by the devil for a very long time.

Ever since that time, God has been saying to mankind “Do not fear”! I know I have told you this before but it bears repeating, Bible scholars tell us that there are approximately 365 verses that tell us not to fear or to be worried.

God wants us to live a worry-free life. He wants us to face our fears and say like King David said:

“The Lord is my light and the One Who saves me. Whom should I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom should I be afraid? 2 When sinful men, and all who hated me, came against me to destroy my flesh, they tripped and fell. 3 Even if an army gathers against me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if war rises against me, I will be sure of You.” Psalm 27:1-3 NLV

When we see trees blown by the wind let it serve as a reminder to us. Stop worrying, do not be afraid.

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It’s Time

What was on your mind when you got up this morning? Did you have a to do list?

I wonder what was on Jesus’ to do list on this event-filled day, the day of His arrest and mock trial.

From reading the Gospel accounts the day was packed full. Final teachings and reassurance to His disciples. They didn’t know it was His final day. They were preparing for the Passover meal. Their focus was on finding the room – getting the unleavened bread, the wine, the lamb.

The Lamb!

“It was before the special religious gathering to remember how the Jews left Egypt. Jesus knew the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. He had loved His own who were in the world. He loved them to the end. ” John 13:1 NLV

The sacrificial lamb. It had to be spotless, without blemish or defect of any kind. Did the apostles even remember the words that John had spoken only three years earlier?

“The next day John the Baptist was standing with two of his own followers. 36 Jesus walked by. John looked at Him and said, ‘See! The Lamb of God.’ 37 John’s two followers heard him say this and followed Jesus.” John 1:35-37 NLV

Jesus knew the time had come but the others were too busy with the everyday routine to recognize that something was different.

At the supper Jesus took on the lowest form of servanthood and washed the disciples’ feet, giving them the instruction to serve one another, to love one another. He told them He would be going away but they didn’t understand.

“ Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give peace to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. 28 You heard Me say that I am going away. But I am coming back to you. If you love Me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father. The Father is greater than I. 29 I have told you this before it happens. Then when it does happen, you will believe.” John 14:27-29 NLV

We can’t be too hard on the disciples. How many times are we consumed with our own problems and relationship issues that we don’t process the instruction that Jesus has spoken through His word. “Do not be afraid – My peace I give to you”.

“I cannot speak with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. But he has no power over me. 31 I obey my Father, so everyone in the world might know that I love him.

It is time for us to go now.” John 14:30-31 CEV

Read John 13-19 during the next few days, This is the account of Jesus’ last day with the disciples. The words He spoke to them, He speaks to us. His comforting instruction is for our benefit. His prayer in John 17 had us in mind.

“I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me.” John 17:20 CEV

It’s time for us to take His words to heart!

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The Love of God

Did you think I wasn’t coming this morning? A little slow in getting started but I have been having a wonderful time of thought with the Father. This weekend the kids have planned a celebration for our 50th wedding anniversary. I sat here for a long time thinking about that day and the joy it will be this weekend having all the kids and their families here with us to celebrate.

As I sat here thanking the Lord for what He’s done in us and for us over all those years, my heart filled with song – yes, a song. This is only natural since I started singing when I was just tiny, about 3, and songs stay with me. I heard the words

“I will sing of Your love forever, I will sing of Your love forever, I will sing of Your love forever”

T remembered so many verses that tell us that the Lord’s love will endure forever. His love is so great – amazingly unconditional and eternal!

“I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.” Psalm 89:2

“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1

“For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 117:2

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” I Chronicles 16:34

“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.” Hosea 2:19

Did you get that last one? I will betroth you to me forever, the Lord has chosen us as His beloved! Wow – amazing!!

We became His betrothed and He gave up His life for us. He loves us as His own body, He covers us with His strength and protection, He presents us spotless to His Father.

I am so thankful that God knew what He was doing when He brought Dave and I together. His goodness has marked our marriage from the very beginning. We’ve been through some tough times, like all married couples, but God’s faithfulness and goodness have been our strength.

As I look back and remember the preparation for my wedding day, the excitement, the anticipation, the LOVE I put that in context to our relationship with Christ.

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 89:1

Let the love of God fill your hearts with great joy!

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Acquainted with Grief

Just days before Easter and I wanted to share a few thoughts with you about the struggles Jesus went through in the garden before He was arrested.

The book of Isaiah gives us this insight.

“For sure He took on Himself our troubles and carried our sorrows. Yet we thought of Him as being punished and hurt by God, and made to suffer. 5 But He was hurt for our wrong-doing. He was crushed for our sins. He was punished so we would have peace. He was beaten so we would be healed. 6 All of us like sheep have gone the wrong way. Each of us has turned to his own way. And the Lord has put on Him the sin of us all.” Isaiah 53:4-6 NLV

For days before the Passover celebration Jesus had nothing else on His mind except the events that were about to take place. He knew his death was eminent.

 “Now My soul is troubled. Should I say, ‘Father, save Me from this time of trouble and pain’? No, this is why I came to this time. 28 Father, honor Your name!” John 12:27-28 NLV

Jesus took time to visit with his dear friends Lazarus, Mary and Martha. He spent time teaching the disciples on the importance of putting others first, laying down their lives for those who needed to hear the Gospel and then instructing them on how to truly love and serve their fellow apostles with pure hearts.

“ I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me.” John 15:5 NLV

Without Me, you can do nothing.

Those words hold true for us as well. Jesus is our example for living. Having our lives mirror His should be the desire of every Christian.

As He faced His greatest hour of anguish He set His eyes on the Father’s mission; He needed to die as the sinless sacrifice for the sins of the entire world. How did He do it? In His humanity He wanted to quit – He wanted the Father to find another way. The Bible tells us He was in such anguish that He sweat drops of blood.

“And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44 KJV

Jesus took His disciples to the garden to pray!

He knew the only way He would have the strength and the resolve to endure such anguish and pain was to draw it from His Father in prayer.

Our experiences in life no matter how horrible we think they are can’t be compared to the suffering that Jesus went through for us, for our salvation.

“ Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God.” Hebrews 12:2 NLV

Always remember this, Jesus was acquainted with grief for us and He can and will give us His strength in every situation. Look to Jesus!

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Stinkin’ Thinkin’

In my Bible reading yesterday morning I was reminded of a message I heard a cowboy preacher give years ago.

No More Stickin’ Thinkin’

“Look at those people! They say good is bad and bad is good. They think light is dark and dark is light. They think sour is sweet and sweet is sour. 21 They think they are so smart. They think they are very intelligent.” Isaiah 5:20-21 ERV

So many conflicts could be resolved if we took the time to consider what God considers right and wrong. His standard has never changed. All-to-often we become convinced that we are right and others are wrong putting them on the defensive and us on the attack.

It’s important to realize when we have made a mistake and apologize. First, repent to the Lord for not seeking His advice and/or not listening to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Then just as important it’s necessary to apologize to those around us, admitting fault and not offering excuses.

Then trust the Lord to heal and repair the situation.

I am so glad that the Lord doesn’t abandon me to my ignorance or disassociate with me because of my mistakes.

The world, our world, tries on a daily basis to skew our thoughts to a natural way of thinking. It tries to persuade us that right is wrong and wrong is right; that good is evil and evil is good. We are bombarded to “think for ourselves, don’t be brainwashed or old fashioned, the world is changing and we must be progressive”.

However, God’s word tells us that heaven and earth will pass away but God’s word will never pass away. We are told not to change God’s word and that when push comes to shove we “let God be true and every man a liar”.

Trusting God’s word is invaluable! Don’t be swayed to adopt other thinking.

“Don’t ever let love and loyalty leave you. Tie them around your neck, and write them on your heart. 4 Then God will be pleased and think well of you and so will everyone else.

5 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 away from evil. ” Proverbs 3:3-7 ERV

When I think of “stinkin thinkin” I think of the thief on the cross. Three men were crucified the day Jesus was. One of them tried to cast dispersions on Jesus – “what kind of Savior are you? You can’t even save yourself”. There was a jeering in his voice; he was defensive and condemning, his thinking was all wrong.

The second thief rebuked him for his words. He pointed out that they were guilty of their crimes but Jesus was guiltless. In all humility, he recognized his sin and failings and he repented. To that man Jesus granted forgiveness and compassion. “Today you will be with me in paradise”.

Each decision we make should be guided by love. When we hear that little inner voice saying “you really shouldn’t be doing that or saying that” we need to listen. Replace stinkin thinkin with compassionate contemplation.

What decisions do you need to make today? Trust the Lord not yourself; if you’re uncertain as what to do or say, seek the answer in God’s word. It will never steer you wrong.

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Back Ordered

Just recently I went on-line to order a shirt for our anniversary celebration next week. I had found one in town, but it wasn’t in my size. No problem, I thought. I’ll just find the same one on-line and have it in a couple of days.

It wasn’t that simple. The first three sites I went to didn’t have it in my size either. I will tell you I got a little perturbed. The words “back ordered” were not what I was wanting to hear.

In the last couple of years we, as a collective group, have become so accustomed to instant gratification. If you live in a larger city some companies will deliver your item within hours and not days. The rest of us who live a little more rural have come to expect delivery by the next day and two at the very latest.

This instant society has fed the monster of selfishness that hides within.

This morning the Lord showed me something about Himself. His gifts and blessings are never on backorder, never out of stock.

“Ask, and what you are asking for will be given to you. Look, and what you are looking for you will find. Knock, and the door you are knocking on will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 NLV

I was asking for strength, clarity of thought and wisdom. There is no lack of any of these in the heavenly warehouse.

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The God Who lives forever is the Lord, the One Who made the ends of the earth. He will not become weak or tired. His understanding is too great for us to begin to know. 29 He gives strength to the weak. And He gives power to him who has little strength.” Isaiah 40:28-29 NLV

“For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.” II Timothy 1:7 NLV

“ If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking.” James 1:5 NLV

When the Father tells us to ask for something, He expects us to ask. Not selflessly but from a sincere heart of dependence upon Him and His word. Jesus said his purpose was to bring abundant life to us who believe.

“The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life.” John 10:10 NLV

There’s also never a shortage of God’s love – it endures forever, His mercy never comes to an end, His peace flows like a river and His goodness extends to a thousand generations. His word will never pass away.

“ If you love Me, you will do what I say. 16 Then I will ask My Father and He will give you another Helper. He will be with you forever. 17 He is the Spirit of Truth. The world cannot receive Him. It does not see Him or know Him. You know Him because He lives with you and will be in you.” John 14:15-17 NLV

The Father’s delivery system is infinitely better than FedEx, UPS, USPS and Amazon. He delivers from His heart to us via the Holy Spirit. The Father’s love and character are never on backorder.

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Troubled Times

You may think that I am going to share some rich insight this morning on the situations and circumstances that we are facing in our nation and our world today but that isn’t my focus.

Each generation and millennia have had their own share of crises, disasters and unrest.

Jesus lived in a troubled world. The governmental rule was anti-God. The Romans, who ruled over the nation of Israel, preached Caesar as god and his word as infallible. They were living in political slavery when Jesus was born.

I find it interesting that God the Father didn’t use Jesus to rescue the Jews from the Romans in a similar way that he used Moses to rescue the Jews from the Egyptians. Jesus didn’t come to save just one nation. He came to bring reconciliation, peace and freedom to all who would believe.

“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues and told people the Good News about God’s kingdom. He healed all kinds of diseases and sicknesses. 36 Jesus saw the many people and felt sorry for them because they were worried and helpless—like sheep without a shepherd to lead them. 37 Jesus said to his followers, ‘There is such a big harvest of people to bring in. But there are only a few workers to help harvest them. 38 God owns the harvest. Ask him to send more workers to help gather his harvest.’” Matthew 9:35 – 38 ERV

Jesus was about His Father’s business – a worldwide harvest.

But the corruption of the government was always on Jesus disciples’ minds. They heard Jesus preach; they saw the miracles. In fact, they did miracles themselves but still they wondered when Jesus would take control and change things. Here are Jesus’ last words to his disciples.

“While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, ‘Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?’ 7Jesus said to them, ‘You don’t need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. 8But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world.'” Acts 1:6-8 ERV

Today, many are asking the same thing. When Lord are you going to do something about political unrest and corruption? Things are not good that is for certain.

Jesus’ answer to us is the same one He gave the disciples. Don’t worry about the political situation and those in power. Leave that up to the Father. Instead, take the message of my salvation to those in your world.

“God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us. 19  This hope is like a firm and steady anchor for our souls.” Hebrews 6:18-19 CEV

In troubled times we can run to the Father, we can put our hope in Him.

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