Category: Month

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Holding Fast

It’s interesting how much we can learn about the Lord, his faithfulness, and the practicality of Scripture if we just open our eyes to see the examples placed before us in daily life.

The last couple of days the little harbor we see from our balcony filled with boats. Not the regular fishing boats and water taxis that we have seen each day since our arrival but bigger boats – catamarans, yachts, monohull sailboats. Bigger boats ranging in size from 50′ to 130′.

The weather forecast was for a severe thunderstorm warning, and this is what brought the boats in to a safe harbor. There aren’t nearly enough slips to tie all of them up to the docks, so they were anchoring safely across the relatively small span of sea.

One boat in particular hadn’t anchored well.

We watched as it slowly drifted, getting closer and closer to the shore. It was dangerously close to the rough shoreline. The drifting was subtle and since they were otherwise engaged, I doubt the occupants of the boat noticed they were inching closer and closer to the shore.

Bible lesson in moving pictures, literally.

“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. In fact, hope reaches behind the curtain and into the most holy place.” Hebrews 6:18b-19 CEV

Our lives need to be anchored to keep us from drifting off course, even when the seas are calm there is still a danger of slowly drifting into dangerous waters.

Dave had a nice boat when we first married and he told me the secret to setting a firm anchorage is to drop the anchor, then apply backward thrust so the anchor digs into the bottom or gets a solid grab on something. He explained to me that this boat we were watching hadn’t set its anchor properly.

Sometimes, it seems we may be going backward in life however, it may be that during those times the Lord is actually bringing us to a place of stability and safety, helping us set our anchor. Pulling us back from dangerous shorelines so that we are established firmly on the rock.

“Anyone who hears and obeys these teachings of mine is like a wise person who built a house on solid rock. 25 Rain poured down, rivers flooded, and winds beat against that house. But it was built on solid rock, and so it did not fall.” Matthew 7:24-25 CEV

God’s word is referred to as a solid rock; our hope in God’s word is our anchor!

So, when life’s storms seem imminent it’s best that we pull back and get anchored firmly to the rock that will not move!

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Washed Away

For the last several days Dave and I have sat and watched the waves of the Aegean Sea come rolling in. There’s been a sea wind they call “Meltemi” and it has kept the otherwise calm sea, breaking its waves over the rock jetty with some considerable strength.

Boats have stayed safely moored in the small harbor.

As we were sitting in a local taverna yesterday we were directly at the waters edge. I watched each wave and enjoyed the sea spray on a warm afternoon.

Later last night I began to think about the waves and how they wash the rocks as they roll in and recede.

Washed. Washed clean.

Kind of like what the Lord does in our lives.

“God our Savior showed us how good and kind he is. 5 He saved us because of his mercy,
and not because of any good things we have done. God washed us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He gave us new birth and a fresh beginning. 6 God sent Jesus Christ our Savior to give us his Spirit.” Titus 3:4-6 CEV

By the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives we are washed cleaned and given a new, fresh beginning!

“…But now the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the power of God’s Spirit have washed you and made you holy and acceptable to God.” I Corinthians 6:11 CEV

The things in our lives that we are ashamed of have been washed clean. Those things that make us embarrassed, that hold us by a grip of guilt, unworthiness and shame are the very things that are washed away by the Spirit of God and because of that washing we are cleansed.

“The Law of Moses is like a shadow of the good things to come. This shadow isn’t the good things themselves, because it cannot free people from sin by the sacrifices offered year after year. 2 If there were worshipers who already have their sins washed away and their consciences made clear, there would not be any need to go on offering sacrifices…21 We have a great high priest who is in charge of God’s house. 22  So let’s come near God with pure hearts and a confidence that comes from having faith. Let’s keep our hearts pure, our consciences free from evil, and our bodies washed with clean water.” Hebrews 10:1-2, 21-22 CEV

Religion has no power to make us clean. It only serves to remind us of our sins, our misdeeds and our failings. However, when we come to Christ (our high priest), His forgiveness purifies our hearts and gives us a clean conscience. We are free from guilt and able to live each day knowing we have been washed clean.

“A husband should love his wife as much as Christ loved the church and gave his life for it. 26 He made the church holy by the power of his word, and he made it pure by washing it with water. 27 Christ did this, so he would have a glorious and holy church, without faults or spots or wrinkles or any other flaws.” Ephesians 5:25-27 CEV

The power to cleanse comes from Christ alone. His death removed the guilt and stain of sin from our lives. Through the power of His word we are reminded daily of that cleansing. We are a holy people without spot or flaw.

All our sins have been washed away!

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Kalimera

That’s how you say good morning in Greek. Kalimera.

Today Dave and I are starting our second full day on this beautiful little island. We arrived late afternoon on Saturday and it’s now early morning Monday. There’s a 7 hour time difference with the East coast of North America and a 10 hour difference with our home state of Arizona.

We spent a good portion of yesterday sitting on the balcony watching the waves roll in and enjoying the warm sunshine. At the sea shore the water is a beautiful turquoise and further out it becomes a deep azure. It has held my imagination captive as I wonder how many ancient mariners visited its shores.

“Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in Your eyes, O Lord, my Rock and the One Who saves me.” Psalm 119:4 NLV

Every place we walk the people seem happy and content. Our taxi driver explained it best when he said they are a people who love what they do, where they live and the slower paced mindset than those in the bigger cities.

Was this what the Apostle Paul was talking about when he said:

“I know how to get along with little and how to live when I have much. I have learned the secret of being happy at all times. If I am full of food and have all I need, I am happy. If I am hungry and need more, I am happy. 13 I can do all things because Christ gives me the strength.” Philippians 4:12-13 NLV

The amazing thing is we don’t need to travel half way across the globe to find contentment. We can find it right where we are!

In our homes or a prison cell, in a doctor’s waiting room or in the midst of a storm (physical, mental or emotional), there we can find peace. It’s there we rest in who Christ is and all He has done.

“The Lord Who bought you and saves you, the Holy One of Israel, says, ‘I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to do well, Who leads you in the way you should go.’” Isaiah 48:17 NLV

Paul was probably the apostle who faced the most physical and mental challenges and obstacles but he was content in Christ and the mission of preaching the Gospel.

The Bible’s promise of peace is universal to all who put their faith and trust in the Lord.

Let’s take a minute to pray. I’ll pray here and you join me there.

“Father, I don’t know what types of challenges my readers are facing today but You do. Surround them with Your peace, the peace that surpasses our natural way of thinking, the peace that goes beyond our intellect and reaches our soul. Teach them to rely on You as You lead them in the way they should go. In Jesus name. Amen.”

Many of you will be enjoying a three day weekend, let it be filled with peace.

As they say hear “efcharisto”, thank you for reading. Go in the blessings of the Lord!

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Warning Signs

Last night I was awaken to the sound of the emergency weather warning going off so where in the house.

When we were watching the nightly news the weather man said that there was danger of high winds later in the night. He was apparently he was right.

The thing we have here in the desert with the high winds is blowing dust that takes you 0 visibility immediately and at night you rarely have the opportunity to see it coming from the distance.

When I was little we lived in a small Arizona town called Gila Bend. I was down playing at friend’s when my Mom saw a dust storm coming. She sent my older brother to find me and bring me home. Before we got to the house the wind hit us. My brother was smart enough to have us turn our backs to the wind. He stood directly behind me and since he was taller, he was able to shield me from the stinging sand.

As soon as the winds lightened we ran for home. Safe!

Society has given us so many warning signs. They’re on the highway – Narrow Bridge Ahead, Watch for Elk/Deer, Icy When Wet. We see them in our vehicles – Check Engine, Tire Sensor, Back Up beepers.

Our homes have motion sensors, smoke detectors and carbon monoxide readers. Restaurants publish food allergy warnings on their menus and don’t even get me started on the “side effect” warnings on the prescription medication commercials.

Warning Signs, they’re everywhere and with their frequency comes a deafness to the seriousness of the warning.

Some people are deaf to the warnings of the Bible too.

25 “And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;26 men’s hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.27 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.“ Luke 21:25-28 NKJV

These things are happening all over the world – they are warnings signs to those who are without Christ. “Look up your redemption draws near”.

They are also warnings to those who do follow Christ.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3 NLV

We’re not supposed to be frightened by what we see. Instead, we are to be wise in our manner of living, reaching out to reassure those who are anxious and afraid. We should be delivering a message of hope and faith. Trust in the Lord!

The morning and evening news should be our ”emergency broadcast system” warning signal. But there’s no need to be afraid; let’s put our trust in God.

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One If By Land

This morning my thoughts are about “concerning” things. The things that pop into our minds trying to captivate our thoughts and rob our peace?

Pondering those things, a stanza of the “Midnight Ride of Paul Revere” came to mind.

“Listen, my children, and you shall hear…

He said to his friend, “If the British march
By land or sea from the town to-night,
Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry-arch
Of the North-Church-tower, as a signal-light,—
One if by land, and two if by sea;
And I on the opposite shore will be,
Ready to ride and spread the alarm
Through every Middlesex village and farm,
For the country-folk to be up and to arm.”

Now what does that poem have to do with anything?

Everything. It seems we always have a foe to face. Not many are an actual foe like the British were to the colonists during the revolution, but we fight them just the same.

We are ready spread the alarm when lay-offs threaten, when doctors’ reports reveal a dis-ease, a move takes us to an unknown place or death robs us of a loved one. Political unrest, social threats, even the smaller things like the first day of school, changing jobs, driving the freeway or facing a thunderstorm can be unsettling.

There’s a favorite verse of mine, I quote it often, however, this morning I couldn’t remember it’s exact location, so I put the words “perfect concern” in my Bible app to find it. Before I hit the enter key, I stared at those two words, perfect concern.

Our Father’s concern for our wellbeing is perfect! He wants us to come to Him in every situation because it’s with Him we find help. That’s another favorite verse of mine so, let’s look at both of them.

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand
Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. 8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.” Psalm 138:7-8 NKJV

“ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV

Worry keeps us from trusting God and believing His word. He is always ready to help and handle our concerns. Worry isn’t from the Lord, peace is.

“You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NKJV

There’s that word “perfect” again and this time it’s coupled with the word peace. Perfect peace comes when we trust our Father.

So, if trouble is coming, whether by land, sea, air or just in our minds, we can hang a signal lantern in our hearts and the Lord will come to our rescue.

“He is the living God, the one who lives forever. His power and his kingdom will never end. 27 He rescues people and sets them free by working great miracles. Daniel’s God has rescued him from the power of the lions.” Daniel 6:26-27 CEV

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Time to Count

I know it’s not even close to Christmas but this morning I woke up with the lyrics of a song from my favorite Christmas movie, White Christmas, running through my mind.

“When I’m worried and I can’t sleep, I count my blessings instead of sheep. Then I fall to sleep counting my blessings”.

Worried? Not at all, just feeling extremely grateful for all the Lord has done. Yesterday afternoon I talked with both my brother and my sister. It was so good to hear their voices. I’m grateful for loving siblings and for the godly parents who raised us.

I’m grateful for our children and their constant expressions of their love for us and that they are raising children who love us. Sunday we were greeted with little voices calling our names in the most loving tones, followed by hugs and kisses.

The older adult children never end a text or a phone call without an “I love you”!

If those expressions spoken by children here on earth thrill our hearts to the depth that they do, then how much more do our expressions of love and gratitude thrill the heart of God.

I love to worship the Lord!

Not worship because of things that He has done, although those are many but worship just because of Who He is. One definition of the word worship in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is excessive admiration for someone.

Excessive – our God is excessive. He didn’t just create 5 colors and quit – He was excessive. He didn’t just create 6 fish or 7 fruit or 8 vegetables. He created millions of stars, countless galaxies, hundreds of millions of people with individual fingerprints and unique DNA. Excessive!

He gave us His only Son who willingly paid the price for the sins of the whole world.

Excessive! Our Father is excessive in demonstrating His love for us. Shouldn’t we be excessive with our praise?

“My Lord, there is no God like you. No one can do what you have done. 9 My Lord, you made everyone. I wish they all would come worship you and honor your name. 10 You are great and do amazing things. You and you alone are God. 11 Lord, teach me your ways, and I will live and obey your truths. Help me make worshiping your name the most important thing in my life. 12 My Lord God, I praise you with all my heart. I will honor your name forever! 13 You have such great love for me. You save me from the place of death. 14 Proud people are attacking me, God. A gang of cruel men is trying to kill me.

They don’t respect you. 15 My Lord, you are a kind and merciful God. You are patient, loyal, and full of love.” Psalm 86: 8-15 ERV

Join me in counting our blessings. Let’s show some excessive admiration and love to the One, the Only, Father God, creator of heaven and earth!

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Living the Dream/Plan

Those of you who know me know that Dave and I have been living with a particular dream for about five years now.

We’ve never been on an exotic vacation, in fact, we’ve only been on a handful of actual vacations. But one warm summer day, we came across a series of travel videos on the islands of Greece. I had never seen such beautiful turquoise water, it was breathtaking, literally. The quaint towns, the local residents and those iconic, white-washed buildings with blue doors drew me in.

Greece has over 200 hundred inhabited islands, rich in history. They also have a Biblical connection. The Apostle Paul, Titus, Barnabus and Luke traveled there bringing the message of Jesus to the uttermost parts of their world. John, the apostle, was exiled to the island of Patmos and it was there he received and wrote the Book of Revelation.

And we will be leaving for Greece on Friday.

“You are now children of God because you have put your trust in Christ Jesus. 27 All of you who have been baptized to show you belong to Christ have become like Christ. 28 God does not see you as a Jew or as a Greek. He does not see you as a servant or as a person free to work. He does not see you as a man or as a woman. You are all one in Christ. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you have become the true children of Abraham. What God promised to him is now yours.” Galatians 3:26-29 NLV

One in Christ!

Wherever we are, whatever we do, God wants us to be focused on who we are in Christ and to experience unity with like-minded followers of Christ. One of our plans is to attend a Greek Orthodox service and join in their worship of the Lord.

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-2 NLV

We will be gone most of September. I plan on sharing the adventure with you, but I don’t know if that will be every day. We ask for your prayers as we travel, this will be our first international flight.

We know we will enjoy the people, the food, the beauty and we are thankful to be going on such a wonderful journey. Ten years ago, I would have never thought we would experience anything like this but here we are ready to pack our suitcases and be on our way.

“This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us be full of joy and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 NLV

One thing I’ve come to know is that each day is an adventure with the Father just waiting to unfold!

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The Lost Sheep

My Bible reading this morning took me to a chapter and verse, Isaiah 53:6, that I had memorized as a young girl. We are like sheep who have gone astray and gotten lost. We needed to be rescued.

This chapter tells us that Jesus wasn’t an attractive man. It also tells us that the abuse He took at His trial and crucifixion were considered by most to be punishment from God but in reality, it was the pain that He was willing to suffer for our rescue.

“…2 He grew up before Him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground. He has no beautiful body and when we see Him there is no beauty that we should desire Him. 3 He was hated and men would have nothing to do with Him, a man of sorrows and suffering, knowing sadness well. We hid, as it were, our faces from Him. He was hated, and we did not think well of Him.

4 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.

7 Men made it very hard for Him and caused Him to suffer, yet He did not open His mouth. He was taken like a lamb to be put to death…8 He was taken away as a prisoner and then judged. Who among the people of that day cared that His life was taken away from the earth? He was hurt because of the sin of the people who should have been punished. 9 They gave Him a grave with the sinful, but with the rich at His death, for He had done no wrong, and there was nothing false in His mouth.

10 But it was the will of the Lord to crush Him, causing Him to suffer. Because He gives His life as a gift on the altar for sin, He will see His children. Days will be added to His life, and the will of the Lord will do well in His hand. 11 He will see what the suffering of His soul brings, and will be pleased. By what He knows, the One Who is right and good, My Servant, will carry the punishment of many and He will carry their sins. 12 So I will give Him a share among the great. He will divide the riches with the strong, because He gave up His life. They thought of Him as One Who broke the Law. Yet He Himself carried the sin of many, and prayed for the sinners.” Isaiah 53 NLV

This is what Jesus did for us! I hope you will read this chapter again, slowly, considering all that Jesus did for us because of His great love.

Jesus wasn’t punished by God. He took our punishment for sin. We were sheep who needed to be rescued. The price for our rescue was great. It cost the Good Shepherd His life!

If you ever wonder “do I matter”, consider this; you were a lost sheep worth dying for!

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Looking Up

I love taking pictures of clouds. In fact, the other morning, dressed in my jammies, I went out and crawled up on the flatbed of the truck so I could get a good shot of the sunrise.

Dave used to tease that I would probably be taking pictures of the clouds on the day the Lord returns and splits the sky! Oh, I hope so, that would be an amazing photo!

But, while I am always looking up at the skyline, many think that we as Christians have our heads buried in the sand like an ostrich, afraid to see things as they really are.

Not true! Our heads aren’t in the sand, they are in the sky. When our focus is up, we can be in perfect peace even in the worst circumstances.

Peace – perfect peace!

Looking at things the way the rest of the world does blurs the truth and causes you to “try” to fix things by ourselves. Being self-centered is a true recipe for disaster. Being God-centered is a place of peace and rest.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:” Isaiah 26:3-4 KJV

“The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. 4 So always trust the Lord because he is forever our mighty rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4CEV

Looking up has been an analogy for salvation throughout the Bible. In Moses day, the Israelites were dying in the desert because of an outbreak of snakes in their midst. This is what the Lord had Moses do.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and it shall be that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, shall live.” Numbers 21:8 NKJV

Hundreds of years later, Jesus made reference to that very same incident when He was talking with Nicodemus, the man who came to Him at night, asking about salvation.

“ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16 NKJV

We followers of Christ have a hope for the future that others do not have. We must remember where our strength and peace come from.

“Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:2-3 NKJV

Keep looking up dear friends – that’s where our help comes from!

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The Finisher

Several times over the last week I have drawn your attention to the same verses in Hebrews. Today I would like to share one more thought from them.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:1-3 NKJV

I can still remember the street I was driving down in Scottsdale, AZ in 1984 when this verse came alive to me.

Kim and Koy were with me in the car as we were driving past a construction site. It was a new commercial building. We had been driving past it for weeks and each time we would remark on how much progress they had made. This time the crew was there removing the security fencing and the kids both said, “It’s finished”.

It sure looked complete except for a couple of things. I had the kids look at the architectural rendering on the sign. There were no sidewalks, trees, shrubs or signage on the building. Then I answered, “It’s not finished yet”.

As those words came from my lips, these verses came to my heart. “Jesus is the author and the FINISHER of our faith”. Not only has He written my story of faith, He is with me to see that the work is finished.

I hope that thought impacts you the way it did me!

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” Philippians 1:6 NKJV

A baker isn’t finished with the wedding cake when it comes out of the oven. No, the cake still needs to be iced and decorated before it’s finished. The artist isn’t done with the masterpiece until he has signed his name to it. The building wasn’t complete until the sidewalks and flowers were in place.

And Christ’s work in us won’t be complete until we finish our life here and join Him in heaven.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” II Timothy 4:7-8 NKJV

Don’t become discouraged or disheartened because your life seems like an unfinished work. Be patient. The finisher of our faith is still working in each of our lives – conforming us to His image.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 NLT

We are all in a stage of development as we conform to the image of Christ.

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