Category: Confidence

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Always On His Mind

Do you take time to sit quietly with your thoughts? That’s what I love most about mornings. The opportunity to sit and reflect on God’s goodness and His amazing love.

A number of Scriptures are filling my heart so I will share them with you.

“I look at the heavens you made with your hands.
    I see the moon and the stars you created.
4 And I wonder, “Why are people so important to you?
    Why do you even think about them?
Why do you care so much about humans?
    Why do you even notice them?”

5 But you made them almost like gods
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
6 You put them in charge of everything you made.
    You put everything under their control.
7 People rule over the sheep and cattle and all the wild animals.
8 They rule over the birds in the sky
    and the fish that swim in the sea.
9 Lord our Lord, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth!” Psalm 8:3-9 ERV

Father, why do You even think about us? Why are we so important to You? Why is Your mind filled with thoughts of us?

He says, you are always on My mind!

“You know when I sit down and when I get up.
    You know my thoughts from far away.
3 You know where I go and where I lie down.
    You know everything I do.
4 Lord, you know what I want to say,
    even before the words leave my mouth.
5 You are all around me—in front of me and behind me.
    I feel your hand on my shoulder.
6 I am amazed at what you know;
    it is too much for me to understand.
7 Your Spirit is everywhere I go.
    I cannot escape your presence.” Psalm 139:2-7 ERV

Our heavenly Father knows our every step, every time we stand up or sit down. He knows when we stumble, and He is here to pick us up and make our steps secure once again. His mind is filled with thoughts of us.

“And why do you worry about clothes? Look at the wildflowers in the field. See how they grow. They don’t work or make clothes for themselves. 29 But I tell you that even Solomon, the great and rich king, was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 30 If God makes what grows in the field so beautiful, what do you think he will do for you? It’s just grass—one day it’s alive, and the next day someone throws it into a fire. But God cares enough to make it beautiful. Surely he will do much more for you. Your faith is so small!

31 “Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 That’s what those people who don’t know God are always thinking about. Don’t worry, because your Father in heaven knows that you need all these things.” Matthew 6:28-32 ERV

Our Father who created all the world with its splendor and beauty cares more for us than anything else in His creation. Don’t worry, He knows everything we need.

He is mindful of our needs!

“ Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

From the beginning of time, our heavenly Father and Lord of creation, has had one thing on His mind – His love for us.

We are always on His mind!

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Victory!

This afternoon millions of people are going to be glued to their televisions waiting for victory. Who will be declared the Super Bowl champion?

Of far greater importance is the billions of people around the world, throughout the generations, who have searched for and gained victory in life. I remember in 1982 when I realized that I was called to be victorious in this life.

“Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. 57 But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory! 58 My dear friends, stand firm and don’t be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile.” I Corinthians 15:56-58 CEV

Victory!

Before that, I let the circumstances of life defeat me more times than I can count. Instead of going from victory to victory, I went from embattled defeat to classic failure. “But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory!”

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary this is victory:

  1. the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist
  2. achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties

Victory is ours in Christ. Just look at these verses.

“Help us defeat our enemies! No one else can rescue us. 12 You will give us victory and crush our enemies.” Psalm 60:11-12 CEV

“I have a lot of enemies, Lord. Many fight against 2 me and say, ‘God won’t rescue you!’ 3 But you are my shield, and you give me victory and great honor.” Psalm 3:1-3 CEV

There have been times since 1982 when I have let my guard down and gone through defeat. Having walked through some pretty tough battles that I thought I could handle on my own – without His help or strength, I failed miserably. The defeats were crushing, I like victory better.

“ In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. 38 I am sure that nothing can separate us from God’s love—not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, 39 and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:37-39 CEV

“We show our love for God by obeying his commandments, and they are not hard to follow. 4 Every child of God can defeat the world, and our faith is what gives us this victory. 5 No one can defeat the world without having faith in Jesus as the Son of God.” I John 5:3-5 CEV

The players on the field today have trained hard. They’ve done the drills, they’ve been committed to training, they’ve been disciplined, and they know the play book. God has given us a play book and it’s not hard to follow.

The captain of our team knows all the winning plays and leads us to victory.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in victory through Christ. God uses us to spread his knowledge everywhere like a sweet-smelling perfume.” II Corinthians 2:14 ERV

Today I will sign off the same way I sign most of my letters, Victorious in Him! Because of Christ we are victorious, let’s celebrate the victory!

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And the Rains Came

Oh, my goodness, the rains came down last night. The storm that came across California has arrived in Arizona, but it isn’t nearly as fierce as it was there. The rain came, being driven along by the strong winds but I don’t think we had damage to our little community.

Thank God!

Now it’s just a light drizzle and the winds have stopped. It reminds me of an experience I had when we first moved to Montana. We bought our home from an old ranching couple, such a sweet couple. As we walked from room to room, she told me stories of their life in this house, now my home.

We came to their bedroom and she stared out the window for a few moments silently and then turned to me and spoke. “Now honey, when the first winter storm comes, you’ll think you’re going to be snowed in all winter but don’t panic, just wait. Wait 30 minutes and it will be over. It’s always over in 30 minutes or so. You need to know that”.

Well, sure enough, several months later the sky was gray, the temperature was dropping, the winds started to blow and the big, pelting snowflakes were blowing sideways against the house.

I went to that bedroom and stood, looking at the window and watching the clock. The howling wind put my nerves on edge, and I waited. Then, just as she said, it stopped. Just 32 minutes had passed, and the sun broke through the gray and caused the snow to glisten like diamonds.

Isn’t that like life?

As little children we’re not bothered much by the storms, physical or otherwise. We play in the puddles when the rains are over, build snowmen after the earth is covered in white and we trust our parents to hold our hands and guide us through the emotional storms we experience. As an adult we seem to fret more, fretting blocks faith.

“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

In life’s storms I can hear God’s voice just as clearly as I heard Joyce, just wait.

“ Even very young men get tired and become weak and strong young men trip and fall. 31 But they who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak.” Isaiah 40:30-31 NLV

So, when the rains come, and they will, don’t fear the storm. Wait, trust in the Lord, feet planted firmly on the solid rock of his Word and He will renew our strength. Just wait!

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Think On This

I wonder how often we overlook the important because we are focused on minute details.

Sometimes we allow the “little” things to block us from what truly matters. I heard a Bible teacher comment on this verse in Philippians and it gave me a greater perspective of what my daily mindset should be.

“Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 NLV

Thinking on what is good, pure, lovely, true and worthy of respect will stop us from jumping to wrong conclusions. When we deal with others we should be slow to take offense. It’s possible that the other person has just had a very bad day and they didn’t mean to be rude or critical. Think on what is good, loving and kind.

Let God’s love flow to them, showing them His compassion. Afterall, doesn’t God extend His loving-kindness to us even when we are at our worst.

“The Lord’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. 23 The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. 24 Deep in my heart I say, ‘The Lord is all I need; I can depend on him!'” Lamentations 3:22-24 CEV

Each day is filled with challenges but we have God’s example and His strength to handle them in a way that brings God glory.

I want you to stop and think about the most difficult person you have ever encountered. Now, with their picture in your mind think about God’s love.

“Do not trouble yourself because of sinful men. Do not want to be like those who do wrong. 2 For they will soon dry up like the grass. Like the green plant they will soon die. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good. So you will live in the land and will be fed. 4 Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Give your way over to the Lord. Trust in Him also. And He will do it. 6 He will make your being right and good show as the light, and your wise actions as the noon day.” Psalm 37:1-6 NLV

Don’t fret, trust God, do good, be happy. Think on these things and let God handle the rest!

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Falling In Love

Do you remember when you first fell in love? I do.

It’s been over 50 years ago now but I still remember the day I received the first letter that Dave wrote me. It was short and sweet. It changed my life!

I remember us writing several times before our first phone call when we set up a day to meet. He lived 245 miles away. We both had jobs and our schedules had to be worked out. We met the Sunday after Thanksgiving; I was in Yuma with family. It was only 60 miles from Dave lived – perfect!

We spent the day together; it was love at first site! Now I will interject here that I had known Dave for almost 12 years. Our first meeting came when I was 8 years old. He had been my school-girl crush, but this feeling I had was different, it was a confident love that I knew would last a lifetime.

I remember, after that first date, telling my friends at work that I was going to marry him. (He hadn’t asked yet, but I knew he would.) There’s something about being in love that fills you with joy. You just can’t help smiling and telling everyone how special it is.

This morning I was reminded of a verse that tells about joy. See if you think it fits with being in love.

“You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness.  Being at your right side will make me happy forever.” Psalm 16:11 ERV

You make me happy forever. Pause and think about that for a moment.

I also remember the first time I realized Jesus loved me, I was a little girl. And then I also remember the first time, as an adult, that I realized God’s love was unconditional and eternal. I remember that although I had strayed in my relationship with Him, He had never strayed from me.

It was then I began to dive into the sweetest love letter ever written, the Bible. The love letters that Dave had written while we were dating were a tangible example of the love that God was telling me about in His letter.

“The Lord came to us from far away, saying, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. So I have helped you come to Me with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 NLV

A love that lasts forever! Joy that lasts forever!

If you have slipped or strayed in your relationship with the Lord let me encourage you to return to the One who loves you the most.

“I love You, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my safe place, and the One Who takes me out of trouble. My God is my rock, in Whom I am safe. He is my safe-covering, my saving strength, and my strong tower.” Psalm 18:1-2 NLV

The words of a little chorus come to mind: I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again…It gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by, Oh what a love between my Lord and I, I keep falling in love with Him over and over again”.

Maybe today you will fall in love for the first time or maybe it will be the day you fall in love with Him, over again.

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Trust & Obey

As parents we like our children to be obedient. Sometimes when they’re little it’s “blind obedience”. They aren’t old enough to understand why we say to do the things we do but as we grow together in loving relationship, our children learn to trust us and obedience comes easier when it’s built on trust.

For the last month we have focused on God’s unconditional, unending love. I hope you have come to trust that God loves you and has designed a life filled with blessings for you. Trusting His love brings us to obedience.

“ If you love me, you will do what I command. 16I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever.” John 14:15 ERV

There is no need to fear that God will ask us to do something we are incapable of doing or that it would be harmful to us. No, perfect love casts out fear.

“But I will sing about your strength. I will rejoice in your love every morning. You have been my place of safety, the place I can run to when troubles come.” Psalm 59:16 ERV

We run to God and not from Him when we need help in times of trouble. This is our place of safety, for He is our protector and our strength.

“ Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.” Proverbs 16:3 ERV

This morning’s picture, the little girl and Jesus walking hand-in-hand, that’s trust! You might say, “well, if I saw the Lord holding my hand I would trust too”. That sounds like something . Thomas said when the disciples told him they had seen Jesus but he hadn’t been there. Look what Jesus said to Thomas a week later.

“Jesus said to him, “You believe because you see me. Great blessings belong to the people who believe without seeing me!” John 20:29 ERV

Jesus was talking about us and all those who were born after He ascended to heaven. We are the ones who haven’t seen Him. We are blessed because we believe – we trust, we place our faith in Him.

“ God can be trusted, and he chose you to be partners with his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 1:9 CEV

I encourage you to start each day by trusting the Lord with your plans and your hopes. Lay them out before Him, listen for His instruction, depend on Him for guidance.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and obey His word. He won’t steer you wrong!

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Describe Love

How do we do that? How can be adequately describe the experience of love and being love?

“But it is just as the Scriptures say, ‘What God has planned for people who love him is more than eyes have seen or ears have heard. It has never even entered our minds!'” I Corinthians 2:9 CEV

Years ago, I tried to answer the question, how do I describe love. This is what I wrote then, it’s still true today.

I woke up this morning and lay in bed for a while thinking – my mind filled with beautiful thoughts; a Montana sunrise, an Arizona sunset, snow sparkling on the branches of a fir tree, a baby’s smile, my husband’s blue eyes, a cup of steaming hot coffee. Seeing our youngest daughter walk down the aisle at her wedding, my oldest daughter and I as we sat in the middle of a mountain stream in our lawn chairs, our son at the helm of his boat, friends gathered on the patio of our home for good bbq, our whole family together laughing & talking & spending time together; yes, it was quite a way to wake up and start the day.

But then I asked, “Father, all of these images I see can be described but how do I describe Your love?”

For the most part, I’m pretty good with words but when I try to describe God’s love I am seriously at a disadvantage. However, this morning I heard the answer to my question and it was “You just did!”

You see, every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father, every good thing we enjoy comes as an outward expression of God’s love; that’s the way He’s always been and that’s the way He’ll always be!

When I’m thinking on these things that I can describe, I’m describing the Father’s love. In every circumstance and situation that I live, I can sense the love of God and know that He is there because God is LOVE!

Jesus’ purpose in coming to earth was to bring God’s love to each and every one of us. He brought the message that God isn’t mad at us and that God desires to have relationship with us – not some experience that is staunch and unfeeling or condemning and angry – but a real, where-the-rubber-meets-the-road, every day, I’m-always-here type of relationship.

I’m not saying that everything will be perfect in our lives because it won’t. But, I do know that in the imperfect, trying, challenging, frustrating, ugly times of our lives that God is always there, and He doesn’t abandon us! He’s always there to offer comfort, help, to bring wisdom, peace and joy even in the midst of our storms. God is love!

Jesus brought comfort to those who had lost family and friends to death, He brought compassion to the prostitute, food to the hungry, wine to the wedding, sanity to the demonic and love and forgiveness to all.

“You know about Jesus from Nazareth. God made him the Messiah by giving him the Holy Spirit and power. Jesus went everywhere doing good for people. He healed those who were ruled by the devil, showing that God was with him.” Acts 10:38 CEV

What words can I use to describe God’s love?

It really can’t be described but it can be experienced every single day!

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In Case You Wonder

I have a few questions for you this morning. Are you in love – have you ever been in love? How often do you tell the person you love, “I love you”? Your spouse, your kids, your grandkids, your friends, do they know you love them?

I don’t miss an opportunity to tell my kids each time we talk or text that I love them. Dave and I start and end our day with I love you; and there are many times in between.

So, when I started to pray about what to share this morning, I heard the Lord say in my heart “Tell them again”! It was a powerful urging. Did someone mess up yesterday and is feeling low this morning? Does someone feel alone and forgotten? We all need a reminder, a daily reminder and that is why I’m here to say, “In case you wonder, God loves you and His love is unconditional”.

“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. 21 I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.

22 I have honored my followers in the same way you honored me, in order that they may be one with each other, just as we are one. 23 I am one with them, and you are one with me, so they may become completely one. Then this world’s people will know that you sent me. They will know that you love my followers as much as you love me.” John 17:20-23 CEV

The last few days I have taken you through Jesus’ final night with his disciples. His words constantly affirmed His love for them and now we have these verses from His agonizing prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had committed whole-heartedly to laying down His life out of love for us. Why?

Because He loves us. Not only that He prayed that the world would know “that you love my followers as much as you love me”. He wants us to know and to never wonder about the Father’s love. I want you to know that God the Father and God the Son love you – you don’t ever have to wonder if that’s true. It’s a fact that has been established on the cross.

“I pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will bless you and be kind to you! May God bless you with his love, and may the Holy Spirit join all your hearts together.” II Corinthians 13:13 CEV

I said the other day that I find the love of God written on every page in the Bible. It’s the most amazing love letter.

I will say it again, just in case you wonder, God loves you and He wants you and the world to know about it!

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Much Fruit

Today will end our month-long teachings on love. That doesn’t mean I will no longer be teaching on or talking about the love of God. It’s not possible to talk about our heavenly Father without mentioning love because that’s who He is.

God is Love.

Our verses for today find us in John chapter 15. The foot washing of John 13 is over, and Jesus is getting ready to head to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. These are His words of encouragement to those He knows will be heart-broken in just a few short hours.

“If you get your life from Me and My Words live in you, ask whatever you want. It will be done for you. 8 ‘When you give much fruit, My Father is honored. This shows you are My followers. 9 I have loved you just as My Father has loved Me. Stay in My love. 10 If you obey My teaching, you will live in My love. In this way, I have obeyed My Father’s teaching and live in His love. 11 I have told you these things so My joy may be in you and your joy may be full.

12 ‘This is what I tell you to do: Love each other just as I have loved you. 13 No one can have greater love than to give his life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do what I tell you.'” John 15:7-14 NLV

The life of Jesus was one filled with compassion. It was a fruitful life, He followed all the Father had instructed Him to do. His life was joyful. He found great joy in making others’ lives better. His final act was His most loving – He laid down His life for His friends.

He wanted, and still wants, those who follow Him to live joyful, compassionate, loving lives. He wants us living by His word; His words are life. His words are our firm foundation. They will keep us steady through the storms.

You will notice that Jesus was asking his disciples to lay down their lives, not on a wooden cross but on a cross of obedience to His word. He asked that we do what He has asked us to do.

“Love the Lord our God with all our hearts and love our neighbors as our self”, then our lives with be productive and we will bare much fruit!

Have a fruitful day my friends!

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Favorite Places

Where is your favorite place to be? Our daughter and son-in-law took an all-inclusive vacation to the Dominican Republic this year and loved it. A few years back our younger daughter and son-in-law went to London and Paris. Our son has traveled to Italy and Costa Rica. We’ve vacationed in Hawaii and this last summer you all know we took our “trip of a lifetime” when Dave and I went to Greece.

Yes, Greece is my favorite place but I enjoy being in the mountains and at the oceanside. I love being home or anywhere that all my family gathers. However, my favorite place isn’t a tangible place, it’s a presence.

“Lord God All-Powerful, your temple is so lovely! 2 Deep in my heart I long for your temple,
and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you. 3 Lord God All-Powerful, my King and my God, sparrows find a home near your altars; swallows build nests thereto raise their young.

4 You bless everyone who lives in your house, and they sing your praises. 5 You bless all who depend on you for their strength and all who deeply desire to visit your temple…10 One day in your temple is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather serve in your house, than live in the homes of the wicked. 11 Our Lord and our God, you are like the sun and also like a shield. You treat us with kindness and with honor, never denying any good thing to those who live right. 12 Lord God All-Powerful, you bless everyone who trusts you.” Psalm 84 CEV

We spent hours planning our trip to Greece. There were years of watching travelogs to determine which islands we wanted to visit, researching the country’s customs and things that were required for our trip. All of this planning for twenty-seven days and it was wonderful.

But what I don’t understand is how some people never think about spending time with the Lord. I’m not condemning anyone, but I do question why they don’t think it’s important and plan for it.

As King David said, “one day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere”. To spend time with the Father – in His word, in prayer and in quiet meditation is amazing! Nothing compares with spending time with God. In another Psalm, the old English says “taste and see that the Lord is good”.

“Give the Lord a chance to show you how good he is. Great blessings belong to those who depend on him!” Psalm 34:8 ERV

Give the Lord a chance.

Did you see that King David said the sparrows and the swallows choose to nest in the courts of the Lord?

It reminds me of a teaching Jesus did. He said the Father provides the daily needs of the sparrows. Then He makes this statement:

“ Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are? 27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.” Matthew 6:26-27 ERV

Do you realize how valuable you are to the Father?

Spend time with Him, allow Him to show you the depth of His love for you. Spending time in His presence will become your favorite place to be!

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