Category: Confidence

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Spelling Lesson

School is back in session for most of the kids and they have spelling lessons. Today, I’m going to teach you a new way to spell two words, defeat and quit.

How do you spell defeat? It’s spelled q-u-i-t. How do you spell quit? It’s spelled n-e-v-e-r!

Things come up in life and it looks like we’ll be defeated. Some times the hard things make us want to quit! It could be a relationship, an illness, financial problems, a continued process of setbacks but we must not quit!!!

Fight the battle – victory will come.

“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

ALWAYS!

Do you remember the story of the Israelites after they had been delivered from Pharaoh and Egypt ? They had seen God do mighty things and now they were standing on the edge of the Promised Land. The Lord told them they would go in and possess the land so they sent in spies to see what the land was like.

Twelve spies went in; they brought back clusters of grapes so big that two men had to carry them on a pole. It truly was a land flowing with milk and honey as God had said it was (He doesn’t lie you know). The land was lush and beautiful. A land to be desired but…the spies reported there were giants in the land.

God knew the giants were there when He said He would give them the land. Were the giants really any bigger an obstacle than the Pharaoh’s army or the Red Sea? If God had provided victory for them in the past, why would they doubt His ability now?

The spies took their eyes off of their God and looked at their own ability. They had given up. They were defeated! Joshua and Caleb, two of the spies, tried to get their eyes back on the bigness of God and the people were ready to stone them.

“ It is a land filled with many good things. If the LORD is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land. And he will give that land to us. 9 So don’t turn against the LORD! Don’t be afraid of the people in that land. We can defeat them. They have no protection, nothing to keep them safe. But we have the LORD with us, so don’t be afraid!” 10 All the people began talking about killing Joshua and Caleb with stones.” Numbers 14:8-10 ERV

Trusting God isn’t “a way” to get things done, it’s “the way”. Jesus didn’t say I am “a way”, “a truth” and “a life” – NO! He said I am THE way, THE truth and THE life.

We must stay focused on the greatness of our God or we’ll be like the Israelites and quit before we get started.

I don’t know your situation or what battles you have been fighting but don’t quit! You’re not in this alone – God is there to fight the battle with and for you!

Don’t quit – don’t give up – don’t accept defeat and you will ALWAYS TRIUMPH!

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More Love

The last two days I have had these words in my mind and on my heart – More Love.

Think about those two words in connection with our relationship with God, the Father. Can we earn more of His love? Is it possible that He loves someone more than He loves us?

The answer to those two questions is an emphatic no!

Something we need to realize, and it goes beyond human understanding, is that God is love, period. There is no greater or lesser degree of His love displayed because of our efforts or goodness.

“God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him.” I John 4:8CEV

Water is wet. That is a definitive statement. I know this is an inadequate example, but water doesn’t get any wetter because someone is rich or poor, tall or short, good or bad. Water is wet.

God is love!  He can’t get more love from anywhere – He is love. We, however, can understand the depth of His love more as we develop in our relationship with Him but that doesn’t mean He loves us more.  The Apostle Paul prayed this prayer for the Christians in Ephesus, and it is for us too.

“So I bow in prayer before the Father. 15 Every family in heaven and on earth gets its true name from him. 16 I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. 17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 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.” Ephesians 3:14-19 ERV

One of the most quoted verses in the Bible is John 3:16.

“ God loved the people of this WORLD so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” CEV (emphasis mine)

We are all included in the “world”, so we could accurately read that verse like this: “For God so loved Kristi (add your name) that He gave His only begotten Son…” God, in His love, is unwilling that any of us should perish, His love has been poured out to all.

More Love!

It’s not possible for Him to love anymore than He does right now. It’s not possible for anything to separate us from His love.

“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 8:38-39 CEV

Don’t ever entertain the thought that God doesn’t love you. That’s not possible for if God ever stopped loving us, He would stop being God. He cannot deny who He is.

My prayer for you is the same as Paul for the Christians in Ephesus – I pray that you will understand and come to know the height, the depth and the breadth of God’s love for you.

God is love and He loves you!

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Super Saints

So often people think that they need to be super saints to be used by God.

Not so…God is looking for people who are available. You don’t have to be someone who has been a Christian for a long time – someone who has been to Bible school or seminary – or even someone who has lived an exemplary life.

God is looking for the willing and obedient!

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:” Isaiah 1:18-19 KJV

Remember the marriage feast in Cana? Jesus’ mother told him that they were running low on wine. She expected Jesus to do something and then she said to the servants standing nearby, “whatever he tells you to do, do it”. They did and a miracle took place.

If we will just “do” what we hear from God, He will work the miracles. We don’t have to know great amounts of Scripture, but we need to be willing to do what we hear.

“Mary then said to the servants, “Do whatever Jesus tells you to do.”

6 At the feast there were six stone water jars that were used by the people for washing themselves in the way that their religion said they must. Each jar held about twenty or thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants to fill them to the top with water. Then after the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now take some water and give it to the man in charge of the feast.”

The servants did as Jesus told them, 9 and the man in charge drank some of the water that had now turned into wine. He did not know where the wine had come from, but the servants did. He called the bridegroom over 10 and said, “The best wine is always served first. Then after the guests have had plenty, the other wine is served. But you have kept the best until last!”

11 This was Jesus’ first miracle, and he did it in the village of Cana in Galilee. There Jesus showed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.” John 2:5-11 CEV

These servants only claim of greatness was they did what Jesus told them to do.

Lord, today, I desire to be willing and obedient!

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The Unexpected

Yesterday Dave and I took a drive, not far from our campground to a place called Lee’s Valley Reservoir.  It’s a small lake – such a serene setting.

We weren’t there for the fishing or picnicking. We went specifically to find a strong internet connection so that we could stream our church service and get some computer work done. I couldn’t think of a nicer place to hold up.

It was so good to be a part of a live service and hear good teaching from God’s word.

After we left there, we stopped by to see a friend of ours, another camp host. We had a short visit but when the dark clouds started rolling in, we knew it was time to head for home.  Within minutes the rain was pouring down, the windshield wipers on the truck couldn’t keep up.

About that time my phone rang. The rain was beating so strongly on the roof of the truck I didn’t know if we would be able to hear but I answered. Dave pulled the truck off the road on to an overlook.  It was our oldest daughter. We chatted for a few minutes but explained about the driving rain we were experiencing so we cut the conversation short.

On to home.

As we pulled onto the road to the campground the sun broke through and everything appeared to be crisp and well washed by the rain. I went to check with the hosts on duty to make sure all was well.

What they told me was a bit unnerving. Just moments before we had arrived there had been a lightning strike in the campground. It was close to us. Dave and I went to investigate and make sure all the campers were ok. It struck right behind our 5th wheel in the site up the bank from us. The campers in that site had been sitting outside when it hit! They were obviously shaken but ok. Chunks of timber were thrown everywhere.

Dave and our manager were busy inspecting the tree and discussing its stability and the safety concerns while I spoke with the one camper. I told him I was sure that God had provided he and the others with protection. He agreed and then he said this, “That’s why we live each day as if it could be our last and we are ready anytime that this may be our last breath. I’m ready.”

I assured him we were too, and we were very grateful that they were all safe!

“So always be cheerful! As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. 7 But we live by faith, not by what we see. 8 We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. 9 But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him.” II Corinthians 5:6-9 CEV

My question for you this morning is are you ready? Do you know that when you leave this body that you will be present with the Father?  I would hate to think that those reading this might not be sure where they would be if they died today. If you’re uncertain please pray this simple prayer.

“Father, I’m not sure I’m ready if this is to be my final day on earth. I’m not sure I would be in heaven with You. I want to be sure. I know I have sinned, but I also know that Jesus died to see that my sins are forgiven and I can be adopted as one of Your children. I believe that You did this for me, and I ask you to receive me now as Your child. Thank you for giving me new life. I ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Today is a new day for all of us. Things may come that we aren’t expecting but nothing catches our heavenly Father unaware. We can have peace as we trust in Him.

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Built Strong, Built to Last

Over the last two months we have had a lot of rain in the mountains. We are so thankful!

To us the rain is a blessing but to some others, who weren’t prepared for it, it has been a discouragement and even a destructive element of nature. Recently, we had two different sets of campers leave the campground at the end of their reservation. One was upset by all the rain. Their tent had collapsed because the roof wasn’t protected from by a rain cover and the water was too heavy, causing it to cave in.

The other couple also had some damage to their cover. When we asked them if they enjoyed their camping experience, they had the complete opposite opinion from the first. They were excited. They told us it was their first camping trip and they loved it – “oh yes, we had some damage from the rain but we know what to do next time; we’ll be back – it was beautiful”.

It was surprising to hear such a difference of viewpoint. 

It reminded me of a little song we sang in Sunday School when I was a child.

The rains came down as the floods came up

The rains came down as the floods came up

The rains came down as the floods came up

And the house on the rock stood firm!

If we are built on a firm foundation, we can withstand the storms and the rain. 

Our world seems to be in a storm – spiritually, physically, politically, economically.  Some are being shaken to the very foundation and some collapse like the tent of the one camper. But God has given us a promise for the storms.

“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 did not fall, because it was built on solid rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 CEV

When we make God’s word our foundation, letting it give us the stability and underpinning we need, we will withstand the storms. When Jesus came to earth, He was called the living Word, He is our foundation.

“You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. 7 Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.” Colossians 2:6-7 CEV

I don’t know what type of storm you may be experiencing. You may have already seen your tent collapse, if you have, pick up the pieces and rebuild, build on the foundation of God’s unchangeable Word.

He will be your source of strength. He will be your protection and your provider. Trust Him!

Build Strong, Be Built to Last!

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The Flowers Are Fading

We’ve had a beautiful summer!

Never has the grass been so lush and green or the wild flowers as plentiful and vivid. Camper after camper, who had been coming here for years, tell us this is the most vegetation they have ever seen.

Just last weekend, we had a group of visitors from the Arizona Mushroom Association. They were wandering the forest in search of edible fungus and even had classes on proper drying and preparation.

It is a bumper year for vegetation. However, the chill of fall is in the air. Morning temperatures have been in the mid 40’s and we’re wearing sweatshirts or fleece part of the day. With the chill, the flowers are beginning to fade.

Things are changing, as they must. The earth needs time to catch its breath and replenish its soil through the Fall and winter.

We, too, go through times of change. I was watching a series on the West last night and one old Cheyenne warrior was telling his daughter that he had entered the winter of his life but she was not to be sad because this was the way “the One God had planned it”. I’m definitely in the fall of my life.

“7 At the Lord’s command,
flowers and grass disappear,
    and so do we.
8 Flowers and grass fade away,
but what our God has said
    will never change.” Isaiah 40:7-8 CEV

Throughout my lifetime I have found God’s word to be my only constant, it’s the only thing that has never changed and is completely trustworthy. I’m so thankful I have learned and am still learning to trust His word.

“13 Just as parents are kind to their children, the Lord is kind to all who worship him, 14     because he knows we are made of dust. 15 We humans are like grass  or wild flowers that quickly bloom. 16 But a scorching wind blows, and they quickly wither   to be forever forgotten. 17 The Lord is always kind  to those who worship him, and he keeps his promises to their descendants. 18 who faithfully obey him.” Psalm 103:13-18 CEV

What season are you in? The Father will be faithful.

It doesn’t make me sad to see the flowers fade because it reminds me that God always keeps His promises, no matter the season.

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More Peace

As I was praying this morning only one word kept coming to mind – peace.

I said “Lord, I’ve just finished several blogs on peace. Do you want me to continue?” The answer was clear. “Yes, continue teaching on peace as long as I tell you”.

“When I felt my feet slipping, you came with your love and kept me steady. And when I was burdened with worries, you comforted me and made me feel secure.” Psalm 94:18-19 CEV

We get very little news coverage in the mountains but we aren’t completely uninformed either. I’ve heard of the hurricanes, earthquakes, increase in COVID cases and the unrest in Afghanistan. It’s enough to make hearts sick and knees weakened.

That’s why we need God’s peace!

“5 Only God gives inward peace,
and I depend on him.
6 God alone is the mighty rock
that keeps me safe,
and he is the fortress
where I feel secure.” Psalm 62:5-6 CEV

Our Father wants us to be as confident in His power to protect and provide through the storm as we are when there is no storm.

“Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.” John 14:1 CEV

“Don’t worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. 7 Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.” Philippians 4:6-7 CEV

I know some reading this have recently been through some near-death experiences, lost loved ones, have loved ones in dangerous circumstances and been through terrible storms. I have prayed that God’s peace would wrap around you like a warm blanket, controlling your thoughts so that you can be at rest in His care.

Keep your focus on the Father’s unbreakable promises and live in His peace!

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Which Child Are You?

About a week ago now, we had an interesting FaceTime call with our youngest daughter and three youngest grandchildren. It was so good to see all their faces.

However, each one of them had a different reaction to seeing Besta and Pappy on screen. Our youngest wanted to be the one holding the screen, kissing our faces and touching us.

Our grandson, who had just been picked up at school, wanted us to see all his papers with his good grades. He wanted us to see how much he was learning.

Our middle granddaughter was shy and didn’t want to be on camera. She peeked at us occasionally but was happy to be tucked out of view behind her Momma.

Those three reactions got me to thinking about how we relate in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Some of us are so grateful for all He has done for us. We are constantly praising Him and expressing our love.

“44 He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. 47 So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.” Luke 7:44-47 CEV

Then, there are those of us who do all we can to encourage others and see that we are walking in all that the Father has planned for us. We aren’t serving the Father to gain His love, we already have that. We want Him to know that we are doing our best with all we have.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” II Timothy 2:15 NIV

And finally, there are some of us who are timid and shy when it comes to our relationship with the Father. We are uncertain about coming into His presence. We need to be coaxed and encouraged. We need to be reassured that the Father’s presence is a safe place and we can be ourselves.

“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 kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

What a great example these three little ones were to me!

I have been like all three of them in my relationship with the Lord. So, let me ask you…which child are you?

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Where There’s A Will

Some of you received yesterday’s message that my daughter posted for me. I am having technical difficulties; my laptop is failing to hold a charge. She told you it may be several days before I could post.

After being plugged in for almost 18 hours, I was found that this morning the battery had gained from 5% power to 20%. Hallelujah!

I hate the idea of not being able to share with you each morning. It’s what I do; it’s my calling.

“God planned for us to do good things and to live as he has always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what we are.” Ephesians 2:10 CEV

This morning, Dave and I are headed into our small northern Arizona town to see the “computer guy”. I believe the problem is with the power cord or how the cord isn’t making proper connection with the computer. I’m praying he has another cord or can ascertain the problem and fix it.

Through the night, I kept praying “Lord let me have enough battery life to share the blog in the morning”.

Isn’t that the way it is in life? We face obstacles and problems and our power seems to drain. We try everything but nothing seems to work for more than a few hours or a few days.

“Such a large crowd of witnesses is all around us! So we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially the sin that just won’t let go. And we must be determined to run the race that is ahead of us.” Hebrews 12:1 CEV

We must be determined to keep going; where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Throw off the things that slow us down and tackle every obstacle head on with the help the Father provides. It’s not silly to pray about a faulty computer, a car that won’t start, a checkbook that is almost empty, groceries for the table, a good teacher for your child…none of that is silly to pray about. What’s silly is not to pray!

Our Father is concerned about all our issues of life – big and small, live threatening or minute.

“So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

Where there is a will, trust God to make a way!

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Dave’s Tree

When we first moved to this campsite in mid-June, it took us a couple days to get completely set up and then we could focus on the beauty around us. One of the first things that caught Dave’s eye was this tree. It isn’t the most stately tree of the woods but it stands out from the rest.

When we look across the way, we see this tree with no fullness at its top. Only a couple of branches but those branches form the shape of a cross. Dave says this cross is like the steeple of God’s wooded cathedral. To us, it is a reminder that no matter where we are, God is present and His love is outpoured everywhere on earth.

There’s a song we used to sing at Cowboy Cathedral years ago when we ministered at youth rodeos and ranches across Arizona. It was written in the 1940’s. It goes something like this:

Oh, the place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Built by the hand of the Lord
Where the trees of the forrest are like pipes of an organ
And the breeze plays an amen choir.

All the stars are the candles and they light up the mountains
Mountains are altars of God
Oh, the place where I worship is the wide open spaces
Built by the hand of the Lord.

This tree has become a church to us. As we sit and watch the sunrise break over the tree line or see the clouds rolling in, we feel that we are in the place that God has called us too. We are here for a purpose. We enjoy the beauty that God has created but we are also here to share God’s love with those around us.

“ We have only one God, and he is the Father. He created everything, and we live for him. Jesus Christ is our only Lord. Everything was made by him, and by him life was given to us.” I Corinthians 8:6 CEV

God has given life, a new and abundant life. His desire is that people everywhere experience His love and forgiveness. You may be country folk who have lived rurally like we have for years or you may be city dwellers who feel more comfortable with bustling traffic and high rise buildings but no matter your surroundings the Father is there reaching out to touch you with His love.

“Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better. 11 It doesn’t matter if you are a Greek or a Jew, or if you are circumcised or not. You may even be a barbarian or a Scythian, and you may be a slave or a free person. Yet Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. 12 God loves you and has chosen you as his own special people. So be gentle, kind, humble, meek, and patient.” Colossians 3:10-12 CEV

Social standing, nationality, religious or not doesn’t make a difference. The life changing fact is that God loves us and has chosen us, we are special to him.

You may not have a tree like Dave’s but if you look around I know you will find something special that God has placed within your view to remind you of His love and watchful care.

We all have a place where we can worship the Father who loves us and gives us life!

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