Category: Theme

Posted on

Rainy Day Attitudes

Yesterday I mentioned that we were experiencing some rain during the night and as I talked with campers later in the day, I was surprised by the different attitudes that were conveyed.

Although we have had rain each day for the last couple of weeks, a night rain has been uncommon. In the daylight, kids go out and play in the rain, splash in the puddles and folks can sit under their canopies and play cards and drink hot cocoa. There’s an enjoyment to it.

But a night rain in the campground can bring a different emotion.

How long will it last? You can’t see the sky – there’s no playing outside because it’s dark. It’s unanticipated, unexpected. It either brings a sense of adventure or a sense of dread especially for the tent campers.

Most of the campers I spoke with welcomed the rain. A few even said that the sound of the rain on their tents was soothing. They weren’t going to let a little loss of sleep keep them from enjoying the days they had left of their camping trip.

But some got grumpy and were packing up to head home, a day or two early. They were tired of the rain. “We’re going home, even if it is 110”.

Attitude.

We each have the opportunity to control our attitudes or have them control us. Do we let the unexpected cancel or thwart our plans or do we move forward with a sense of adventure?

This morning I wanted to find a Scripture to encourage you with when you are facing the unexpected rain showers of life. I know I’ve read these verses before but this morning they seemed to have a deeper sense of meaning.

“Skies, listen and I will speak. Earth, hear the words of my mouth. 2 My teachings will come like the rain, like a mist falling to the ground, like a gentle rain on the soft grass, like rain on the green plants. 3 Praise God as I speak the Lord’s name! 4 “The Lord is the Rock, and his work is perfect! Yes, all his ways are right! God is true and faithful. He is good and honest.” Deuteronomy 32:1-4 ERV

Moses spoke these words to the Israelites shortly before his death. He had been through many experiences of God’s faithfulness as he led them from Egypt to the Promised Land. There had been good times and great challenges, times of victory and times of rebellion. But God had always been faithful to His word.

At the end of his life, his commitment had not changed. His attitude was established, undeterred. He praised the Lord for His perfect work, for His ways always being right, for being true, faithful, honest and good.

Moses said that the teachings the Lord had him record should fall on their lives like rain – rain that would nourish and cause them to grow, grow in their relationship with the Lord.

A heart attitude of gratitude.

“ …I will cause the rains to fall at the right time and will shower them with blessings.” Ezekiel 34:26 ERV

Don’t let the showers of life anger you or make you grumpy. Let them cause you to grow. They will be showers of blessing.

Posted on

“Your Grace”

I am up this morning, listening to the pouring rain on the roof of the RV and watching the lightning flashes illuminate the night sky. But my blog has nothing to do with rain.

Recently I was watching a series where the men would bow and the women would curtsy before royalty. The common greeting at such a time as this was simple. The curtsy preceded these words, “Your Grace”.

“Your Grace”.

A title that distinguished them as the ruling class. A title that identified their authority. A title that indicated their supreme authority to rule.

This ruler has been bestowed with the responsibility to rule. From their lips came words of forgiveness, restoration, acceptance, clemency, a new start. Now that my friend is grace!

Our life in Christ is all about grace. Receiving from the Father what we don’t deserve, receiving what we are unable to obtained on our own merit.

His grace.

The Apostle Paul wrote this: “But the Lord said, ‘My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.’ So I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me.” II Corinthians 12:9 ERV

In our weakness, whatever that may be, His grace is all we need. His grace fills our life with the power of Christ. His grace has provided forgiveness, restoration – a new life.

“I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ERV

Grace is a gift – a gift from God. We can’t buy it, we can’t earn it, we don’t deserve it – that’s what makes grace so amazing! It’s a gift given in love.

Those two words, Your Grace, fill my heart with such gratitude!

I hope you will start your day in the presence of the King of Kings, our Father, and humbling bowing or making a curtsy. Then say to Him, “Your Grace is all I need”!

Posted on

Open The Door

I opened the door this morning and experienced the birth of a new day. Sitting inside I could only see part of the beauty that filled the sky.

I’m so glad I walked out!

Have you ever been in a place where you knew the Lord was opening a new door for you? But instead of walking through it you hesitated, not sure what would be waiting for you, you paused, needing to be reassured that this was a good thing.

I have held back at times, wondering if this “new thing” was really God’s doing or just my wishful thinking. Even now, I am wondering about some new opportunities that lay before me.

Opening the door and walking out means leaving the familiar – experiencing new challenges, new victories. When thoughts like this come, I find one of my favorite Psalms gives me encouragement and direction. You may find it a bit long but it is filled with hope and promise.

“I will tell of your greatness, my God and King.
    I will praise your name forever and ever.
2 I will praise you every day.
    I will praise your name forever and ever.
3 The Lord is great and deserves all our praise!
    No one can fully understand his greatness!
4 Each generation will praise you
    and tell the next generation about the great things you do.
5 Your majesty and glory are wonderful.
    I will tell about your miracles.
6 People will tell about the amazing things you do,
    and I will tell everyone how great you are.
7 They will talk about your goodness
    and sing about your justice.

8 The Lord is kind and merciful,
    patient and full of love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
    He shows his mercy to everything he made.
10 Lord, all you have made will give thanks to you.
    Your loyal followers will praise you.
11 They will tell how great your kingdom is.
    They will tell how great you are.
12 So others will learn about the mighty things you do,
    about the glory of your kingdom—how marvelous it is!
13 Your kingdom will never end,
    and you will rule forever.

The Lord can be trusted in all that he says.
    He is loyal in all that he does.[a]
14 The Lord lifts up people who have fallen.
    He helps those who are in trouble.
15 All living things look to you for their food,
    and you give them their food at the right time.
16 You open your hands
    and give every living thing all that it needs.
17 Everything the Lord does is good.
    Everything he does shows how loyal he is.
18 The Lord is near to everyone
    who sincerely calls to him for help.
19 He listens to his followers and does what they want.
    He answers their prayers and saves them.
20 The Lord protects everyone who loves him,
    but he destroys all who do evil.
21 I will praise the Lord!
    Let everyone praise his holy name forever and ever! Psalm 145 CEV

The Lord hears us when we call, he protects us, he is loyal and will always be there to help – the door is open!

Posted on

Absolute Peace

The last few days have not been days I would like to repeat! So many peace robbers.

This morning it is time to re-establish peace!

“God, you give true peace to people who depend on you, to those who trust in you.” Isaiah 26:3 ERV

The best way I know to stay established in peace is to focus on the Father’s goodness and keep my heart in an attitude of praise.

Will you join me in speaking out praise to the Father?

“God, you are my God.
    I am searching so hard to find you.
Body and soul, I thirst for you
    in this dry and weary land without water.
2 Yes, I have seen you in your Temple.[a]
    I have seen your strength and glory.
3 Your faithful love is better than life,
    so my lips praise you.
4 By my life, I will praise you.
    In your name, I lift my hands in prayer.
5 When I sit down to satisfy my hunger,
    my joyful lips hunger to praise you!
6 I remember you while lying on my bed.
    I think about you in the middle of the night.
7 That is because you are the one who helps me.
    It makes me happy to be under your protection!
8 I stay close to you,
    and you hold me with your powerful arm.” Psalm 63:1-8 ERV

Father, I will stay close to you, I will be under your protection, and I will be at peace! Thank you for Your faithfulness, even when I forget to be focused on You.

Posted on

Just The Facts

dun ta dun dun…

If you’re close to my age you remember the theme music for Dragnet.

Since it’s almost Friday, it seems a good time to remind you of those famous words spoken by Sgt. Joe Friday on every episode of Dragnet, you know the ones, “the facts ma’am, just the facts”.

But there’s a difference between the facts and the truth. Have you ever thought about that?

Wanting to know the truth, we should never settle for just the facts.

The facts according to Jewish law said that a woman caught in adultery should be stoned to death. However, the truth was Jesus was moved with compassion, he stopped her accusers, her life was spared, and she was forgiven.

The facts according to Jewish law said that a leper was declared unclean and couldn’t be in close proximity to the general population. The facts stated that a woman who had menstrual bleeding was not allowed in public.

But the truth was that Jesus came to heal the sick and so he touched the leper and healed the woman with the issue of blood.

“Suddenly a man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus. He said, ‘Lord, you have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to.’ 3 Jesus put his hand on the man and said, ‘I want to! Now you are well.’ At once the man’s leprosy disappeared.” Matthew 8:2-3 CEV

“The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. 28 She had said to herself, ‘If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.’ 29 As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped, and she knew she was healed…The woman knew what had happened to her. So she came trembling with fear and knelt down in front of Jesus. Then she told him the whole story. 34 Jesus said to the woman, ‘You are now well because of your faith. May God give you peace! You are healed, and you will no longer be in pain.’” Mark 5:27-29,33-34 CEV

Jesus by-passed the facts and focused on the truth. The leper needed a touch and Jesus reached out to him. The woman had exhausted all her finances seeking a cure – she needed peace, she needed healing. Jesus didn’t condemn her with the facts but was moved by compassion and healed her.

What facts could be holding you back?

Compare them with the truth of God’s word and see how God’s truth will overcome the facts of your situation.

“Lord, help me learn your ways. Show me how you want me to live. 5 Guide me and teach me your truths. You are my God, my Savior. You are the one I have been waiting for. 6 Remember to be kind to me, Lord. Show me the tender love that you have always had.” Psalm 25:4-6 ERV

The facts without compassion can be condemning but wrapping the facts in God’s compassion brings peace, healing, kindness and forgiveness.

Posted on

We Knew We’d Be Safe…

we prayed!

Those were the words of one of our campers late this afternoon after we endured the most tumultuous thunderstorm of the 2022 season.

Lightning was flashing every three to four seconds and I was counting off the seconds between lightning and thunder. Once I didn’t even have the word “one” out of my mouth when the thunder boomed.

I would count and know that one of the adjacent campgrounds had experienced a hit. And there were the times I counted and knew that our campground had once again experienced a lightning strike.

My prayer was for the safety and peace of all the campers in all the different sites, ours and those around us. Last summer we experienced some horrendous storms but the Lord brought us safely through.

Each time we are faced with these outbursts of nature I am reminded of my Father’s word.

“Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful.
2 Then you will say to the Lord, ‘You are my fortress, my place of safety, you are my God,
and I trust you.” 3 The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4 He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure.” Psalm 91:1-4 CEV

Last year I had to fight through the fear of such terrible storms. This year I stood confidently victorious in the face of the danger and KNEW beyond any shadow of doubt that I was secure under the shadow of the Almighty.

Noah floated safely above the flood waters; David faced a giant of overwhelming size; Daniel confronted the lions and the Hebrew young men walked through fire without being singed. Peter walked on water; Paul sang in prison at midnight as a storm broke his chains and opened the prison doors; Lazarus was raised from the dead.

Each one knew they would be safe…because we prayed, because we trusted in God’s unfailing word; because we knew God’s promise was to never leave us or abandon us!

“…being content with what you have; for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” 6 So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, ‘The Lord is my Helper [in time of need], I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?'” Hebrews 13:5b-6 AMP

When storms threaten, do you set yourself against them? Are they physical, spiritual, financial, emotional – do they threaten to sink your ship or to devour your person?

“Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You [for forgiveness] in a time when You [are near and] may be found; Surely when the great waters [of trial and distressing times] overflow they will not reach [the spirit in] him. 7 You are my hiding place; You, Lord, protect me from trouble; You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance. Selah.” Psalm 32:6-7 AMP

Storms are real; adversity is meant to destroy. Face the lions, stand tall in the fiery furnace, defeat your Goliaths, speak to the angry waves.

Let the Father close the mouth of the lions, deliver you from the flames, calm the seas and direct the sling and the stone to destroy the giant.

“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 26:3-4 CEV

Say with confidence “I knew I would be safe, I prayed!”.

Posted on

Pure Motives

When you are doing something nice for someone, do you ever hear “they probably won’t appreciate this anyway” going off in your head? If so, you’re not alone. I had to deal with that many times in my younger years.

I Corinthians 13, the love chapter, tells us that if we martyr ourselves and it isn’t motivated by love – then it profits us nothing. “I’m giving all my time to do this or that and no one will really appreciate it anyway – no one is going to know how hard I worked, how I gave up sleep, how much it cost me to do this nice thing” – these are all wrong motives!

Years ago, I would do things for people just to get them to like or accept me. I tried to buy friendship -what a destructive force that can be! I was so insecure in who I was that I needed constant affirmation from others that I was lovable.

Then I heard a wonderful godly woman, Dale Evans Rogers, speak in our college chapel service about God’s love, His unconditional love, and it got through. Knowing that God loves me – really loves me – is more than enough acceptance to last a lifetime.

I went from doing things for people to get them to like and accept me to doing the same things because I really loved those people. I wanted them to know they were loved and appreciated. A complete turnaround in my motivation.

The prodigal son tried to buy friends and they abandon him when he could no longer foot the bill for their entertainment.

“Not long after that, the younger son packed up everything he owned and left for a foreign country, where he wasted all his money in wild living. 14 He had spent everything, when a bad famine spread through that whole land. Soon he had nothing to eat.” Luke 15:13-14 CEV

Our motivation should be one of expressing love without expecting anything in return.

“I may give away everything I have to help others, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing by doing all this if I don’t have love. 4 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. 5 Love is not rude, it is not selfish, and it cannot be made angry easily. Love does not remember wrongs done against it. 6 Love is never happy when others do wrong, but it is always happy with the truth. 7 Love never gives up on people. It never stops trusting, never loses hope, and never quits. 8 Love will never end.” I Corinthians 13:3-8 CEV

Jesus was always being criticized for His actions of compassion. He ate with tax collectors, engaged fallen women in conversation, showed compassion and healing to the outcasts. His motive was always pure, one of love.

“Whoever wants to be first must serve the rest of you like a slave. 45 Follow my example: Even the Son of Man did not come for people to serve him. He came to serve others and to give his life to save many people.” Mark 10:44-45 ERV

Let’s serve others with a pure heart, no other motivation is required. We have the opportunity to be an example of Jesus’ love.

Posted on

Feeling Small?

Before we get into today’s blog let me explain about yesterday. My signal wasn’t strong enough to load and post a blog so there was none. I pray you had a wonderful day and that sometime throughout the day you felt the overwhelming sense of God’s love.

Saturday was a day off for us. Dave and I went on a hike. The first location we choose, unknown to us, was an eagle nesting sanctuary. The posted signs told us not to enter and so we moved on to a plan B.

It was at the second location I took this picture of Dave standing next to a giant ponderosa pine. My tall and handsome husband looks so tiny, just a speck next to that massive conifer.

There are times when each of us probably feel small and insignificant. There has always been someone who is more capable, more attractive, more educated, more whatever…but this isn’t the way our heavenly Father sees us.

“Aren’t two sparrows sold for only a penny? But your Father knows when any one of them falls to the ground. 30 Even the hairs on your head are counted. 31 So don’t be afraid! You are worth much more than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31 CEV

Our Father knows the exact number of the hairs on our head and each day that number changes. He is invested in our well-being and the prosperity of our souls. We are not insignificant to Him.

“But the Lord says, ‘Can a woman forget her baby?  Can she forget the child who came from her body? Even if she can forget her children, I cannot forget you. 16 I drew a picture of you on my hand. You are always before my eyes.'” Isaiah 49:15-16 ERV

A changing point in my walk with Christ came when I quit trying to get God to love me and realized that His love for me is unconditional and it will never end. The Bible showed me that He loved me when I was a sinner and now that He has given me right standing with Him, He loves me still.

“Christ died for us when we were unable to help ourselves. We were living against God, but at just the right time Christ died for us. 7 Very few people will die to save the life of someone else, even if it is for a good person. Someone might be willing to die for an especially good person. 8 But Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and by this God showed how much he loves us.” Romans 5:6-8 ERV

“Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new. 18 God has done it all! He sent Christ to make peace between himself and us, and he has given us the work of making peace between himself and others…21 Christ never sinned! But God treated him as a sinner, so Christ could make us acceptable to God.” II Corinthians 5:17-18, 21 CEV

The Father knew it was impossible for me to measure up to His standard, so He sent His Son to provide a way for me to be in right standing with Him. Christ died for me, for us, so that we could experience the amazing love and grace of God. Christ made us acceptable!

Our Father never sees us as to insignificant or small to be a recipient of His love!

Posted on

Final Authority

Each day I am thankful that God has allowed me to share His word with you. I don’t know where I would be without the Father’s love or His wonderful love letter, His Word! In fact, I don’t even want to think about what my life would be like without Him.

God’s Word has brought me forgiveness of sins, health to my body, peace to my soul, healing for my children, enrichment for my marriage, wisdom when my human intellect was lacking, protection in physical and emotional storms and safety in the face of danger.

God’s promises have let me know that He would always supply and He always has. But I do have to tell you, it hasn’t always been this way. I lived a defeated life for a long time until I saw in God’s word that He has made provision for more than just eternal life and that He wanted me to live victoriously while I was here on earth.

All of God’s promises are the same. His Word is for everyone but we don’t all see the same results. Why? We must appropriate what God has given us; simply put we must believe it regardless of how we feel or what circumstances tell us we should believe.

There have been days that I wake up and don’t feel very saved; but my salvation isn’t founded on my feelings, it’s based on God’s love and Jesus’ sacrifice. There are days that I wake up and may not feel healed but I am because it’s based on God’s promise and Jesus’ sacrifice.

Circumstances said there wasn’t enough lunch to feed 5000 men with five loaves and two fish but the blessing of God flowed and there was more than enough.

Circumstances said the apostles should lock themselves away and hide at the crucifixion, but the power of God was released through His Word and resurrection came!

The medical world said nothing could be done for the woman was bleeding for twelve years but just one touch brought healing to her body.

Yes, the word of God changes our circumstances when we believe; it’s called faith! Not faith in ourselves, but faith in God’s unchanging, unfailing love.

Let the words of David’s Psalm be real in your life today.

“You can go to God Most High to hide. You can go to God All-Powerful for protection. 2 I say to the LORD, “You are my place of safety, my fortress, My God, I trust in you.” 3 God will save you from hidden dangers and from deadly diseases. 4 You can go to him for protection. He will cover you like a bird spreading its wings over its babies. You can trust him to surround and protect you like a shield. 5 You will have nothing to fear at night and no need to be afraid of enemy arrows during the day. 6 You will have no fear of diseases that come in the dark or terrible suffering that comes at noon…15 When my followers call to me, I will answer them. I will be with them when they are in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them. 16 I will give my followers a long life and show them my power to save.” Psalm 91 ERV

Make God’s word your final authority. It has stood the test of time. It will not fail!

Posted on

Jonah or Jesus?

An attitude of the heart.

When our kids were younger we told them that we had two rules in our home. Obedience and respect. They could obey without respect and also be respectful and not be obedient. We stood for both.

This morning we are going to look at Jonah and his disobedience, disrespect and ultimate obedience without respect.

God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh and speak out against the sin and evil there. Jonah decided to run from God and head in the opposite direction just as quickly as he could. He got on a ship headed for Tarshish to “flee from the presence of the Lord.” Not a good sign.

“ Instead, Jonah ran from the Lord. He went to the seaport of Joppa and found a ship that was going to Spain. So he paid his fare, then got on the ship and sailed away to escape.” Jonah 1:3 CEV

Disobedience.

Most of you know the story – there was a storm at sea, the sailors throw Jonah overboard, he’s swallowed by a great fish, spends three nights in the fish’s belly, Jonah cries out to the Lord and then is spit out on the beach and he walks to Nineveh.

“Once again the Lord told Jonah 2 to go to that great city of Nineveh and preach his message of doom.3 Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to Nineveh.” Jonah 3:1-3 CEV

In the belly of the fish, Jonah recognizes that it’s the Lord who has sent the fish to save him from drowning. He agrees to go and proclaim judgment over the people of Nineveh. At Jonah’s declaration of God’s displeasure with the ungodly living in Nineveh the King declares that all the people are to repent and hopefully they will be spared.

At the end of forty days, the city has repented, and God acknowledges their repentance and spares them. Jonah gets angry and tells God, “I knew you would spare them if I came here” and then he went to the outskirts of the city and pouted. He was very angry with the Lord for sparing them.

“Jonah was really upset and angry. 2  So he prayed: Our Lord, I knew from the very beginning that you wouldn’t destroy Nineveh. That’s why I left my own country and headed for Spain. You are a kind and merciful God, and you are very patient. You always show love, and you don’t like to punish anyone.” Jonah 4:1-2 CEV

Jonah had cried out to the Lord while in the fish’s belly and was saved but he became angry when the city cried out to God and they were spared. He was obedient to do what God called him to do but he didn’t respect God’s actions when it came to others.

Are we like that?

We expect God to forgive us the things we’ve done but we become angry when we don’t see others “getting what they deserve”.

Jesus prayed for those who were responsible for his death. Do we find it hard to forgive those who have hurt our feelings, mistreat us and abuse us?

“Jesus said, “Father, forgive these people! They don’t know what they’re doing.” Luke 23:34 CEV

Let’s live like Jesus today and not like Jonah.

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress