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Hide N Seek

Ready or not, here I come!

As a kid, did you ever play hide and seek? We used to have great games on our block during the summer evenings. Most of the time I would be one of the first caught but then I was one of the youngest and didn’t hide too well.

Occasionally there would be that time when no one could find me and I dreaded hearing them call out “All-y, All-y, ox in free”. I didn’t want to reveal my hiding place because I could use it again. I was safe and well hidden.

In life there have been times that I have stood in the face of trouble and defiantly said “give me your best shot – I can take it”. Sometimes this was a foolish confidence in my own strength and at other times it was a secure declaration of my victory in Christ.

But there have also been those times that my desire was to be securely hidden; not wanting to be seen or found because I needed a time to rest.

God is so good that way! Giving us time to hide under the shadow of His wings; time to regain our strength, time to build spiritual muscle, time to grow in Him.

“You are a hiding place for me. You protect me from my troubles. You surround me and protect me, so I sing about the way you saved me. Selah 8 The Lord says, “I will teach you and guide you in the way you should live. I will watch over you and be your guide.” Psalm 32:7-8 ERV

Whether you’re on the front lines of battle today or in a secure place of hiding I want you to know that the Father is there to give you rest when you’re weary, strength for the battle and victory over the enemy.

“Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory.” Isaiah 41:10 CEV

He is our “hiding place”!

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Nothing Better

Some mornings I want nothing more than to imagine that I am snuggling in my Father’s arms and feeling the comfort of His love! Aww, there’s nothing better than that.

The world we live in is filled with crazy distractions and difficulties. It can be overwhelming.

What was the first thing on your mind this morning? The kids, your job, health, finances, a relationship, the world crisis – whatever it is, the Lord has a solution.

“God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.” I Peter 5:7 CEV

His lap is cozy enough to have room for you to cuddle up and draw strength from Him.

His Word is powerful enough to change the course of rivers and set the boundaries in the sky; so at His word your world can change from disorder to order. Don’t let anything hold you back from enjoying the Father’s presence, His power and His word.

“The rules you have given me to follow will be mine forever. They give me great joy. 112 More than anything I want to obey your laws always, until the end of my life.” Psalm 119:11-112 ERV

Do you remember when your kids and grandkids were small? The times when they would crawl up in your lap and snuggle in? They were coming to find comfort, a place of peace and protection. They were secure.

What did that do to your heart?

It melted, I’m sure. It was a time when you sensed you were trusted, and unconditionally depended upon. I imagine that’s how the Father’s heart feels when we pull away from all the distractions and come to find rest and comfort in Him.

This is a verse I share often in this blog, but it isn’t just because it makes good writing. No, it is a life-style verse for me.

“ With Jesus as our high priest, we can feel free to come before God’s throne where there is grace. There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 ERV

This is my invitation, our invitation, to come to the Father where we find help and comfort. A place of safety and protection, a place of trust. To me, there’s nothing better than enjoying the love I find in my Father’s presence.

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Withhold Judgement

This past weekend our campground was full. Lots of campers from different towns and backgrounds. Some were first time campers and others have been doing it for years.

There are times I judge people by their outward appearance without seeing who Jesus sees. Just being honest with you folks. I did some that this weekend and I’m not proud of my actions.

I thought, if I had been with Jesus when he was preaching and teaching would I have been accepting of the woman in adultery, would I have been willing to eat dinner with Zacchaeus, would I have even talked to the woman at the well long enough to find out that she needed a friend or a Savior?

In Romans 15, Paul teaches us how to handle differences without judging. Look at what he says.

“And the Scriptures were written to teach and encourage us by giving us hope. 5 God is the one who makes us patient and cheerful. I pray that he will help you live at peace with each other, as you follow Christ. 6 Then all of you together will praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Honor God by accepting each other, as Christ has accepted you. 8 I tell you that Christ came as a servant of the Jews to show that God has kept the promises he made to their famous ancestors. Christ also came, 9 so that the Gentiles would praise God for being kind to them…13 I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.” Romans 15:4-13 CEV

We are always going to have different opinions over politics, money, education, appearance, lifestyle, doctrines but those differences should never stop us from loving those whom God created.

Now lest you think that I am condoning sin, I’m not but we need to have the same mind as Christ in this. He hated sin so much that He died to pay the price for atonement but He loved the sinner so much that He willing went to the cross.

“My children, I will be with you for a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won’t find me. I tell you just as I told the people, ‘You cannot go where I am going.’ 34 But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. 35 If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” John 13:33-35 CEV

Get to know people. Look for their God-given qualities and withhold judgement.

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Remember & Honor

I know this Scripture is used frequently when I talk about our servicemen and women and the sacrifices they make. It, however, remains true.

“This is what I command you: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I tell you to do. ” John 15:12-14 ERV

Make time to pray for the families of those who gave all for us to live free. I’m remembering those who fought and died during the Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War, San Juan Hill, WWI, WWII, Korea, Viet Nam, Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and our times of peace keeping that required the ultimate sacrifice for some.

We are free this morning, waking up without fear of someone breaking through our doors, confiscating our belongings or persecuting us because of an opposing political belief.

First, we thank God for His protection over our lives and then we must be thankful for those who gave their lives for us and our country. Remember and honor them.

God Bless America!

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Waiting…waiting

This morning started in one of my least favorite ways.

Those of you who know me personally or that have read my blog for any length of time know that I am not a good waiter. Not like the waiter in the restaurant but not good at waiting.

I can be patient when waiting for a special day or event; I am patient with small children as they lolligag and explore and even as they learn to tie their shoes or cut their meat. I was quite patient when our teenagers learned to drive, and I don’t have a problem waiting on others who are trying to learn something new.

But…

I don’t like waiting on things that are supposed to operate quickly and don’t! Specifically, my computer and my internet connection. How trivial you must think me to be. Well, this morning was one of the slowest mornings I’ve experienced in a long time.

My frustration level was quite high and then I realized how silly I was being. To be impatient with something so insignificant but this is where I found myself with my blood pressure rising. The Apostle Paul calls it “crucifying the flesh”. Gaining victory over our emotions.

“God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. 24 And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. 25 God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit.” Galatians 5:22-25 CEV

I put myself in check and realized the selfishness of my frustration. There are so many who are “waiting” – waiting on a loved one to return, waiting on a good report from their physician, waiting on a new job or a career change, waiting to be appreciated, waiting for a broken heart to heal.

It was then that I put aside my frustration with the computer and began to pray for those who are waiting on the “big” things of life! I took the time that I was waiting for the screens to change and the programs to load to pray. So many needed to be covered in prayer.

“If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.” James 1:4 ERV

I know this won’t be the last time I face this challenge. It is a lesson the Lord continues to teach me. One of these days I will graduate the school of impatience with flying colors and then He will lead me through the next lesson.

I am so thankful that God doesn’t become impatient with me!

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Loud & Boisterous

Yesterday was so busy that I almost forgot to look for the Lord’s blessings, that is until this big guy came bouncing across the prairie grass on the side of our RV.

I don’t normally take much interest in the crows, they’re just not an attractive or interesting bird but he caught my attention. He was headed for the mouth of the underground spring at the back of our campsite.

He wasn’t cautious at all. The little birds that come to drink are timid and will light on a branch for only a few seconds, look around and take off again but not him. He strolls in boldly knowing that all others will clear out when he arrives.

Oh my, he’s noisy but he was created by God for a purpose!

This is what Wikipedia says about the crow: “Crows appear to show appreciation to humans by presenting them with gifts.”.

Nothing appears to be said about crows in the Bible but they are very much akin to the raven who is spoken of.

My favorite story involving ravens is found in I Kings 17. Elijah, the prophet, had just told King Ahab that the Lord was going to withhold rain for the next several years. It would only rain again when Elijah said. After that proclamation, the Lord told Elijah to head to a ravine where there was water.

Enter the raven…

“Then the Lord said to Elijah, 3 “Leave this place and go east. Hide near Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan River. 4 You can get your water from that stream, and I have commanded ravens to bring food to you there.” 5 So Elijah did what the Lord told him to do. He went to live near Kerith Ravine, east of the Jordan River. 6 Ravens brought Elijah food every morning and every evening, and he drank water from the stream.” I King 17:2-6 ERV

I wonder what kind of food they brought him.

The crows in our campground are always finding morsels and tidbits of food in the trash dumpsters. I don’t think I would be too open to be partaking of the food they would bring. However, if the Lord said he sent them, I probably wouldn’t argue.

My takeaway from watching this feathered friend was this. The Lord is willing to use anyone who makes themselves available. It’s not just those who are petite, beautiful (brightly colored), and sing with a sweet melodious voice. He will also use those who are big, unattractive, loud and boisterous.

If I had to give human characteristics to the crow/raven I would say that the Apostle Peter would be a crow – loud, impetuous, foot-in-mouth kind of guy and the Apostle John would be more like the meadowlark with a sweet song and attractive appearance.

The Father uses all kinds of people and birds. Let’s learn to truly appreciate all those God brings into our lives.

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Making A Difference

I love my mountain home!

The campers have already started arriving. This weekend our campground and the others on the mountain will be filled with those who have fled the heat of the city for the cooler climates in the mountains.

I hated to be the bearer of bad news but there will be no campfires this year. The grasses are so dry – we need rain. But that really didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of each vehicle’s occupants.

Dads looked tired from the drive to the top of the mountain, they expressed their joy for being here and their anticipations for a relaxing next three days.

“This is what I command you: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 The greatest love people can show is to die for their friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I tell you to do.” John 15:12-14 ERV

What an example Jesus gave us!

We can and should give our lives daily. Going the extra mile, denying our own comforts to serve others. In this way, we are examples of Christ.

“I don’t care about my own life. The most important thing is that I finish my work. I want to finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do—to tell people the Good News about God’s grace.” Acts 20:24 ERV

“This is a true statement. And I want you to be sure that the people understand these things. Then those who believe in God will be careful to use their lives for doing good. These things are good and will help everyone.” Titus 3:8 ERV

There will be a time, maybe years from now, when someone will remember the kindnesses we have shown, the going beyond the norm, and they will express thanks for the little sacrifices. And maybe, just maybe, they will realize those acts were expressions of God’s love.

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Not Condemned!

These words jumped off the page when I read them this morning.

“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!” John 3:17 CEV

God’s word brings us a message of hope, of joy and reconciliation. Christ didn’t come to condemn us. He came to save us!

Religion makes the rules and tells us that we are useless and deserving of judgment and condemnation. Jesus’ message lifts us from the dirt, stands us on our feet and sends us forward with encouragement and conviction to “go on your way and sin no more”.

“When they heard this, they began to leave one by one. The older men left first, and then the others. Jesus was left alone with the woman standing there in front of him. 10 He looked up again and said to her, “Where did they all go? Did no one judge you guilty?”

11 She answered, “No one, sir.”

Then Jesus said, “I don’t judge you either. You can go now, but don’t sin again.” John 8:9-11 ERV

Society is all too quick to condemn someone because of their past. Jesus offers forgiveness.

He was condemned on our behalf.

“Once again Pilate went out. This time he said, ‘I will have Jesus brought out to you again. Then you can see for yourselves that I have not found him guilty.’ 5 Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said, ‘Here is the man!’ 6 When the chief priests and the temple police saw him, they yelled, ‘Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!’ Pilate told them, ‘You take him and nail him to a cross! I don’t find him guilty of anything.’” John 19:4-6 CEV

Jesus knew what it was like to be unjustly condemned. He did this so we could experience the amazing grace of God. He took what He didn’t deserve so we could receive the mercy and grace that we were unworthy of.

“So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty. 2 That is because in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit that brings life made you free. It made you free from the law that brings sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2 ERV

For many years I judged myself unworthy. I condemned myself for not being a good Christian. I didn’t measure up but then again none of us do. I kept trying to be good enough for God to truly love me.

I don’t know if you can imagine the peace, the joy, the confidence, the gratitude, the freedom that I experienced when I saw the truth from God’s word that He wasn’t condemning me.

“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” II Corinthians 5:21 ERV

If you have struggled with condemnation let the word of God break those chains today. Receive your forgiveness, receive freedom, receive right standing with the Father and cast off the chains of condemnation!

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Comfort!

This morning the city of Uvalde, Texas is in need of comfort!

We get very little news up here, so I don’t know much about the situation in that town but what I do know is that we need to be praying for them. There is no way to make any sense of what happened.

“God blesses those people who grieve. They will find comfort!” Matthew 5:4 CEV

Join me in praying for those who are hurting in such a horrible way.

“Holy Spirit, you are the Comforter. Minister to these families, those who mourn. Wrap them in the Father’s love and ease their pain. Bring peace where there is fear. Bring compassion to the community as they reach out to their hurting friends and neighbors. Do what only you can do, in the name of Jesus”.

It’s hard to know what to say or do, but if we open our hearts to the Lord’s leading, He will show us how we can be used to bring His love and compassion to those who are hurting.

“I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace! 3 Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort.” II Corinthians 1:2-3 CEV

We may not know anyone who is personally affected by this recent horror, but we may have people around us who are experiencing their own kind of deep and emotional loss. We need to be aware of those types of situations so we can share the comfort of Christ.

“Christ encourages you, and his love comforts you. God’s Spirit unites you, and you are concerned for others.” Philippians 2:1 CEV

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A Perfect Heart

Years ago we learned a song in church that still rings in my heart.

“Bless the Lord Who reigns with beauty
Bless the Lord Who reigns with wisdom and with power
Bless the Lord Who reigns my life with so much love
He can make a perfect heart“

No matter how hard we try, we can’t make our heart perfect. It’s beyond our ability but in Christ, we have been made a new creature and with that we are given God’s DNA (divine nature ability).

Our life in Christ gives us His righteousness as an exchange for our sin.

“But Christ offered only one sacrifice for sins, and that sacrifice is good for all time. Then he sat down at the right side of God. 13 And now Christ waits there for his enemies to be put under his power. 14 With one sacrifice Christ made his people perfect forever.” Hebrews 10:12-14

A perfect heart. A heart filled with love!

“My children, let us not love with words or in talk only. Let us love by what we do and in truth. 19 This is how we know we are Christians. It will give our heart comfort for sure when we stand before Him.” I John 3:18-19 NLV

Loving in deed and not words only. The old adage “actions speak louder than words” rings true.

“God so loved the world that He gave”…He gave what meant the most to Him, Jesus! Jesus gave what was most valuable to Him, his life.

“17 The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so I may receive it back again. 18 No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.” John 10:17-18 CEV

A perfect heart.

” Now I tell you to love each other, as I have loved you. 13 The greatest way to show love for friends is to die for them. 14 And you are my friends, if you obey me.” John 15:12-14 CEV

Father, my desire is to be like Jesus. I want a heart that is open to serving others in the same way that Jesus did. Let my life reflect you in all I do. I desire a perfect heart. Amen.

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