Category: Provision

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When We Stumble

Recently our oldest daughter and son-in-law climbed Picacho Peak. It’s not an easy climb. It’s rocky and steep and there are areas where cables are necessary to aide you across the mountainside.

She told me at times her ankles and legs felt like jelly. She stumbled, she had scrapes and bruises and a gash in her shin but they made the climb. They reached the top!

There are times when we all stumble, it’s not a condition reserved only for those who climb. It’s easy to become discouraged and want to quit, our emotional legs get weary and shaky. We push forward, sometimes in weakness and pain.

“ There is One Who can keep you from falling and can bring you before Himself free from all sin. He can give you great joy as you stand before Him in His shining-greatness. 25 He is the only God. He is the One Who saves from the punishment of sin through Jesus Christ our Lord. May He have shining-greatness and honor and power and the right to do all things. He had this before the world began, He has it now, and He will have this forever. Let it be so.” Jude 24,25 NLV

Christ is the one who promises to be our strength and our support. He is “an ever-present help in time of trouble”.

Christians fail. We get weary, angry, depressed but by His strength we go on.

“The steps of a good man are led by the Lord. And He is happy in his way. 24 When he falls, he will not be thrown down, because the Lord holds his hand. 25 I have been young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the man who is right with God left alone, or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:23-25 NLV

King David had many victories in his life but he also had failures, times of stumbling. The Apostle Paul was known for his persecution and imprisonment of Christians, he stumbled and then the Lord used him to write over half of the New Testament.

“We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.” Romans 3:22-24 NLT

Maybe you feel like you failed, you’ve stumbled and fallen, you have bruises and scrapes. It’s hard to get up.

“And he became their Savior. 9 In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years.” Isaiah 63:8-10 NLT

When we stumble let the Lord rescue us, lift us up and carry us forward!

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Out of Focus

What’s the first thing you see when you wake up? Strange question?

The first things I see are generally out of focus – until I reach for my glasses. Then I try to get up quietly so I don’t wake Dave. By the time I start the coffee, my sleepy eyes are bringing my familiar surroundings into focus.

But things don’t truly sharpen until I spend some time in prayer, and in reading God’s word. For so many years, I was too busy and didn’t take time to get the Father’s perspective on my plans for the day. I didn’t realize that He wanted me to come to Him with all my problems, my insecurities, and my dreams.

Now, the first thing I do is say my I love you’s. “I love you Father, I love you Jesus, I love you Holy Spirit. Good morning.”

That’s when things really come into view properly. Acknowledging the presence of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is my foundation for the day.

I was reading in the Psalms I found a comment by King David at the end of Psalm 17.

“I am innocent, Lord, and I will see your face! When I awake, all I want is to see you as you are.” Psalm 17:15 CEV

To see You as You are!

Psalm 17 is another one of David’s psalms of praise – thanking the Lord for being his strength, his defender, his protector, his creator. How much better would our day go if we just focused physically and spiritually on seeing God as He is?

“I pray to you, God, because you will help me. Listen and answer my prayer! 7  Show your wonderful love, Your mighty arm protects those who run to you for safety from their enemies. 8 Protect me as you would your very own eyes; hide me in the shadow of your wings…Use your powerful arm and rescue me from the hands of mere humans whose world won’t last. You provide food for those you love. Their children have plenty, and their grandchildren will have more than enough. 15 I am innocent, Lord, and I will see your face!
When I awake, all I want is to see you as you are.” Psalm 17:6-8, 14-15 CEV

For many, it’s hard to trust that God will really be there for us like King David is saying. Either their focus has been distorted by self-sufficiency or it has been blurred by teaching that God is vengeful and unforgiving.

Throughout the Bible God tells us again and again that He wants to be our help, our protector, our provider, our Savior.

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

Today there are many things fighting for our attention but when we focus, set our hearts and minds to see God, our loving heavenly Father, we will see Him as He really is!

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Remember Me

For the last twenty years or so Dave and I have taken time at the beginning of the year to celebrate communion – just the two of us.

We take time, on purpose, to remember Christ’s sacrifice. We express gratitude for His love, healing, peace of mind, forgiveness and daily provision.

“Do this in remembrance of Me!”

As I’m writing this, I can see Jesus reclining around the table with His disciples at His final Passover dinner. The Passover celebration was a remembrance of the Father’s deliverance and power. When the Israelites left Egypt, they were ready to leave at a moment’s notice. Their bread was free from leaven, the spotless lamb was boiled and blood was applied to the doorposts and the header beam. This secured their safety when the death angel “passed over” the land.

I imagine that night with Jesus they were all in a celebratory mood. They were remembering God’s protection and provision as their ancestors left Egypt, headed for the land of promise.

“ Then He brought Israel out with silver and gold. And there was not one weak person among their families. 38 Egypt was glad when they left. For they had become afraid of Israel. 39 He spread a cloud for a covering, and fire to give light at night.” Psalm 107:37-39 NLV

Jesus was preparing them, as best He could, for the events that were about to occur. He needed them to be strong for each other. He wanted them to remember the miracles that they had seen and done. He wanted them to be free from fear!

“Then Jesus took bread and gave thanks and broke it in pieces. He gave it to them, saying, ‘This is My body which is given for you. Do this to remember Me.’ 20 In the same way, after they had finished the bread, He took the cup. He said, ‘This cup is My blood of the New Way of Worship which is given for you.'” Luke 22:19-20 NLV

He did something they really wouldn’t understand until after the resurrection. He presented Himself to His disciples as the spotless lamb of God. The bread and the cup had always been a reminder of God’s deliverance from physical abuse and slavery. But now Jesus made it personal. This is my body and my blood given for you. I AM your salvation and your deliverance – remember Me!

The actions of Jesus that night weren’t just for His disciples. The Apostle Paul said that they are for us as well. It is a time of remembrance of all Jesus has done to provide us with new life.

“When He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take this bread and eat it. This is My body which is broken for you. Do this to remember Me.’ 25 In the same way after supper, He took the cup. He said, ‘This cup is the New Way of Worship made between God and you by My blood. Whenever you drink it, do it to remember Me.'” I Corinthians 11:24-25 NLV

Communion isn’t just a religious rite or exercise. It is His promise to be our Savior, Lord, Healer, Provider, Giver of Life.

I hope you will set some time aside with your spouse or your family and “Do this in remembrance of Me”.

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Of Great Value

We have been watching a pair of dove build their nest in the palm tree just outside our window. It’s well hidden from view, but we know it’s there. Many times a day the pair come with twigs in their beaks, sit on the palm frond and then disappear toward the trunk of the tree.

Just last week Dave had told our neighbor that he would be cutting some of the dead fronds from trunk and dispose of them for her but now that has to wait. The nest, eggs and bird couple need their home protected.

Yesterday it seemed like every bird in the neighborhood had joined the avian chorus and was providing us with a concert. A concert which would rival Handel’s Messiah. Before daybreak the birds are singing, throughout the day their chorus wafts on the breeze and each evening as the sun starts to set they repeat their melodious refrain.

“ Jesus said to His followers, “Because of this, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you are going to eat. Do not worry about your body, what you are going to wear. 23 Life is worth more than food. The body is worth more than clothes. 24 Look at the birds. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They have no grain buildings for keeping grain. Yet God feeds them. Are you not worth more than the birds?…Do not give so much thought to what you will eat or drink. Do not be worried about it. 30 For all the nations of the world go after these things. Your Father knows you need these things. 31 Instead, go after the holy nation of God. Then all these other things will be given to you. 32 Do not be afraid, little flock. Your Father wants to give you the holy nation of God.” Luke 12:22-32 NLV

“Are we not worth more than the birds?” “Do not be afraid, little flock.”

Words to live by! Of course, we are worth more than the birds. But even if we consider ourselves to be as insignificant as one of the feathered chorus, we are admonished to live fear free – we are part of the Father’s flock and He promises to care for us.

All of creation is a living example of how the Father cares for us; the seed in the ground, the birds in the air, the lilies of the field, the oceans with their tides, the changing seasons and even the heavens declare the glory of God.

Often when I stop to think about the way God provides for His creation I remember a little chorus we sang in Sunday School.

“The birds up in the treetops sing their song, The angels chant their chorus all day long. The flowers in the garden blend their hue, So why shouldn’t I, why shouldn’t you Praise Him too?”

It’s a simple theology that requires childlike faith.

Listen for the song of the birds, join their chorus and thank the Father that He provides for us!

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All, Always, Everything

For the past forty years I have read Psalm 145 nearly every morning and almost every time I read it, I stop and focus on how many times in these few verses the writer uses the words all, always and everything.

The nature of God’s love reaches out to all! He provides for all we need. He picks up all who are fallen. He is good to all!

When I read these words I feel like a kid – a child who has been given not just a piece of pie but the whole pie. It’s overwhelming!

“God is all mercy and grace— not quick to anger, is rich in love. 9 God is good to one and all;
 everything he does is soaked through with grace. 10-11 Creation and creatures applaud you, God; your holy people bless you.

They talk about the glories of your rule, they exclaim over your splendor, 12 Letting the world know of your power for good, the lavish splendor of your kingdom. 13 Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal; you never get voted out of office.

God always does what he says,  and is gracious in everything he does. 14 God gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit. 15 All eyes are on you, expectant; you give them their meals on time.

16 Generous to a fault, you lavish your favor on all creatures. 17 Everything God does is right— the trademark on all his works is love. 18 God’s there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it. 19 He does what’s best for those who fear him— hears them call out, and saves them. 20 God sticks by all who love him, but it’s all over for those who don’t.

21 My mouth is filled with God’s praise. Let everything living bless him, bless his holy name from now to eternity!” Psalm 145: 8-21 MSG

Our God is more loving and gracious that words can express! May our mouths be filled with His praise and our hearts with His love!

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Added Strength

I sometimes wonder what it must have been like to be with Joshua and Caleb as they were crossing the Jordan River into the land God had promised.

They were the oldest members of the community, each one was eighty. Everyone was younger, but none seemed to have any more determination, strength of character or soundness of mind than they. They were respected leaders.

Where did this vitality come from? We find the answer in the Lord’s instructions to Joshua.

“Joshua, I will always be with you and help you as I helped Moses, and no one will ever be able to defeat you.

6-8  Long ago I promised the ancestors of Israel that I would give this land to their descendants. So be strong and brave! Be careful to do everything my servant Moses taught you. Never stop reading The Book of the Law he gave you. Day and night you must think about what it says. If you obey it completely, you and Israel will be able to take this land.

9 I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:5-9 CEV

A while back I found myself voicing concern that I didn’t have the strength I did as my younger self. It didn’t take long for me to realize that the Lord was about to correct me in my assessment. It’s never been about “my” strength anyway, it should always be about His ability working in me and through me.

“With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3 The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4  and protects us from death.
His kindness and love are a crown on our heads. 5 Each day that we live, he provides for our needs and gives us the strength of a young eagle.” Psalm 103:2-5 CEV

There is still so much I know the Lord has for me, and for you too. It’s about drawing on the strength that He provides for each day, the strength of a young eagle. We all get weary, tired and need rest but our times of rest shouldn’t find us complaining about how tired and weary we are, they should be times of renewing and refueling by finding focusing on God’s word and His strength.

King David who wrote Psalm 103 was talking to himself, encouraging himself in all that God’s provides. One version of those verses says, “Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and all that is within me”!

In my words it would be “soul and mind get in line and look at all the marvelous things the Lord has done. He forgives my sins, heals my body, protects me crowns me with love and kindness. Each day He provides for my needs and gives me strength when I am lacking. I will certainly praise the Lord for that.”

“Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” Philippians 4:13 CEV

Start this new day, this new week, knowing the Lord has provided us with all the strength we need.

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Mountains & Valleys

When I was a girl I would hear the people in our church talk about “mountain top” experiences in their walk with the Lord. It was wonderful to hear those testimonies. However, quite often they would also say, “we can’t always live on the mountain top, we have to accept the valleys too”.

Frankly, that was confusing to me. It sounded like they were saying that we couldn’t always have that closeness with God in the valleys of life.

This morning I was reading in I Kings 20 and that was what the enemies of Israel were saying about God. They had gone out to make war against King Ahab. King Ben-Hadad had the armies of 32 other kings with him, the Israelite army had 232 valiant rulers and a marching army of 7000. It appeared the Israelites would be easily defeated.

But God…

“Now the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Israel’s gods are gods of the mountains. So they were stronger than we. But let us fight against them in the plain, and for sure we will be stronger than they. 24 And do this. Take each of the kings from his place, and put captains in their places. 25 Gather together an army like the army you lost, horse for horse, and war-wagon for war-wagon. Then we will fight against Israel in the plain. For sure we will be stronger than they.” And Ben-hadad listened to them and did so.” I Kings 20:23-25 NLV

So, at the beginning of the following year King Ben-Hadad went out against Israel again, this time in a valley. The description given of the Israelite army is they looked like two little flocks of goats while the Arameans covered the land. Once again, they were greatly outnumbered.

“Then a man who spoke for God came to the king of Israel and said, “This is what the Lord says. ‘The Syrians have said, “The Lord is a god of the mountains, but He is not a god of the valleys.” So I will give all these many people to you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”  I Kings 20:28 NLV

Whether we are experiencing mountain-top victories or the battles in the valleys God rules. He promises us that when we walk through the valleys of the shadow of death, He is there with us and we have no reason to fear.

God is not limited by location or by circumstance! There is nothing too hard for the Lord. When we keep our eyes on Him and follow His leading, we will see the same thing that the Israelite king saw and “Then you will know that I am the Lord”.

There’s a song that I used to sing years ago, and it came to mind this morning as I was reading these verses.

“For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times
The God of the day is still God in the night”

Mountain-top or valley – we will experience both, but we will never be alone for God is with us!

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Overwhelmed

Have you ever taken the time to sit quietly and think on God’s goodness? When I do this I am overwhelmed!

We need to contemplate, as the song says, “the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God”!

“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 NLT

I heard the testimony of a young evangelist 40 years ago. He had been invited to speak at a gathering during the Jesus movement of the 1970’s. Speaker after speaker stood and gave testimony to God’s saving grace. They told of drugs, homelessness, imprisonment, alcoholism, severely depression. Then it was his turn. The moderator said to him, “Tell us how you got here.” He said I quietly answered, “On the bus.” Everyone laughed.

He then went on to tell the crowd how being raised in a Christian home he had never strayed, but God had kept him, giving him strength to overcome the temptations that so many others had experienced. He said the miracle of being kept from a life of sin was just as great as being delivered out of that lifestyle.

I hear people talk of how God protected and delivered them in dangerous and life-threatening situations. I am so thankful for the miraculous deliverance of my friends and family, but I am just as grateful that Dave and I have driven hundreds of thousands of miles without a “close call” or an accident. That too is miraculous!

The children of Israel saw the miraculous power of God deliver them from Egypt, part the Red Sea, provide food from heaven, and then bring them to the Promised Land that was flowing with milk and honey.

“‘I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them. 14 ‘So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly.'” Joshua 24:13-14a NLT

Never downplay what seems ordinary when compared to the miraculous. The person who has had a miraculous healing from a life-threatening disease prays for a life of ordinary good health.

The Bible uses the illustration of sheep and the Good Shepherd on several occasions. One story is of a shepherd who went out to find one lost sheep. That sheep needed rescuing; it needed a miracle. However, there were 99 sheep who weren’t lost but had been living under the shepherd’s overwhelming, never-ending, precious loving care.

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMPC

“ The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack…Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.” Psalm 23:1, 6 AMPC

We all need to take time to be overwhelmed by the ordinary, everyday, protection and provision of God’s love. It’s miraculous!

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Anticipation

We should be living every day with a sense of anticipation – not fear, but excitement for the wonderful things God has planned for us!

This morning I know three small children who are waking up with anticipation. I hope their folks are too. You see, Dave and I gave the gift of experience to our youngest daughter’s family for Christmas. Today we will drive to northern Arizona, early evening we will board a train for the Polar Express experience.

The weather forecast is calling for snow this evening and tomorrow. It will be a day filled with firsts. A first train ride, not just a first for the littles but for Dave too. And a first for snow for the little ones! The excitement is building – that wonderful sense of anticipation!

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7 NLT

Anticipation: Always be full of joy and don’t worry about anything! That is our instruction from God the Father.

This morning I was reminiscing about the last 10 years. We have had numerous moments of anticipation: the sale of our home in Montana, our return to AZ, births, weddings, home goings, cancer treatment, back surgery, full-time RV leaving. Yes, there has been much anticipation and there are new ones for 2023.

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5 NLV

Remembering the past and looking forward to the future should heighten our sense of expectation. Young David, the shepherd, remembered the Lord’s help in killing a lion and a bear and so it increased his anticipation of success when he went out to face Goliath.

Moses reminded the Israelites on how the Lord had delivered them from Egypt, opened the Red Sea, and fed them with manna. These events of the past filled them with hope of God’s continued provision for their future as they entered the promised land.

“ I have been young, and now I am old. Yet I have never seen the man who is right with God left alone, or his children begging for bread.” Psalm 37:25 NLV

As we remember the past it should give us great anticipation for our future. God is faithful to a thousand generations – He is the Father of strength and victory. Be full of joy and free of worry as you anticipate the year ahead!

(There will be no blog tomorrow morning. I want to focus on my time with family.)

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Is It Over?

The piles of torn paper and empty boxes is a scene that played out in millions of homes worldwide. The joy and the laughter, the hugs and kisses, the thank-yous and oooh’s and aaaah’s are still fresh in our memories.

Face-to-face conversations and loving words exchanged over the phone were all added bonuses of the day.

I’m sitting here this morning recalling the texts, the sounds of loved ones voices, the snuggles, all the details of the day and I imagine Mary did the same.

Every one of us mothers can remember what it was like to wake up the day after one of our children were born. We spent time going over in our heart the emotions of the day, those that came to visit and once again holding that tiny child in our arms – counting every finger and toe. Kissing the top of their head, holding them tightly and marveling at the life of one so small.

Imagine what must of have going through Mary’s heart that morning after Christ’s birth. She was in a stable, with a man who had showed her unconditional love and holding a child in her arms who was God’s gift to mankind. How blessed – how in awe!

“ They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished, 19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often.” Luke 2:16-19 NLT

The life ahead of Mary was new and uncharted territory. She had never been a mother or a wife before. So much about her life was changing. Her Son was the promised Messiah! How do you raise the Son of God? Yes, there was so much to ponder. She would need to be dependent upon God for His help and instruction.

What will we “ponder” today? Is it the travel home, the new job after the first of the year? Maybe there will be a medical procedure that you’re dreading.

Is Christmas over and now we go on with the daily routine or will we be like Mary and realized that we need a greater dependence upon God for the days ahead?

Let’s take time to be thankful that Christmas has life changing, glorious meaning for every day of the year!

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