Category: Relationship

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Time for A Jail Break

Last night before I went to bed I was strongly impressed with these words, “It’s Time for a Jail Break”!

So many are imprisoned by an enemy that wants to destroy their very lives. This enemy takes on many forms – self-loathing, alcohol, drugs, depression, hatred, narcissism, anxiety, prejudice, jealousy. I’m sure there are more but these are the first to come to mind.

The Apostle Peter was imprisoned because of hatred and jealousy. I’m here to tell you that a jail break has been planned on their behalf. Jesus Christ is the one who can set captives free. I need you to read his story – it’s a longer read but an important one.

“During this same time, King Herod began to do harm to some of those who were part of the church…5 So Peter was kept in jail, but the church was constantly praying to God for him.

6 One night, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two of the soldiers. More soldiers were guarding the door of the jail. Herod was planning to bring Peter out before the people the next day. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord was standing there, and the room was filled with light. The angel tapped Peter on the side and woke him up. The angel said, “Hurry, get up!” The chains fell off Peter’s hands. 8 The angel said, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” Peter did as he was told. Then the angel said, “Put on your coat and follow me.”

9 So the angel went out and Peter followed. He did not know if the angel was really doing this. He thought he might be seeing a vision. 10 Peter and the angel went past the first guard and the second guard. Then they came to the iron gate that separated them from the city. The gate opened for them by itself. After they went through the gate and walked about a block, the angel suddenly left… Many people were gathered there and were praying. 13 Peter knocked on the outside door. A servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. 14 She recognized Peter’s voice, and she was very happy. She even forgot to open the door. She ran inside and told the group, “Peter is at the door!” 15 The believers said to her, “You are crazy!” But she continued to say that it was true. So they said, “It must be Peter’s angel.”

16 But Peter continued to knock. When the believers opened the door, they saw him. They were amazed.” Acts 12:1-16 ERV

God intervened supernaturally in Peter’s jail break. People were praying faithfully for his deliverance. The soldiers and the chains were no match for the power of God.

“‘The Spirit of the Lord is on me. He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor.
He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free…'” Luke 4:18 ERV

If you find yourself imprisoned, I have good news – Jesus has come to set you free. If you are praying for someone who has been chained, don’t quit praying and don’t be surprised when they walk free.

“So if the Son makes you free, you are really free” John 8:36 ERV

God still has the power to break chains and set the captives free!

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What Time Is It?

It’s seed time. I can guarantee you that Midwest farmers are already thinking about getting their seed in the ground. I’m not exactly sure when they bought the seed that they will be planting this year but the next harvest is always on their minds.

It’s their livelihood. It’s what they do.

They need moisture in the ground but too much moisture and the seed will rot. Too dry and it won’t germinate on time. There is a calculated science behind that box of Corn Flakes you enjoy or the corn syrup you use in baking. Corn is one of the most widely used crops in the world today.

It’s important the farmers get it right. When the seeding first come up they don’t look very impressive but give them a little time and they produce a bountiful crop.

“As long as the earth exists, seedtime and harvest, cold and hot, summer and autumn, day and night will not cease.” Genesis 8:22 CEB

A couple days ago I wrote about how we are born again by incorruptible seed, which is the word of God. May I say it like this – in eternity past God chose His words, those very words, which would bring salvation to all of us. And down through time He has planted His word in the hearts of people, where that seed has grown and produced a harvest.

“Jesus told them: If you don’t understand this story, you won’t understand any others. 14 What the farmer is spreading is really the message about the kingdom…Again Jesus said: God’s kingdom is like what happens when a farmer scatters seed in a field. 27 The farmer sleeps at night and is up and around during the day. Yet the seeds keep sprouting and growing, and he doesn’t understand how. 28 It is the ground that makes the seeds sprout and grow into plants that produce grain. 29 Then when harvest season comes and the grain is ripe, the farmer cuts it with a sickle.” Mark 4:13, 14, 26-29 CEV

God’s word is life-giving, life-changing seed. Planted in our hearts it will produce a harvest of His character; from the seed of God’s word comes a harvest of fullness.

I’ve heard a story about some corn kernels that were found in one of the Pharoah’s tombs. The seed was preserved like the mummy it accompanied. When those seeds were planted, thousands of years later, much to everyone’s surprise they grew.

Those seeds of long ago, Bible stories your grandpa and grandma told you, stories you heard in Vacation Bible School as a kid – those seeds may have been lying dormant for years but they are incorruptible. There is life in that seed which was planted so long ago in your heart.

It’s time to water the seed and see God’s harvest!

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New Growth Coming

Dave and I sit and visit most every evening about how happy we are with our decision to sell our house and make this RV our home. We look at each other, smile and say “God has truly blessed us”.

We felt that way when we moved from our home in Idaho and went to Montana, and we felt that way when we left Montana and moved back to Arizona. Ours isn’t, nor has it ever been, a stationary life. Now it has wheels.

There is one thing I miss from our home in Rio Rico. It’s my flowers – especially my chrysanthemums and my geraniums. All year long they bloomed and flourished. I loved the color they added to the yard. Some of them I acquired when we first moved there in 2014. Of course, I couldn’t take all of them with me when we moved but I did manage to keep a few.

I have one mum that showed such great promise when we moved. It was loaded with buds and I was sure they would come to full bloom shortly. However, the relocation and a unexpected cold snap thwarted its growth. For the last two months, it has been somewhat neglected. Oh I’ve watered it, when I remember, and have trimmed the undeveloped buds as well as the stock that was frost bitten yet, no new buds appeared until this week.

New growth!

In this morning’s reading Jesus gave instruction to his disciples about their growth.

“‘I am the true vine, and my Father is the vineyard keeper. 2 He removes any of my branches that don’t produce fruit, and he trims any branch that produces fruit so that it will produce even more fruit. 3 You are already trimmed because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. A branch can’t produce fruit by itself, but must remain in the vine. Likewise, you can’t produce fruit unless you remain in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, then you will produce much fruit. Without me, you can’t do anything.'” John 15:1-5 CEB

Perhaps you feel like that mum I was talking about or like the branch that Jesus is referring too. Are you in need of a good trim? Has your fruit been a little sparse or your buds not fully blossomed?

Notice that Jesus said it is the word that does the trimming. The book of Hebrews tells us that God’s word is sharper than a two-edged sword and it is capable of dividing the soul (selfish ambitions) from the spirit (God led purpose).

If we remain in God’s word, we remain in Christ. He is the Word made flesh. Interesting how it all ties together, isn’t it?

“The Word became flesh and made his home among us. We have seen his glory, glory like that of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 CEB

When we remain in Him, he promises we will produce much fruit. Expect it – there is new growth coming to our lives!

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New Growth

One of the first Science experiments I remember as a kid was taking dry pinto beans, wrapping them in a moist paper towel, placing that in a dish and setting it on the kitchen cupboard.

Each day I added a little water to the paper towel and in a few days the seed began to split and the tip of a tiny root began to appear. After a few more days the root got longer and the seed pod split even more.

I was growing beans!

As the root got longer, a shoot started growing from the other end. It didn’t take long for leaves to begin to form and the plant was taking shape. I was a successful farmer. The seed was doing exactly what God designed it to do. It was producing – seems I read those words in the first chapter of Genesis. From the beginning, this is what seeds did.

“The earth produced plant life: plants yielding seeds, each according to its kind, and trees bearing fruit with seeds inside it, each according to its kind. God saw how good it was.” Genesis 1;12 CEB

As I was thinking about this experiment, I was reminded of the verses I wrote about the other day, you know, the ones about understanding and growing in the fullness of God. Some will say, like I used to, “I know that I will have that fullness once I get to heaven. We all will.” But the Scripture tells us that we are to grow into that fullness here, while we’re still on earth.

I was trying to figure out how the two teachings tied together when I remembered these verses from the Bible.

“As you set yourselves apart by your obedience to the truth so that you might have genuine affection for your fellow believers, love each other deeply and earnestly. 23 Do this because you have been given new birth—not from the type of seed that decays but from seed that doesn’t. This seed is God’s life-giving and enduring word.” I Peter 1:22-23 CEB

Our new life in Christ is a result of the seed of God’s word. Planted in our hearts, God’s word produces eternal life from a seed that will not decay. The pinto bean shriveled and died as the bean sprout got larger but the seed of God’s word won’t decay or die, it continues to feed our new life so that we can grow into the fullness of God.

Amazing!

“Then Jesus said, “This is what God’s kingdom is like. It’s as though someone scatters seed on the ground, 27 then sleeps and wakes night and day. The seed sprouts and grows, but the farmer doesn’t know how. 28 The earth produces crops all by itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full head of grain. 29 Whenever the crop is ready, the farmer goes out to cut the grain because it’s harvesttime.” Mark 4:26-29 CEB

God’s character, His love, grow in our lives like that seed of grain grows in the ground. It grows to full maturity. Just look at what the seed that God plants produces.

“ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against things like this.” Galatians 5:22-23 CEB

Maybe we all need to start some bean seeds on the kitchen counter just to remind ourselves that God’s word is producing new fruit in our lives!

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What To Choose?

Yesterday afternoon we stopped by the grocery store on our way home from town. It was a day of running errands.

The last stop was the grocery store. I had gone to the deli counter and taken a number, waiting my place in line. I spoke with one woman about the number of different meats on display. When I was a girl lunch meat was limited to salmi, bologna, liverwurst, ham, pastrami and roast beef. Cheeses were cheddar, sharp cheddar, muenster, jack, provolone and Swiss. Easy choices.

My how things have changed.

I then began a conversation with another woman who was remarking on the same thing. The choices…My heart was stirred, and I felt my throat begin to tighten. For the next few minutes our conversation centered on how blessed we were. There are mothers all around the world who would love to shop freely for their families. No danger, no fear of soldiers or bombs, no threat of death or destruction of home.

We talked of the resolve of the Ukrainian people and our determination to pray for them. How blessed we are to live where we live! Are there things we don’t like? Yes. Are there things we don’t agree with? Certainly.

Is our hope and trust in our government – any government? No. Our hope and trust have got to be founded in God’s love for us and His promise to never leave us.

“I must calm down and turn to God; only he can rescue me. 2 He is my Rock, the only one who can save me. He is my high place of safety, where no army can defeat me. 3 How long will you people attack me? Do you all want to kill me? I am like a leaning wall, like a fence ready to fall. 4 You want only to destroy me, to bring me down from my important position. It makes you happy to tell lies about me. In public, you say nice things, but in private, you curse me. Selah

5 I must calm down and turn to God; he is my only hope. 6 He is my Rock, the only one who can save me. He is my high place of safety, where no army can defeat me. 7 My victory and honor come from God. He is the mighty Rock, where I am safe.8 People, always put your trust in God! Tell him all your problems. God is our place of safety. Selah

9 People cannot really help. You cannot depend on them. Compared to God, they are nothing— no more than a gentle puff of air! 10 Don’t trust in your power to take things by force. Don’t think you will gain anything by stealing. And if you become wealthy, don’t put your trust in riches. 11 God says there is one thing you can really depend on, and I believe it:
“Strength comes from God!”

12 My Lord, your love is real. You reward all people for what they do.” Psalm 62 ERV

My choice, my dependence, my confidence comes from this “Strength comes from God”!

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Revealing Character

Talk about getting to practice what you preach, this morning brought a whole new object lesson and a reminder of why I need to experience more growth in the “fullness of God”.

Dave and I are heading out for an early appointment this morning. I got up intending to have my Bible reading, prayer time and writing the blog before I jump in the shower. I had an idea of what I thought the Lord wanted me to share this morning, so I turned the coffee on and sat down to pull my thoughts together, praying, and waiting for the coffee to finish.

Really no time to spare before we need to head out the door.

Coffee’s done – yes! Picked up my cup and was filling it when I realized the auto shut-off didn’t. There was coffee running down on the burner plate and I had a mess! This was not my idea of what the verse “my cup runneth over” should mean.

Darn it!! I discovered that the filter, for whatever reason, hadn’t drained the way it should. When I opened the filter basket, it was still filled with hot water and grounds were everywhere. That also meant that my coffee decanter would have grounds in it. This morning I get to chew my coffee – not my favorite thing.

I wish I could say that the first thoughts that came to mind were “oh good, another example to share on growing in Christ”; those were not my first thoughts. I was frustrated and still am. The coffee pot will have to wait until later to be cleaned but my heart and my mind needed an immediate tending too.

“And we are also happy with the troubles we have. Why are we happy with troubles? Because we know that these troubles make us more patient. 4 And this patience is proof that we are strong. And this proof gives us hope. 5 And this hope will never disappoint us. We know this because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts through the Holy Spirit he gave us.” Romans 5:3-5 ERV

Happy with troubles? I will be perfectly honest. I handle big situations quite well, it’s the small and unexpected things that catch me off guard. Patience proves our strength and gives us hope. A hope that doesn’t disappoint because God has poured out His love to fill our hearts. (There’s that fullness again that we were talking about yesterday.)

“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

Am I glad for the coffee failure this morning? Not at all. Am I thankful that the Lord can speak to my heart through the little things? Absolutely!

The Father isn’t chastising or condemning me because of my immediate frustration. Instead, He is teaching me through it and revealing His character for me to conform too. He wants me to grow up into Him!

What areas of character growth is He revealing to you today? Be happy – you’re growing!

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Full Enough?

How full is full enough? Each morning I pour myself a cup of coffee, several cups, but I only fill the cup about 2/3 full. It’s full enough.

If it were any fuller I would probably spill it on my way to the couch or if I’m not paying attention, and I’ve done this before, I spill it as I’m picking it up and then have a stain on my bathrobe. Not a good thing.

When were in a restaurant I watch to see how full the waitress fills my coffee or the water glass. I certainly don’t want to spill and make a mess while out in public. That would be embarrassing.

However, when we take the truck to the gas station and pay for a “fill-up” we want the tank completely full. So much so that a little of the fuel may spill out the neck of the fuel tank. There seems to be levels and conditions of fullness.

For the last several weeks the Lord has been dealing with me on my level of His fullness.

” I want you to know all about Christ’s love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is.” Ephesians 3:19 CEV

And right across the page in my Bible are these verses.

“Christ gave these gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger. 13 This work must continue until we are all joined together in what we believe and in what we know about the Son of God. Our goal is to become like a full-grown man—to look just like Christ and have all his perfection.” Ephesians 4:12-13 ERV

Is this really possible? To be filled with ALL that God is, to look like Christ, to be full-grown? It must be or the Bible would be lying to us and that would make God’s word inaccurate and unreliable. Either all of God’s word is true or it’s a lie; we don’t get to pick and choose what we want to be true and disregard the rest.

God, the Father, wants us to grow up to be like Jesus. Jesus’ life was filled with the Father’s power. God wants us to experience His power in the same way that Jesus did. He wants us filled.

“ I say this because all of God lives in Christ fully, even in his life on earth. 10 And because you belong to Christ you are complete, having everything you need. Christ is ruler over every other power and authority.” Colossians 2:9-10 ERV

This is God’s desire for all of us who have accepted Christ; Christ is our example of what God desires to do in our lives. The more we get to know His word, the more time we spend with Him the fuller we become. My goal is to be filled to the brim and running over with the power of God.

“You prepared a meal for me in front of my enemies. You welcomed me as an honored guest. My cup is full and spilling over.” Psalm 23:5 ERV

I’m not there yet – but I’m on my way!

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How Big Is God?

That’s a good question! How would you answer it?

This morning as I sit here trying to formulate my answer, I am reminded of the many examples of God’s greatness in the Bible. Let me share a few:

  • In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth
  • He saved Noah during the flood
  • Parted the Red Sea
  • Had the sun stand still
  • Delivered Daniel from the lions
  • Helped David kill Goliath with a stone
  • Blinded an entire army
  • Raised Lazarus from the dead
  • Stopped a storm at sea
  • Orchestrated a jail break
  • Opened blind eyes
  • Healed a blood disease
  • Turned water to wine
  • Defeated death

“The Lord is your God. He is the God of gods and the Lord of lords. He is the great God. He is the amazing and powerful fighter. To him everyone is the same. He does not accept money to change his mind. 18 He defends widows and orphans. He loves even the strangers living among us. He gives them food and clothes. 19 So you must also love them, because you yourselves were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 “You must respect the Lord your God and worship only him. Never leave him. When you make promises, you must use his name only. 21 He is the one you should praise. He is your God. He has done great and amazing things for you. You have seen them with your own eyes.” Deuteronomy 10:17-21 ERV

I guess the next question is this. How big do you need God to be?

“He made heaven and earth. He made the sea and everything in it. He can be trusted to do what he says. 7 He does what is right for those who have been hurt. He gives food to the hungry. The Lord frees people locked up in prison.8 The Lord makes the blind see again.
The Lord helps those who are in trouble. The Lord loves those who do right. 9 The Lord protects strangers in our country. He cares for widows and orphans, but he destroys the wicked. 10 The Lord will rule forever!” Psalm 146:6-10 ERV

What are you facing that is too big or too hard for God to handle?

There is a whole lot of craziness going on in our world but none of it is bigger than our God. All of it combined isn’t bigger than our God!

“God said to Moses: I am the eternal God. So tell them that the Lord, whose name is “I Am,” has sent you. This is my name forever, and it is the name that people must use from now on.” Exodus 3:14-15 CEV

As big and as great as God is He stills gives us an open invitation to come straight to His throne and find help in our time of need!

How big is God? He’s big enough to handle all my worries and concerns. My God, and my Father is big enough to handle it all!

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Why Doesn’t It Stick?

Most of you can tell from reading my blog that I love being in the kitchen and preparing meals for family and friends. However, there is one step in the process that causes me great frustration.

Plastic Wrap!

In all my years I have not found a wrap that will consistently do its job as advertised and cling. It may stick to one surface but not to another. Most of it only sticks to itself and that’s when I am trying to get it off the roll. Then there’s the struggle to get it unstuck, only to find that it won’t stick to the plate, bowl or product I am wanting to wrap it around…

I gave up and have replaced that roll of non-sticking plastic wrap with a cupboard of containers with snap lids and a drawer of zip lock bags, in all sizes, and my old standby, foil.

Can you imagine my surprise this morning when I found an admonition to “cling” in my Bible reading?

“But cling to Adonai your God, as you have done to this day. 9 For Adonai has driven out from before you great and mighty nations. As for you, no one remained standing before you to this day. 10 One of you can put a thousand to flight, for Adonai your God, He Himself is fighting for you, just as He said to you. 11 For your own sake, therefore, be most mindful to love Adonai your God.” Joshua 23:8-11 TLV (Adonai means the Lord)

The word “cling” in this verse is also translated cleave, hold to, continue to follow and be faithful to in other translations. I like the image that “cling to” creates; it’s a sticking too, that won’t let go.

It’s the same word that is used in the Bible’s teaching on marriage.

“This is why a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife; and they become one flesh.” Genesis 2:24 TLV

And also, in its teaching on godly living.

“Let love be without hypocrisy—detesting what is evil, holding fast to the good.” Romans 12:9 TLV

I find it interesting that the same word which describes our devotion and commitment to our spouse is used to describe our relationship with the Father and following His way of life. God knows that for a marriage to be successful there has to be a determination to stick with it, a clinging.

We learn that clinging from Him. He is constantly at our side.

“Be courageous! Do not be afraid or tremble before them. For Adonai your God—He is the One who goes with you. He will not fail you or abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 TLV

This word cling requires introspection.

What are the things I cling to? Do I spend more time stuck to those pursuits than I do to the Lord? Those questions are meant to condemn but they are meant to help in evaluating our priorities.

Next time you open that box of plastic wrap, and it gets all tangled together just stop and say, “Lord, I just want to be all tangled up in You!”

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Pursuit of …

I have a question for you. What are you pursuing or on the reverse side of that question, what’s pursuing you?

The first answer that may come to mind is happiness. However, happiness is always changing. What made me happy at 20 is far from what makes me happy now. Some are in pursuit of a good education. Noble goal – it takes dedication, determination and deliberation.

There are those who pursue love. Admirable. We all have a desire to be loved but even that will fall short of expectation if we aren’t diligent and willing to give our all.

Being pursued isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I recall a time when I was little and being pursued by the neighbor’s billy goat. I just wanted to pet him, but he had other ideas. When I realized that his pursuit of me was not going to end well, I ran. I ran as fast as my little legs could carry me but it wasn’t fast enough. I was still butted in the bottom.

There is a pursuit that is beneficial and attainable by everyone.

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cry.” Psalm 34:13-15 ESV

Truth and peace are godly pursuits. Doing good is a goal we should all seek to accomplish.

“ …pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” II Timothy 2:22 ESV

The Lord has given us all a dream, a passion in life. When we let Him lead, when we follow His direction, our pursuit with end well.

“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 AMPC

Trust the Lord with your pursuits!

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