Category: Relationship

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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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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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Orphaned? Not Alone!

In a few days I will commemorate the first anniversary of my mother’s death. I know many of you have already experienced this and understand the feelings of being an adult orphan. I’m hurting but I have also found amazing comfort.

It’s unusual not to have anyone to call mom or dad. I guess that’s one of the reasons my relationship with my heavenly Father is so precious.

“Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Prepare the way for the one who rides on the clouds. His name is Yah. Worship before him with joy.5 God, who lives in his holy palace, is a father to orphans, and he takes care of widows. 6 God provides homes for those who are lonely. He frees people from prison and makes them happy.” Psalm 68:4-6 ERV

He is a father to orphans – there is nothing that Scripture doesn’t cover. There is absolutely nothing that pertains to us that our Father doesn’t care about.

My morning quiet times gives me the opportunity to cuddle in and feel His loving arms around me. It’s my time to tell Him my hurts and my joys. It’s my time for Him to remind me I’m never alone and He causes my fears to dissipate.

“The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children. 14 He knows all about us.
He knows we are made from dust. 15 He knows our lives are short, that they are like grass.
He knows we are like a little wildflower that grows so quickly,16 but when the hot wind blows, it dies. Soon, you cannot even see where the flower was. 17 But the Lord has always loved his followers, and he will continue to love them forever and ever!” Psalm 103:13-17 ERV

He has always loved me and He will continue to love me forever! He loves you in exactly the same way. All of His kids are recipients of His unconditional love. The comfort we receive from Him is to be shared.

“Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. 4 He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share this same comfort with others in trouble.” II Corinthians 1:3-4 CEV

He molds our hearts; He shapes them to be like His. He wants the world to know of His amazing love and we get to be His ambassadors.

“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. 19 What we mean is that God was in Christ, offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world. And he has given us the work of sharing his message about peace.” II Corinthians 5:18-19 CEV

Remember when we were kids and mom, or dad did something really special just for us? We couldn’t wait to tell our friends – we bragged on how amazing they were. That’s the feeling I get from the verses above.

Our heavenly Father has been so amazing to take us in and make us His own, I just have to brag about it.

We may have been orphaned; but with God’s love we will never be alone!

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Come If You’re Thirsty

Yesterday afternoon Dave and I enjoyed some time on the back patio of our RV.

Novel concept this patio. We have a toy hauler and so the back of it acts like a ramp when lowered for ease of loading and unloading motorcycles, dirt bikes and side by sides. When not in use as a ramp, it can be raised to a level position and used as a back patio. So now, you know where we were sitting.

There is an underground spring that surfaces just a few feet from our back patio. As we were sitting there the birds began to come for their afternoon libation. First, the red-breasted robins, then the mountain finches, next came the big black crow and finally the iridescent blue Stellar Jay. All sharing the life-giving water.

These must have been some of the same birds that awakened me yesterday morning with their songs. The Lord has taught me so many lessons through the years by watching these feathered missionaries.

I’m going to use yesterday’s verses again this morning.

“ I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth much more than birds?” Matthew 6:25-26 CEV

Birds are the ultimate example of faith. They wake up each morning with a song – they know there will be enough worms, seeds, bugs to feed on throughout the day. They sense the danger of a storm and take refuge in the shelter the Lord provides. When they are thirsty, they find pools of refreshing. They live in complete dependence on what the Father provides.

“Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you not to worry about your life! Don’t worry about having something to eat or wear. 23 Life is more than food or clothing. 24 Look at the crows! They don’t plant or harvest, and they don’t have storehouses or barns. But God takes care of them. You are much more important than any birds. 25 Can worry make you live longer? 26 If you don’t have power over small things, why worry about everything else?” Luke 12:22-25 CEV

What has you worried today? Remember the words of Jesus, “you are much more important than any birds”. To us He says:

“All you people who are thirsty, come! Here is water for you to drink. Don’t worry if you have no money. Come, eat and drink until you are full! You don’t need money. The milk and wine are free. 2 Why waste your money on something that is not real food? Why should you work for something that does not really satisfy you? Listen closely to me and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the food that satisfies your soul. 3 Listen closely to what I say. Listen to me so that you will live. I will make an agreement with you that will last forever. It will be an agreement you can trust, like the one I made with David— a promise to love him and be loyal to him forever.” Isaiah 55:1-3 ERV

Are you thirsty? Come. Are you hungry? Come. Have no money? No worries, His supply is free to those He loves. His word is better than any food and more sustaining than the purest water.

Come and find all you need in His promise of love and loyalty!

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Heading South?

This time of year, most people aren’t heading south? We live in an area where the population increases every Oct/Nov and decreases greatly in April or May. They are affectionately called winter visitors or sometimes referred to as snow birds.

They, like their avian friends, have learned to fly South for warmer climates in the winter. Birds, the ones with wings, instinctively head south for warmth and sunshine where they will not only survive but thrive away from the northern artic chill.

Wouldn’t it be great if we were as in tune to following the Lord’s leading as our bird-brained feathered friends?

Years ago when we were young in faith and learning to listen to the Lord’s voice we had a cowboy preacher, a dear friend, tell us this: If God says go South, He will provide; If you go North you’ll think you died!

Now that’s not scripture but it is scriptural.

“Trust the LORD completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. 6 With every step you take, think about what he wants, and he will help you go the right way. 7 Don’t trust in your own wisdom, but fear and respect the LORD and stay away from evil. 8 If you do this, it will be like a refreshing drink and medicine for your body.” Proverb 3:5-8 ERV

“Turn to the LORD for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.4 The LORD has a plan for everything.” Proverbs 16:3-4a ERV

God has a plan for each day – it doesn’t really matter what the activities are in the day; He has a plan!

Some days His plan is to change our plan. When we listen, He speaks and when we follow His leading we are blessed!

“Today I am giving you a choice. You may choose the blessing or the curse. 27 You will get the blessing if you listen and obey the commands of the LORD your God that I have told you today. 28 But you will get the curse if you refuse to listen and obey the commands of the LORD your God. So don’t stop living the way I command you today, and don’t follow other gods that you don’t know.” Deuteronomy 11:26-28 ERV

We have a choice – it would be silly to lean to our own understanding since following Him is the right way to go and His wisdom is perfect. Trust the Lord today. He loves us and His desire for us is good!

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the LORD. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” Jeremiah 29:11-12 ERV

Go South today – He will provide!!!

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Much Fruit

When our oldest children were very little, I received a peach tree for a present. Dave planted it in the backyard. We took very good care of it and the next year it produced 8 large peaches. The following year our harvested crop was much larger in number, but the fruit was smaller, almost half the size of the year before.

The peaches from both years were sweet and flavorful. I wish I could tell you about the harvest from the third year, but we moved from that home and I’m not sure what became of the tree and the fruit.

This was the memory that came back this morning as I was reading these verses.

“Stay joined together with me, and follow my teachings. If you do this, you can ask for anything you want, and it will be given to you. 8 Show that you are my followers by producing much fruit. This will bring honor to my Father.” John 15:7-9 ERV

“The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the Lord has chosen me to bring good news to poor people. He has sent me to heal those with a sad heart. He has sent me to tell those who are being held and those in prison that they can go free. 2 He has sent me to tell about the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day our God will bring punishment. He has sent me to comfort all who are filled with sorrow. 3 To those who have sorrow in Zion I will give them a crown of beauty instead of ashes. I will give them the oil of joy instead of sorrow, and a spirit of praise instead of a spirit of no hope. Then they will be called oaks that are right with God, planted by the Lord, that He may be honored.” Isaiah 61:1-3 NLV

Followers producing much fruit – oaks planted by God and honoring Him.

Some years our lives may be like my peach tree and produce a bountiful harvest, other years we may produce larger fruit but not the quantity.

The word honor that is used in both verses, the one in John and the one in Isaiah, can also be translated glorified. I looked that word up and found this definition: “acknowledge and reveal the majesty and splendor of (God) by one’s actions”.

“But the fruit that comes from having the Holy Spirit in our lives is: love, joy, peace, not giving up, being kind, being good, having faith, 23 being gentle, and being the boss over our own desires. The Law is not against these things.” Galatians 5:22-23 NLV

The fruit that comes from the Holy Spirit definitely acknowledges the majesty of our Father.

We used to sing a praise chorus that said this, “In my life Lord be glorified, be glorified, be glorified. In my life Lord be glorified today”.

Maybe your life is just starting to produce blossoms, no fruit yet, but beautiful. Perhaps your life is a tree with many smaller fruits, you are making an impact of nourishing many lives. Or your tree may have larger fruit, which less people will be able to enjoy but they will be filled and nourished.

All in all, no matter the stage of fruit production our actions should bring the Father honor.

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You Understand!

This morning I’ve spent a lot of time in prayer. My heart is aching because I have been praying for those who are going through such tremendous seasons of hurting or failure.

I found myself saying, “You understand what it’s like to see Your children go through such trying times. You understand what it is to weep over those You dearly love. You understand…”

Oh my, dear reader, He does understand.

“ We have a great high priest, who has gone into heaven, and he is Jesus the Son of God. This is why we must hold on to what we have said about him. 15 Jesus understands every weakness of ours, because he was tempted in every way that we are. But he did not sin! 16 So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:14-16 CEV

Not only does He understand, He is there to help us with every need and every weakness.

Some of you are experiencing the loss of a loved one while others are plagued by debilitating fear. Financial set back and even bankruptcy looms large on the horizon for some families and businesses. Physical health issues are threatening fatally while some face the darkness of dementia. Perhaps your family is fractured by separation or divorce.

The hurt, the grief, the hopelessness are real. He understands!

He cried over the loss of a loved one, He was misunderstood and publicly ridiculed and maligned. He felt lonely and used.

He understands!

Bring your weariness, your heart ache, your pain – bring them to Jesus. Let Him comfort and console. Let Him bathe you in peace and joy unspeakable. Receive hope, hope that was gone.

“ Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest. 29 Accept my teaching. Learn from me. I am gentle and humble in spirit. And you will be able to get some rest.” Matthew 11:28-29 ERV

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me]to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives
recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19 NKJV

“ I pray that the God who gives hope will fill you with much joy and peace as you trust in him. Then you will have more and more hope, and it will flow out of you by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 ERV

Dear friend, never forget that He understands and He is always willing to help!

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A Loving Mother

Those of you who have been following my blog for any length of time know I had a loving relationship with my mom. This is my first Mother’s Day without her.

She died the end of May last year. I know she is in heaven, and I will see her again and we will have all of eternity to share the Father’s love.

When I think of the things that made her so special I feel like I am compiling a list of the Proverbs 31 woman. Mom learned to sew before I was born and I still have some of the little dresses she made for me and my daughters. She learned to knit when I was in grade school and I have sweaters and ponchos tucked away too.

Mom was a wonderful cook and baker. Everyone I knew growing up wanted an invitation to our house for dinner. She also was an excellent baker – there were no store-bought cookies or cakes – every school party she made and decorated dozens and dozens of treats.

My Dad was out-of-town for long periods of time; work kept him away. She kept the household accounts and maintained discipline for myself and my two siblings. She was an economist and could make a penny stretch.

She became one of my best friends. In High School, we had our differences but I definitely felt a closeness with her that my other friends didn’t have with their mothers. When I married and had children she filled the role of Grama whole-heartedly.

Mom always tried to help her friends and neighbors. When anyone came to the house to do work or make a delivery she didn’t let them leave without hearing about Jesus.

In her final years she look forward to going to heaven. She told me numerous times, “if I’m gone in the morning, tell them not to cry. Have a party because I am where I want to be”.

I offer this tribute this morning to all those Moms who are with us and those who we no longer are able to touch with our hands.

“Her children say good things about her.
    Her husband brags about her and says,
29 “There are many good women,
    but you are the best.”
30 Grace and beauty can fool you,
    but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.
31 Give her the reward she deserves.
    Praise her in public for what she has done.” Proverbs 31:28-31 ERV

Mothers, grandmothers, women with mother’s hearts we have a special place of influence that no one else can occupy. May we shape lives with the love of Jesus!

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Our Summer Home

We’re here!! Not completely set up yet, we’ll finish that today but we made it safely to the mountain yesterday. It’s good to be home!

I had so many things to be thankful yesterday. Not the least of which is my husband’s good driving. He is a PRO. I have no idea how many thousands of miles we have traveled in the last forty-nine years but with his skill and the Lord’s provision we have been almost 100% accident free.

It was so good to see the lake that holds so many memories of family. And then there were visits from friends within a few hours of arriving. It’s going to be a wonderful summer.

“Always be full of joy. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, always be thankful. This is how God wants you to live in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:16-18 ERV

I will be praying that all your summer plans with be filled with joy and with wonderment.

One thing that we didn’t get done was setting up our cell booster, so we are operating with a very weak signal. I am praying this blog makes it out this morning.

“‘May the Lord bless you
    and keep you.
25 May the Lord smile down on you
    and show you his kindness.
26 May the Lord answer your prayers
    and give you peace.’” Numbers 6:24-26 ERV

You are in my thoughts, my prayers and a love for you fills my heart!

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