Tag: CallOnMe

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Which Way, God?

Every day we make at least a dozen decisions that determine which way we will go.

We leave the house in the morning and pull out of the driveway, turn right or left like we always do. We stop at the same grocery store, follow the same path to work and in fact we get upset if the road is blocked and we have to turn another way. We like doing things the way we’ve always done; we like the familiar but what if there’s another way?

“You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness. Being at your right side will make me happy forever.” Psalm 16:11 ERV

God’s ways are higher than ours but that doesn’t mean we can’t understand God or know His ways.

The Bible is our loving Father communicating with man so that we can know His ways. He gave his plan to Moses, the prophets and spoke His plan to Jesus, who was the fulfillment of that plan.

He gave his plan to Paul who penned over half the New Testament so that we would continue to have the direction we needed.

Then He placed His Spirit within us when we were born again so we could have greater understanding of His ways.

“But as the Scriptures say, ‘No one has ever seen, no one has ever heard, no one has ever imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.’

10 But God has shown us these things through the Spirit. The Spirit knows all things. The Spirit even knows the deep secrets of God. 11 It is like this: No one knows the thoughts that another person has. Only the person’s spirit that lives inside knows those thoughts. It is the same with God. No one knows God’s thoughts except God’s Spirit. 12 We received the Spirit that is from God, not the spirit of the world. We received God’s Spirit so that we can know all that God has given us.

13 When we say this, we don’t use words taught to us by human wisdom. We use words taught to us by the Spirit. We use the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 People who do not have God’s Spirit do not accept the things that come from his Spirit. They think these things are foolish. They cannot understand them, because they can only be understood with the Spirit’s help. 15 We who have the Spirit are able to make judgments about all these things. But anyone without the Spirit is not able to make proper judgments about us. 16 As the Scriptures say, ‘Who can know what is on the Lord’s mind? Who is able to give him advice?’ But we have been given Christ’s way of thinking.” I Corinthians 2:9-16 ERV

A good way to start each day is to ask the Lord to make His way of thinking clear to us. When we follow what He puts in our hearts we will go the right way and we will do the right things.

If you’re having difficulty understanding the things of God, ask the Holy Spirit who lives within you for the direction you need – He’ll be more than glad to help!

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Walk & Talk

Yesterday I told you about my morning walking. Sometimes Dave walks with me and some days I walk alone. This image is from yesterday morning’s walk.

On the days Dave and I walk together we talk, we plan, we readjust plans and make set new goals, we thank God for where we are and where He is leading us. On the mornings when I walk by myself, I do the same with the Father.

That desire to walk and talk must be an inherited trait.

“ Then they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the evening. ” Genesis 3:8 NLV

God created man and woman so He would have someone to fellowship with. Even after they had sinned and left the garden God still came to talk with them.

Enoch went on a walk and talk with the Lord and instead of going back to his tent for the night it appears he walked right back to heaven with God.

“So Enoch lived 365 years. 24 Enoch walked with God, and he was seen no more, for God took him.” Genesis 5:23-24 NLV

Noah talked with God and God gave him the blueprints for building the ark.

“ Then God said to Noah, “I have decided to make an end to all the people on the earth…14 Make a large boat of gopher wood for yourself. Build rooms in the boat. And cover it inside and out with tar. 15 This is how you are to make it…” Genesis 6:13-15 NLV

There are so many throughout the Bible who had walk and talks with the Lord and it still happens today.

We met a man while we were living in Idaho who had an idea for building a wood-burning stove. He built the proto-type and submitted it for a patent. He didn’t have a lot of money to spend on the patent process, and it failed the first round of testing. He told us he sat up all night praying about what had failed and how he could correct it with the funds he had left. He spread out the plans on the table and began asking the Lord about each step of the process. By morning, he had his answer on what needed to be adjusted, made the correction, submitted the stove again and was granted the patent. He has been producing his wood burning stoves now for years and has a very successful product and gives God the glory.

God’s desire is for us to have wisdom and His leading in every circumstance. He’s not hiding His will or His plans. On of my favorite walk n talk verses are these:

“ While Jeremiah was still shut up in the open space of the prison, the Word of the Lord came to him a second time, saying, 2 “This is what the Lord says Who made the earth. The Lord made it to last. The Lord is His name. 3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:1-3 NLV

Call to Me and I will answer and show you great and wonderful things!

If you need motivation while on those morning or evening walks, let those verses be it. A walk and talk with the Lord will reveal great and wonderful things!

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Listen!

If you’re anything like I used to be you are probably in a rush this Wednesday morning. The week’s about half over and you have lots that you NEED to get done.

Listen…No stop right now and listen for 10 seconds…If you’re anything like me you’re morning starts with the sound of the coffee pot, the hum of the computer fan and a myriad of other noises all competing for your attention.

I am blessed to live where there are no sounds of traffic, sirens, planes or other such noises. I hear the birds, the air conditioning and the clock ticking.

Yesterday morning I had a very strange experience. I called my doctor’s office to get the results of my lab work. Four times I called. Each time I would hear them say hello, I would say hello and then “click”. I was disconnected. I was frustrated to say the very least; you could hear my frustration in my voice when I finally got through. The nurse on the other end was also frustrated, her phone system was malfunctioning. She apologized and so did I.

Is that what is must be like for God? He calls, we say hello and then He gets a disconnect. Or maybe He calls and we’re too busy so we send Him to voice mail and/or put Him on hold.

I love when I wake up each morning I can say, “I love you Father, I love you Jesus, I love you Holy Spirit” and then I can hear that inner voice say “We love you too”. WOW!!

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10

Folks spend much of their time looking for the big, the spectacular, the miraculous and miss the simple, still small voice of God trying to lead them and give them insight. How many times have you heard someone say, “I knew I shouldn’t have done that” or “It just dawned on me” or “I was just thinking about that very thing”. And we don’t realize that God is trying to get through to us. It’s a bad connection.

Elijah was looking for God’s answers during a very serious time in his life. He was seeking God and there came a great wind and then an earthquake and then a fire and finally a still small voice. God spoke in a still small voice!

“…a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.” I Kings 19:11-12 NLT

The most important thing you’ll hear each morning, if you listen, will be the still small voice of the Lord. Sssssh – just listen!

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Desert Blooms

It takes Dave and I about 15 to 20 minutes to drive to town. Most of the way we travel through sparsely populated desert, which we enjoy, and especially when the Spring flowers and love grass blanket the ground.

All it takes is a few warm days and some moisture and the desert floor comes to life.

Isn’t that how it is with us? A little light, warmth, and watering with kindness and love and our souls respond with beauty.

“The waste-land and the dry land will be glad. The desert will be full of joy and become like a rose. 2 Many flowers will grow in it, and it will be filled with joy and singing…They will see the shining-greatness of the Lord, the wonderful power of our God. 3 Give strength to weak hands and to weak knees. 4 Say to those whose heart is afraid, ‘Have strength of heart, and do not be afraid. See, your God will come ready to punish. He will come to make sinners pay for their sins, but He will save you…Those whom the Lord has paid for and set free will return. They will come to Zion with singing. Joy that lasts forever will crown their heads. They will be glad and full of joy. Sorrow and sad voices will be gone.’” Isaiah 35:1-4, 10 NLV

I really encourage you to read the full chapter of Isaiah 35. It is an amazing description of what the Lord does in the lives of those who love Him.

I can almost hear someone saying, “but Kristi, it also says that He will make sinners pay for their sins. Where’s the good news in that?”

I’m so glad you asked!

Read the next five words – “but He will save you”. There’s the good news. Salvation!

“‘It will be that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved from the punishment of sin.’” Acts 2:21 NLV

“The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.” II Peter 3:9 CEV

The choice is ours.

Our lives can be dry and brown, filled with thorns and stickers or we can bloom with beauty. The difference between the two is the water.

“On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted, ‘If you are thirsty, come to me and drink! 38  Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.’ 39 Jesus was talking about the Holy Spirit, who would be given to everyone that had faith in him. The Spirit had not yet been given to anyone, since Jesus had not yet been given his full glory.” John 7:37-39 CEV

When we come to faith in Christ, He fills us with the life-giving presence of the Holy Spirit. He causes our lives to blossom with the fruit of love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, patience and meekness.

We bloom with joy and strength!

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Is God Real?

Are you honest – really honest? I’ve had people tell me they aren’t sure if God really exists and if He does He sure hasn’t done anything to prove to them that He is real.

My response isn’t one to condemn them but to ask them to be honest with themselves and with God. I ask them to tell God they aren’t sure He exists, but they are willing to let Him show them that He truly is there and that He cares. Then I ask them to be honest enough to admit it when He does.

You see God is big enough to handle any question or situation. If someone really isn’t sure that He exists, God is certainly faithful and loving enough to prove that He does!

I will tell you that He has proven himself to be my loving, gracious, heavenly Father!

“I will tell of your greatness, my God and King. I will praise your name forever and ever.2 I will praise you every day. I will praise your name forever and ever. 3 The Lord is great and deserves all our praise! No one can fully understand his greatness!

4 Each generation will praise you and tell the next generation about the great things you do. 5 Your majesty and glory are wonderful. I will tell about your miracles. 6 People will tell about the amazing things you do, and I will tell everyone how great you are. 7 They will talk about your goodness and sing about your justice. 8 The Lord is kind and merciful, patient and full of love. 9 The Lord is good to everyone. He shows his mercy to everything he made.

10 Lord, all you have made will give thanks to you. Your loyal followers will praise you. 11 They will tell how great your kingdom is. They will tell how great you are. 12 So others will learn about the mighty things you do, about the glory of your kingdom—how marvelous it is!

13 Your kingdom will never end, and you will rule forever. The Lord can be trusted in all that he says. He is loyal in all that he does. 14 The Lord lifts up people who have fallen. He helps those who are in trouble. 15 All living things look to you for their food, and you give them their food at the right time.

16 You open your hands and give every living thing all that it needs. 17 Everything the Lord does is good. Everything he does shows how loyal he is. 18 The Lord is near to everyone who sincerely calls to him for help. 19 He listens to his followers and does what they want. He answers their prayers and saves them.

20 The Lord protects everyone who loves him, but he destroys all who do evil. 21 I will praise the Lord! Let everyone praise his holy name forever and ever!” Psalm 145 ERV

Today is a day to declare the goodness and the glory of God. His kindness is overwhelming, His ways are just and His judgments are true. He is love! I give Him my heart and my praise.

If you know someone who is wondering if God is real tell them to ask Him to show them His love. He will.

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Locked Out?

Each morning when I open my laptop this phrase appears on the screen, “Have you forgotten your password?”.

No.

I sign in and have access to all my information, unless like the other morning there has been a system update and some of my information has been relocated. But I digress. I’m sure many of you are like me and have written your passwords in a book and placed them in a secure place, just in case I do forget one of them. Better yet are the “secure” password vaults that remember them for you and at prompting populate the correct password for that sign-in.

I can remember a time when there were no passwords required. In fact, there were no computers. That seems like a very long time ago. But why all this talk about passwords this morning?

Well, in my prayer time I was thanking the Father that I can come into His presence freely – no password, no engraved invitation or secret access code.

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. 5 For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation.” Psalm 100:4-5 NLT

It’s as simple as that – we enter His presence with thanksgiving! The love of God continues forever and He is faithful to each and every generation.

Sometimes we might feel unworthy and needy but He says come in, we have access!

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” Hebrews 4:16 NLT

There have been times when I felt I was far from the Lord and was struggling to find my way. His instruction filled my heart.

“Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

There is never a time when the Father is too busy or unavailable to us. The Apostle Paul gave us this instruction.

“Never stop praying.” I Thessalonians 5:17 NLV

In Jesus’ final hours before He was tried, convicted and crucified He went to the garden to pray. He asked Peter and the others to join Him in prayer. He knew he was facing the most horrendous event of His life, so He prayed.

“Then he went back to his followers and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, ‘Could you men not stay awake with me for one hour? 41 Stay awake and pray for strength against temptation. Your spirit wants to do what is right, but your body is weak.’” Matthew 26:40-41 ERV

Ready access – open communication. The Father knows we are weak, in need of His help that’s why He tells us to come. His plan for us is good and He will not abandon or desert us.

“Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 ERV

When we have an open heart seeking the Father we will never be locked out of His presence!

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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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The Right Call

The last couple of weeks I have spent quite a bit of time on the phone making appointments. When we’re in the mountains all summer, time and distance prevent us from standard visits, i.e., dental appointments, physicals, eye exams, banking appointments, etc.

First, it’s the scheduling and then it’s the actual appointment – all of it takes time. Now with Thanksgiving coming up and then the activities in December before Christmas I’m beginning to feel a little rushed.

That’s why I enjoy my mornings. They are quiet, unhurried, and they set the tone for my day.

No appointment necessary! No busy signal or voice mail, no press 1, enter your account number, and hold. That’s how God the Father designed it.

“Call on Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you don’t know.” Jeremiah 33:3 Kristi’s version

I have this picture as my screen saver. It’s one of our granddaughter’s with her play phone. She was calling her Besta. It reminds me to be present when the kids call. To listen to their conversations, to slow down and be attentive just like the heavenly Father is with me.

“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

“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

“I was in terrible trouble when I called out to you, but from your temple you heard me and answered my prayer.” Psalm 18:6 CEV

I love my mornings. The Lord and I can have uninterrupted conversations. I love this time and I have felt for many years that I NEED to start my day in the Father’s presence so that I get His guidance for what’s ahead.

Maybe you’re a night owl and you have more “quiet” then or maybe you’re a parent who has quiet after the kids are gone to school. You might find quiet time when you run or workout. You might find it at the clothes line or the ironing board. Is it possible to find quiet when you mow the lawn or are out on a ride?

Whenever it is, where ever it is, it’s the right time to call. You have a standing appointment, you move to the head of the line. The Father is there waiting for your call.

I’m thankful for open communication with my heavenly Father. It’s always the right time for Him.

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Good Reception

This past summer our communication, both cell and internet, greatly improved. Those of you that spend most of your time in the city probably don’t understand not being able to communicate efficiently but it’s very frustrating.

But no more. We purchased the Starlin link system and things started coming in without interruption. We finally had good reception.

More important than advancements in technology is my ability to communicate with the Father. He has provided each and everyone of us with our own “heaven-link”. The band width is massive and the upload and down speed top the charts.

“‘Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.’” Jeremiah 33:3 NLV

When I think about God’s goodness one of the things that I appreciate is His ability and desire to communicate with us. He walked and talked with Adam and Eve in the garden, He wrote His laws on tablets of stone, He came in visions and dreams to men like Joseph and Daniel and He used men to write His love letter, the Bible, for generations of people to read.

The communication lines with heaven are always open. Never any down time.

“I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah” Psalm 3:4

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears” Psalm 18:6

“O Lord my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.” Psalm 30:2

“Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.” Psalm 107:6

“I cried unto thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living.” Psalm 142:5

I think of Dave’s relationship with our kids. There was never a time when they cried out “Daddy, I need you” that he didn’t respond. He was there for them, and our Father is here for us too.

The writer of Hebrews told us to come BOLDLY to the throne of God’s grace and find help in time of trouble. (Hebrews 4:16)

And Jesus said for all those who are weary and weighted down to come to Him and find rest! (Matthew 11:28)

Jesus invited ALL to come so that includes well…everyone! He’s there to help!

Our Father is the master communicator, and His reception is always good! For that I am grateful.

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Let’s Talk

Dave and I spend a lot of time talking. Good talking.

When we were making the plan to sell the house and move into an RV full-time, we did a lot of talking. So much to consider and it was going to be a life-changing move, we better have all the cards on the table and not hold anything back.

Apprehensions, reluctance, details, hopes and aspirations, everything had to be talked through.

Even before the house sold, we talked about what to keep and what needed to go. Family heirlooms, pictures, my wedding dress, special mementos. How much wall space did we have, how much artwork could we take? Everything had to be considered – his tools, my crafts, dishes, fishing poles, etc.

Neither one of us like clutter, really, neat and tidy is how things should be! Lived in and comfortable is good but not messy or unkept. Lots of discussion on this will go there, this will go where?

Yesterday we were having another one of those organization conversations. This time we were in the truck headed to Lowe’s to find a light-weight storage cabinet for cleaning supplies, the mop, broom and vacuum. We didn’t like anything we had seen on-line and hoped to find something locally. We talked the whole way and from the talking we decided we needed a gym locker – perfect!

Why am I telling you all of this? Well, talking is good. Sometimes it can seem ominous – those words “let’s talk”. Yikes! What does that mean? It simply means that communication is needed, and communication is healthy.

Did you know that God likes to talk?

He came and talked to Adam and Eve in the garden. He talked to Noah and told him how to build the ark. When he talked with Moses, He gave the Ten Commandments and the pattern for the tabernacle. He talked with the prophets and gave them hundreds of prophecies on the coming of Jesus.

Of course, we know He talked with Jesus but also with Peter, Philip, Paul and John. He desires to talk with us. Yes, you and I. We’re His children and He desires to be part of our lives. He wants to be included in our decision making. He wants to hear about our joys and our sorrows.

“I, the Lord, invite you to come and talk it over. Your sins are scarlet red, but they will be whiter than snow or wool. 19 If you willingly obey me, the best crops in the land will be yours.” Isaiah 1:18-19 CEV

He wants us to know that we are forgiven. He chooses to cleanse us from our wrong doings, from our sins. He plans good things for us, not just good but the best things.

“Don’t keep worrying about having something to eat or drink. 30 Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father knows what you need. 31 But put God’s work first, and these things will be yours as well. 32 My little group of disciples, don’t be afraid! Your Father wants to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:29-31 CEV

I would like to encourage you to open up an honest line of communication with the Father. Talk to Him each day while you do the dishes or work on the car, driving to work or sitting quietly with a cup of coffee.

Take time. He loves it when we say “Let’s Talk”!

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