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Dear Diary ...

5/14/2013

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Not long ago, while searching through one of my bulging bookshelves, I came across several journals that I had written over the span of three or four years.  Unable to find the book I had originally been seeking, I opted instead to curl up into a cozy chair and have a little visit with my past self while I read about life during that time.

It was good to take this leisurely walk down Memory Lane.  Each page contained private thoughts (concerns, confessions, hopes and dreams) as well as an accounting of the people I met, conversations I had, places I visited, how the workday unfolded, the daily chores I either had to do or else had performed, and the projects I hoped to accomplish in the house or yard.  
 
Frequently interspersed between these subjects were the many prayers to God for help or
healing for others or me.  When an unbearable, impossible or unnavigable situation had risen to its’ apex and was about to crush me, the next page would reveal the details of how God
unhurriedly, gently and faithfully provided an answer at just the right time.  Recorded immediately following the resolution of a situation was the prayers of thankfulness for the many ways – oftentimes unexpected - in which God had supplied the answers that I had diligently sought.

Within these pages I discovered in amazement how God brought into reality the dreams that I had carried in my heart and prayed over for as long as I could remember.  There were several times – more than I care to admit - when I had nearly given up.   I poured my heart out to God and would constantly have to remind myself to hang on because the God who had answered earlier prayers (as evidenced by previous journal entries), would somehow also furnish answers to these current matters even though I could not see how.   On more than one occasion I whispered the same words that the father of the possessed son said to Jesus in Mark 9:24:  “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”  Ever eager to help His children, He also helped me.  It was with great joy to read the evidence of His faithfulness recorded in black and white by my own hand on the pages of my journal.  I fell in love with Him even more.

While we are in the midst of trying times, it’s easy to question where God is or if He has forgotten us because, instead of seeing His hand directly at work in a situation, we see only the blaring, crushing details of our oppressive circumstances.   

In ages past, God knew that the Israelites of the Old Testament would behave similarly.  He had performed great feats for them, yet each time they would enter into a new seemingly impossible
situation, they would forget that what He had done before, He could do again.  As a result, He frequently admonished them to ‘forget not’ or to ‘remember.’  
 
Deuteronomy 4:9 “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live.  Teach them to your children and to their children after them.”

He knew that they would need to intentionally remember what He had done for them in the past so that they could be confident that He would take care of them from generation to generation.  But He didn’t want them to stop with only remembering for themselves; He also wanted them to tell their children and grandchildren of the wonderful provision He had made for them in every contingency.  As a result of their repeated telling to others, they would also be reminded of God’s faithfulness to them which would, in turn, also be an encouragement in their present circumstances.

Today we have God’s Word (the Bible) available to us as a written reminder of the things He has done, and the things He longs to do for His children.  While the Holy Bible is the divinely inspired Word of God, I like to think of it also as God’s journal to us where we can read of the struggles,
failures and triumphs of others as well as the abiding faithfulness of God in any and every situation that mankind could find himself in the midst of.  It is also filled with the many promises
He will fulfill in our life if we let Him.  

Psalm 103:2-5 “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits – who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

While it is not good to dwell on the past, it is beneficial to see the route you have travelled and the many obstacles you have encountered (and hopefully overcome) along the way.  If you look
closely, you will be able to see evidence of the presence of God’s hand at every turn.

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

For those times when you cannot see His hand, trust His heart.   He will never fail to keep His promises.  The choice is yours.  He’s waiting for you.

 
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

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"Is Anyone Here?"

4/2/2013

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No, that’s not a typographical error.  Usually the question is asked, “Is anyone there?”  Yet with all of the popular web sites encouraging people to share the minute details of their daily lives, it’s apparent that there are indeed other people out there.  We find, however, that when a situation calls for someone to come alongside and travel with us in order to lend direct help during a challenging portion of this path we call ‘life,’ that, while the ‘friends’ list in our
favorite social media site may be overflowing with name after name of ‘out there’ people, it’s not necessarily an indicator of the availability of a ‘right here’ person.

I believe that God, who longs to offer us a devoted, dependable relationship, is more a fan of porches which lend, when utilized, a much slower and more intimate opportunity for the development of honest community.  In times past, it was common for people to sit on a swing or in a comfortable chair on the porch at the end of a long, hard and very busy day of work.  After the supper dishes were washed and put away, people seemed to naturally gravitate towards the porch where they settled down to quietly talk of the days’ activities as well as of their goals and hopes for tomorrow’s accomplishments. The cooler breezes of the evening hours would chase away the heat from the day as they would watch the sun slowly sink lower on the horizon as it headed toward bed for the night.   Spending time on the porch was a marvelous way to de-stress and unwind before turning in at the close of the day.  
 
The front porch is the portal into the house proper that led to the inner recesses of the family dwelling.  Should the weather suddenly turn inclement or the hungry evening bugs begin to nibble the porch-sitters, they would either retreat into the house (with any lingering visitor also invited to join the family if the good conversation was not yet concluded and/or if the visitor was deemed trustworthy enough to enter the sanctity of the family home), or else put an end to the visit thus sending the loitering passerby on their way either by speaking gentle phrases for them to "have a good night," or else by subtle body language that the speaker hoped the drop-in caller would take as a cue that it was time for them to leave.  

At other times during the day, the porch was a good place to get caught up on the latest news with a passing neighbor and, if they were inclined to dawdle, were invited up onto the porch to “sit and talk for a spell” and would be waved into a waiting chair.  If a chair was not available, the tread of a step would be utilized as a seat and a welcome resting place while stories were exchanged.

The front porch was used oftentimes to have a quiet talk with a young ‘un who was having difficulty making a tough decision or who had a challenging question that was in need of an answer.  (The back porch was used for corporal punishment, when necessary.)  It was also used as a comfortable spot to tend to portable work, such as mending, corn shucking, or whittling, or to listen to stories about what is was like ‘way back when’ that were full of wisdom tidbits that could be applied in some way to the present.

When guests came to dinner and it was time for them to leave, the host/hostess would walk onto the porch with them, then linger while conversations were finished and farewells exchanged.  It was considered good manners and the sign of either fondness for, or proof of an enjoyable visit with, the departing guests for the host to remain on the porch first waving and then watching until they were out of sight.  To not remain on the porch, or to shut the door quickly, was to let them know that their company was not enjoyed and that the hosts were eager (and therefore much relieved) to end the visit as rapidly as possible. 
 
The front porch swing was frequently a place where courting couples would sit for hours talking while they got to know one another under the watchful ear of a chaperon who lingered just inside the house and sat by an open window so as to unobtrusively listen to the exchange of the couple.  
 
The use of porches over time has diminished as the much cooler, air-conditioned indoors holds greater attraction over the not-quite-as-cool, open air environment of the porch.  So, too, has the design of porches changed over time to reflect the waning usage of them as they have gotten smaller, many times being no larger than a step that is used to gain entrance into the house. 
In spite of these changes, the desire for people to have genuine relationships and a true sense of community has not diminished one iota even though we are now more isolated physically than were our predecessors. While computer technology can be utilized to help foster relationships, it should never replace the personal interaction that’s needed in order to cultivate kinship. 
    
History shows us that porches are not a creation of the developed world.  In Biblical times, at least as far back as Solomon’s Temple, there was a porch that had to be crossed in order to enter the tabernacle courtyard.   This courtyard was the place where burnt sacrifices were performed on the altar as an offering for various sins that had been committed by the
individual or community as a whole.  
 
There is an encyclopedia definition of the word porch that I like:   “Roofed structure, usually open at front and sides, projecting from the face of a building and used to protect an entrance.”
   
“Used to protect an entrance” to me conjures up a mental image of the Gatekeeper, Jesus Christ, who stands on the porch in front of the entrance to the throne room of grace (the Holy of Holies), the Father’s presence.  
 
John 14:6  “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.”
   
Jesus Christ offered Himself up as the perfect and complete sacrifice for our sins, and desires that all men come into this saving knowledge.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 [AMP] “For such [praying] is good and right, and [it is] pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior, Who wishes all men to be saved and [increasingly] to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the [divine] Truth.  For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all [people, a fact that was] attested to at the right and proper time.”  [Emphasis mine.]

He continues to this day to act as Mediator between us and God, always interceding on our behalf.  
        
Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.”

True relationship; the comfort of His constant, consistent presence in this life; the giver of wisdom for any situation we encounter; and a haven of refreshment whenever we choose to come to Him.  All of this, and more, He offers us.  

“Is anyone here?”  

Yes, He’s right here.  Come on up to the porch and sit a spell.  He’s waiting for you.


(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)



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Heart Matters

3/18/2013

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After waiting through the dreariness of the colder winter months, spring officially arrives later this week.   [SIGH!]  For several days now, splashes of color have become more prevalent as trees start to unfurl their buds into tiny, tender leaves in varying shades of pale greens and deep
reds.  Hyacinths, jonquils, daffodils and crocuses herald springs’ imminent arrival with a show of vibrant yellows, purples, and pinks.  Blossoms make a bold display in unexpected areas as shrubs and bushes join in the celebration of winter’s passing.  Daily the chorus of birds grows louder and more melodious as migrating birds on their way north stop and join with their year-round feathered cousins in the singing.   The world appears almost new again as it dresses itself in spring finery
– looking as if it’s been re-created – and feels to us as if it has been given new life.

While we can rejoice as the seasons change, it isn’t truly an illustration of recreation, but rather the evidence of the cyclical nature of created things as they continue to function in the way they
were designed to do.  Human beings – indeed all living things - do exactly the same thing as they follow the behavior patterns that are natural to each species.

At the start of our world, just after mankind was created, God looked at all that He had created – the earth, the heavens, the trees, grasses and plants, as well as man – and said that it was
very good.  (See Genesis 1:31)    This ‘very good’ status remained until Adam and Eve listened to Satan’s lies and allowed sin to enter the world.  (See Genesis 3).  From that very moment, all of creation was corrupted, so much so that God’s heart was grieved over our (i.e. man’s)creation.

Genesis 6:5-6 “The Lord saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.  The Lord was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.”

In the whole wide world, God found only eight people – all belonging to Noah’s family – who had found favor in God’s eyes and thus were worthy of saving.   This family, along with the two-by-two animals who came to Noah to be put into the ark, was the only remnants of life that were spared.   The remainder of human, animal and plant life on this planet was wiped out in the biggest flood this world has ever experienced.   Mankind was given a new beginning; yet even with the human race being ‘rebooted’ (so to speak), it was not a re-creation as we were not made new and were still left to contend with the sin nature that we had inherited from Adam and Eve when they accepted it from Satan in the Garden of Eden. 
 
While it is true that humans are born into this sinful state and that we will act out of those - what has become natural - behavior patterns, there is still a small part of us, in the deepest depths of
our heart, that desires reconciliation and fellowship with our Creator once again. Mankind longs for a life filled with hope and the promise of a brighter future.  Indeed, isn’t that what we have all wanted at one point or other in life – a true second chance?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) “Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

The incredible, mind-boggling wonderfulness of this re-creation process once you accept Christ is that it happens instantaneously. 
 
1 Samuel 16:7b “The Lord does not look at the things people look at.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

I remember the time when I had made a heart-decision to be committed to living a life in Christ. 
It was challenging – and still is for some - for those who ‘knew me when’  to accept that I was a not the old me anymore.  They could not move beyond what they used to know about me into the truth that was being lived out in front of them every day.  Yet the more I continued to  live a life pleasing to God in my status as His child, then even the naysayers were able to see that
something had indeed happened to change me from who I was into someone new.  It truly is a heart matter.  And once the heart makes the choice to change, the rest of the body will follow.

Ezekiel 36:26-27 "I [God] will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them."

A second chance – a re-created life filled with the Hope of all creation – is as close as a heart-felt prayer to our Creator.  The choice is yours.  He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)


  

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Weary Traveler

1/14/2013

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Recently, it was necessary for me to drive several hundreds of miles from home ….. by myself …… during the nighttime.   Though this was a first for me to drive such a great distance alone, it was not a fearful thing for me to do as I knew that if others could do it, then so, too, could I.

For a number of days prior to the trip, I tried to find as many
positive features to this lone journey as possible.   After all, it isn’t often that I get that much quiet time by myself.  I looked forward in anticipation to spending time praying about anything or anyone that came to mind.  I also looked forward to singing along with some of my favorite tunes.  (And don’t we all sound good when belting out a favorite melody while alone in a car? 
If nothing else, we are certainly entertainment to those who may look at us through our closed windows and see all of the facial expressions and gestures we exhibit while we bellow at the top of our lungs.   But I digress.)

The first half of the trip went quite well.   Many prayers were prayed, countless conversations held with God and numerous praises were sung to Him.  As the hour grew later and my eyes grew tired and blurry, the enthusiasm I had felt at the start of the trip began to wane.   All I thought of was the distance I had yet to travel and how I would love to sleep for at least a full day. 
Then, halfway through to the border of the next state, patches of wispy fog moved in and gradually grew more dense as it populated additional areas along the way.  By the time I
managed to cross the state line, the fog had turned very thick and had completely covered the surrounding area.  Ahead of me, for mile after long mile, the only things visible for a few feet in front of me were two parallel lines of painted white dashed road lines against black asphalt, a wall of fog and an occasional glimpse of a hazy deer along the berm.  The only way to get out of the fog was to concentrate on staying in between those mesmerizing white lines.  I had to trust that there truly was more to the road beyond what I could immediately see and that it
would lead me to safer conditions eventually.

Nearly hypnotized from the limited visibility and the consistent
flash from the white lines as they whisked by hour after hour, I was reminded that we are all travelers in this life.  None of us can see into the future nor can we see what obstacles may lie in wait for us there.   Just as the lines on the highway had to be trusted that night, we too have Someone who can be trusted to light the way for us as we travel along life’s road.

2 Samuel 22:29 “You are my lamp, O Lord;  the Lord turns my darkness into light.”

And He will faithfully guide us until journey’s end.

Psalm 48:14 “For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end.”

Weary traveler, is there some ‘fog’ in your life that makes you doubt the road ahead or obscures the next step you need to take in the journey?  Trust in the Guide who will always lead
you in the right path and will never leave you alone during any part of your trip.
   
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
         
He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the  Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
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Coming Apart

10/27/2012

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A friend of mine and I used to have ‘come apart’ weekends. Usually taken once a month, these weekends were designed to, as she and I would say,  “come apart before you come apart.”  

Too often, the busyness in our respective corner of the world prevented this from happening as frequently as was needed. Many times when she and I would talk about all the craziness that was going on in life, it wasn’t long before one of us would verbalize the need for the other one to have a ‘come apart’ weekend.  Once the ‘ah-ah’ moment came and the necessity acknowledged, one was scheduled as soon as possible.  

What does ‘come apart’ mean?  In this case, the individual would purposefully remove his/herself from all of the craziness of everyday society, including interaction with people whether via the computer, in person, or on the telephone so he/she could spend concentrated periods in prayer and quiet contemplation.  It was not uncommon
for a ‘come apart’ session to also include complete silence when no word was
spoken for the duration of this season.  Setting oneself apart from the bustling activity of the world within the confines of this haven that is filled with stillness, quietness and communion with the Father allows the mind, the spirit, as well as the body, to rest.  At the end of this period of seclusion, the world could once again be entered with renewed energy and greater clarity.

Jesus acts as our example for this ‘come apart’ time.  
 
Mark 1:35 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place where he prayed.”

Luke 4:42 “At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.”

Luke 6:12 “One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.”

While a weekend is not necessarily the prescribed amount of time in these passages, it is understood here that Jesus – who was consistently pressed in by the crowds that followed Him wherever He went - removed Himself from the demands of His daily world while He prayed alone to the Father for as long as was needed in order for Him to rest and be renewed by the Father’s presence.  Once this was accomplished,
He could re-enter the world and interact successfully with those whose lives He
came to impact. Can we expect our need to be any less than Christ’s?   Indeed, as humans, we can expect our need to spend ‘come apart’ time with the Father to be even greater.

While it’s not feasible in the hectic pace of our word for one day, let alone two, to be set aside for this ‘come apart’ time, it is nevertheless vital for some span of time to be
dedicated each day to spend with the Father away from the world so that we, too,
can be successful in the life He longs to give us.

Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is
light.”  

Do you feel yourself coming apart?  Come apart before you come apart.  He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You
Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)
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Constant Vigil

10/25/2012

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The longest awaited dawn is one that is preceded by a night of watchfulness over a sick family
member.

I sat alone – a solitary sentinel – in the darkened hospital room that was lit solely by the glow of the LED lights of the many buttons on several pieces of medical equipment.  The whoosh whoosh sound from the various machines acted both as a comfort and as a constant reminder as to why I was here.
 
It’s challenging to see a loved one’s fever-wracked body in a tug-of-war hour after hour as it works hard to fight off infection. Throughout this particular battle, mine were the loving hands that, time and again, placed a cool compress onto the heated brow; mine were the many prayers - filled with both petitions and thanksgiving - that were whispered into the dim surroundings; and it was my hand that held the hand of the one in discomfort as an assurance of a steady presence so they knew that they knew they were not in this fight alone.

Many, including our Lord, have endured these ‘bitter watches of the night.’  Yet none were so bitter, or so vital, as was this particular night for Him.

Matthew 26:36-38 “Then Jesus went with his disciples to a placed called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of
death.  Stay here and keep watch with me.””

Jesus, ‘sorrowful to the point of death,’ desired the comforting presence of His friends while He entreated His Father in prayer for another possible way for mankind to be reconciled to God other than for Him to have to walk the painful path to crucifixion.

Yet His friends could not stay awake to keep watch with Him while He agonized in prayer.  Twice He returned from praying only to find them asleep.  You can almost hear the deep disappointment He felt when He asked them in verse 40 of Matthew 26, “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?”

Jesus, full of compassion, knew how heavy the eyes of His friends were and He also knew the emotional challenges the next three days held in store for them.  While the humanness in Him longed for someone to watch with Him, the Godliness in Him knew that no one could walk this path with Him.  So He went quietly a little way away from them – for the third time – to once again converse alone with His Father.  
 
In full submission to the Father’s will, Jesus prepared Himself to face the only way the sin-debt of mankind could be paid so that we could truly be in right relationship with Him.  He then willfully, with purpose, accepted the path that led to His death. 

And as dawn broke three days later, He arose from the grave the Victor over sin and death.  We could now be free from the bondage of sin and would never again be alone or without hope.

Unlike Jesus’ human friends, we are assured that God never sleeps ….

Psalm 121:4 ”Indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

... and that He is a constant presence.

Deuteronomy 31:8 “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

What is it that you are facing alone today?  Jesus longs for you to know the assurance of His constant presence and wants to accompany you along life’s journey, through all that it may hold.  The choice is yours.  He’s waiting for you.

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How
You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)


 

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Prayers with Feet

10/10/2012

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Successful living.   Isn’t that what we all strive for? 
Yet there are times in each Christian’s life when we get comfortable and refuse to budge even when we are miserable in our circumstances.  We talk to everyone about our problems (except God) in the hopes that each listener will give sympathy to us, or else make exceptions for our behavior, or perhaps even take care of whatever we are whining about.  And if we complain long enough, perhaps they will do it for us so that we won’t have to go through the heartache nor exert any of our own energy to grow into a better situation. 
 
We have all been in a time of growth at one point or another.  Any time we are asked to stretch ourselves so that we grow beyond our current level it can be quite painful.  We find ourselves wishing that we could deal with anything else except what we’re undergoing.   It’s during those dark and trying times in life that we need the encouragement of others so that we can begin to move towards the next level of maturity that God has in store for us.  These murky times are not meant to be lived in permanently and the longer a person remains in this dismal state without any indication of forward movement to get out of it, the more scarce the support from family and friends gets as they weary of the prolonged, constant complaining about this negative situation.  This may sound cruel, yet without any evidence that the sufferer wants to move on and is working to do so, the impression is that the person is comfortable in this miserable state and wants to remain there.  Regardless of how much they (or others) pray and beg God for relief of this burdensome time in the ‘desert,’  He won’t until they are willing to put feet on their prayers and step out onto the path He provides as a way to escape from this bondage.

Exodus 20:1-2 “And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

God provided a way for the Israelites to get out of Egypt and escape their slavery, but they had to be willing to walk out of that country on their own feet once He had cleared the path.  God was not going to supernaturally remove them from their situation (though He has that ability) and there were those who chose not to leave Egypt and instead preferred to stay in their life of slavery.  For those Israelites who did leave Egypt, it wasn’t long before they grumbled and complained about being in the desert as they stared at the bleakness of their surroundings and their perceived lack.  Instead, they should have continued to trust God to provide for them and lead them to someplace better.  The desert was not the destination; merely the path they needed to travel to get to their place of promise.  

While they were on their way to this Promise Land, since they were unable to imagine how good the land was that God was leading them into, they continually looked back towards the direction of Egypt and longed for the familiar things they had known while they lived there.  They had forgotten the hardships of slavery they had endured and what it was like to live under subjection to the Egyptians.  There is some truth in the adage that ‘it’s easier to live with the evil you know than to live with what you don’t know.’  The fact is, the more the Israelites dug their heels into the sand and looked backward with deep yearning to where God had brought them out of, the longer the Promise Land remained out of reach and the more miserable the Israelites became.  
 
The same is true for us.  We each have experienced our own land of ‘Egypt’ – our own desert times of growth - at some point in our lives, and perhaps that’s where you are even today.  We are held there in bondage by addictions, or personal crises (some of our own making, while others are unexpected), or bad habits of thought and/or action, or other trying situations becaues we cannot see the better place God wants to move us into.  These uncomfortable times are viewed by many as punishment, yet God uses these as opportunities for growth to mold you into a more mature state where you learn on a much deeper level how greatly God loves you and will always take care of every part of your life.  
 
These ‘desert’ times of growth can be painful, lonely and if prolonged, may seem as if they will never end.  Yet we are assured that we are not alone…

Psalm 48:14  ”God is our God forever and ever; he will be our God even to the end.”

 … that He will guide us ….

Isaiah 30:21 ”Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.””

 … and that it will be worth it if we continue walking out of our particular desert.

Galatians 6:9 “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Prayer is good, but unless combined with action, you will stay in either your ‘Egypt’ or your desert state only to remain miserable in your stagnation.  Bring to Him all of the dreams you have in your heart, every problem you are facing and each of the circumstances that fill your day.   Then dare to take God at His word, take His hand in complete trust, and walk out of your ‘Egypt’ into the desert on the path He has made for you. The promise land is just up ahead. 

Phillipians 1:6  “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 
 
He’s waiting for you.


(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)


 


 
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The Beans Can Wait

10/3/2012

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Picture
Like many in my generation, I grew up watching The Waltons.  Those heart-warming episodes captured both the love and the challenges this large family faced during the post-depression years.  Many of life’s lessons as portrayed in those episodes are memorable, yet one in particular still stands out in my mind.  

Olivia Walton (Mama to her seven children), who was supposed to be working alongside Grandma to do the daily chores for their large household, instead of helping to snap the beans for supper that evening, had stepped out onto the porch.  Grandma found her there after awhile just sitting and inquired if she was feeling alright.  Olivia let her know she was fine and just needed to sit for a while.  The beans would have to wait for a bit.

We have all had days like that when we have felt inundated by too many consecutive days filled to overflowing with things that need to get done.  The days blur together and before we know it, weeks (or months) have passed by and we cannot remember when we last took any time to simply sit for a while.  This takes its toll on us on the physical, the emotional, as well as the spiritual level.  The more we ‘press on’ in our work without taking time to restore our depleted fuel levels, the thinner our tolerance gets for others, for our environment, and for ourselves. Exhaustion sets in and, if we aren’t mindful, despair soon follows.

So what are we to do?   How can we get the rest we need when our calendars are already double- and triple-filled with appointments, chores and obligations?

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

One of the meanings for ‘rest’ in this verse means be refreshed.  And who of us could not use some refreshing? 

Jesus paints us a beautiful picture of the best way for us to get refreshed.  In the second half of Mark 6:31 he says, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

This invitation spoken to His disciples is the same invitation He extends to His children today. 
Go into your quiet place – your prayer closet, a corner of the yard, onto the pile of dirty clothes in the laundry room or anywhere else you can get alone  - and spend some time with Him.  There’s no prescribed amount of time you should spend there with Him, yet once you make the effort to experience it, you will find that it is just the kind of refreshing, energizing rest that you need.  
  
Go ahead.  He’s waiting for you.  The beans can wait.  
 
(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top of this page.)

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ROCKY REMINDERS

8/30/2012

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Gardeners everywhere have a special kind of faith.  They believe that spring will come, that the seeds they plant will sprout, and that, in due season, they will reap a harvest.  Before any seeds can be planted, however, the ground has to be prepared.  
 
The first time a piece of ground is to be used for raising vegetables, herbs, or flowers it has to be made ready.  The unbroken ground has to be tilled, and regardless of the size of the plot of ground being used or the method utilized to till it, there are undesirable items unearthed during this soil-busting process that have to be removed by hand.  This can be a long, tedious and frustrating operation. 

Early in the spring on a particularly hot day, I was using small garden hand tools to remove the sod that I had busted up a few days before.  With nearly each thrust of the three-tined cultivator, I would hear the sound of metal striking stone.  Lifting the tine-pierced sod piece, I shook it vigorously to dislodge as much soil as possible and then stared at the ground as a stone landed with a flat thunksound.  I casually tossed both to the edge of the garden plot, resumed humming a tune to myself and moved onto the next section of sod that needed to be removed. 

The more stones that were uncovered, the more my patience waned and my irritation rose.   As if to add insult to injury, on top of the sheer number of the stones, many of them needed to be dug out of the ground before they could be removed.  The casual tossing aside of each new stone turned into forceful throwing as my small mound of rocks grew to the size of a small hillock and my frustration over this project slowly crept towards anger.  
 
Sitting back on my heels, I wondered how something so full of the promise of joy could be so difficult to bring about. 
Would all of this effort even be worth it?  
 
I wiped the sweat out of my eyes and stared at the mountain of toss-aside sod and then at the ever-growing pile of rocks next to
it.  Only one-third of the garden plot had been cleared.  Looking at the remaining two-thirds, I felt the tears threatening to well, then glared at that pile of rocks as I asked God loudly, “Why did you have to make so many!?”

Luke 19:40 “I tell you,” he [Jesus] replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Why would stones cry out?  And who are the ‘they’ this verse speaks of?

 Luke 19:37-39 “When he [Jesus] came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!””

There will always be those who will try to make us be silent when we offer praise to God.  But our Lord deserves all of our praise, not just for all of the wonderful things He has – and is – doing, but simply for Who He is. He is our Creator, the King of Kings,
the Lord of Lords, our Champion, and our faithful God who is without compare. 
 
I smiled at that pile of stones.  They had ceased to be an irritation and had instead turned into a lovely reminder that it was my privilege as a living being to praise my Creator.  One day, all of the earth – including these stones – would cry out in praise to Him, but today, they would have to remain silent as I lifted my voice in prayerful praise to honor Him and to thank Him for being evident even in these stones.  

Are there any ‘rocks’ in your life?  Let them serve as a reminder that we have a Heavenly Father who longs to hear our prayers and receive our praise.  
   

(For more information about forming a relationship with the Lord, see How You Can Find Him located at the top
of this page.)

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No Glitches in "Prayer-mail"

8/16/2012

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Not long ago a major internet service provider  had a glitch in their programming that resulted in untold numbers of people
across the globe being denied access to their email for a short period of  time.  Business, educational and residential settings were ‘cut-off’ from their routine (and sometimes their only) mode of conducting their respective types of activity.  To the casual or occasional email user this may sound like a trivial situation; yet to those individuals whose lives depend upon it to either earn
their living or else to keep in touch with family and friends, it was not.  Mild irritation was not the prevailing theme that day in the chat room about the ISP or this particular problem.  Foremost in evidence was the anger people displayed at being denied access to what is normally available to them, and as such, is treated as a right or an entitlement.  There was also confusion over the ISP’s blatant silence regarding the status of this issue.  And nearly all of the ‘chatters’ had the same unanswered question:  How long was it going to be down?

I watched as the number of comments mounted into the hundreds, the above questions remaining as the prevailing themes, until suddenly one of the responses changed from the oft-repeated “me, too” to “I’m in!”   The energy level in the chat room changed as contributors successfully logged into their accounts.  As more “I’m in!” responses were left, the chat participants suddenly dwindled as they, presumably, resumed their normal email usage.  

Computer technology is an amazing, beautiful invention as well as a valuable tool to countless people….as long as it works properly.  Glitches, while not commonplace, are not unheard of.  We are neither entitled to, nor guaranteed unlimited access and use of, this technology.  It is a paid-for privilege that has so permeated our culture that it is practically treated as a right.  
 
As I later thought about this situation, I realized how unreliable manmade communication devices can be and marveled yet again at the wonderful method of communication we have been provided with in the form of prayer.  God never has a glitch in His programming or in His power supply.  There’s never a time when He’s ‘off-line’ for program upgrades or is inaccessible because He’s stepped out of the office for a bit or gone on an extended vacation.  God has no voicemail.  He’s always there, waiting, longing and listening for us to speak to Him.  
 
1 Peter 3: 12 (NIV) “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer.”  
 
God would love to meet with you in His ‘chat room.’  Go ahead.  Send Him a "prayer-mail."


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    Welcome to my site!  My name is Robin. I'm a Christian writer with a heart-desire to share how I have found (and continue to find) God in the everyday.  Thank you for joining me on this adventure!

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