Copying the Master

Recently at work I received a request to send to an individual an application for one of our ministry training programs. When I opened the file in which I keep the forms, I had only one left—the original. To keep me from sending my original form, I had placed on the front of it a post-it note on which I had written the word “Master.” When I saw that word, it came to mind that the Word tells us Jesus is our Master.  I was using the master form to make a copy, and we are to be “copies” of the Master.

Just as a copy printed from a copy machine will never be the quality of the original, in our humanity we can never be exactly like Jesus. But the Word instructs us that we are to endeavor to be like Him. Oh, how different life would be if all of us who have accepted Christ would live as a copy of Jesus in this world! That is the reason we are left here after salvation. We are Christ’s representatives on this earth, living to do His work and accomplish His will.

WWJD bracelets have been popular among Christians. These initials represent the question, “What Would Jesus Do?” In every circumstance of our lives, these are the questions we need to ask ourselves: “What would Jesus do? How would He respond? What attitude would He have? What action would He take?” And then we are to behave in the same manner. Everything Jesus did while on this earth, He did from the motivation of love. We as His followers are to do the same. Our actions should always show forth the love of Christ.

Jesus came to this earth to love and to give. He loved humanity enough to give His life. He is asking us to also love humanity and to give ourselves to the task of bringing as many as we can to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Scripture for Reflection
And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. (Colossians 3:17, NLT)

Rest For Our Souls

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (Psalm 62:1-2, NIV)

My family just came back from our summer vacation. It was an enjoyable time spent away from our normal, daily routine. It was great to “get away from it all” and relax with family, and not think about responsibilities waiting back at home.

The last couple of months leading up to our vacation were very busy for me, and many times during those months, I encountered the above scripture. My soul finds rest in God alone. I came across it so many times and in so many ways that I knew God wanted my attention focused on that scripture.

My soul finds rest in God alone. It is calming just to hear those words. We can find temporary rest by going on a vacation, but there are still fifty-one other weeks in the year that are filled with many activities and sometimes overwhelming responsibilities. During those times, we can find rest by going to God alone.

When the cares of life threaten to destroy us, it is wonderful that we can go to our Father and find rest. Our salvation, our deliverance comes from Him.

Instead of trying to figure out the answers to all of life’s problems yourself, go to the One who has the answers and find rest for your soul in Him.

Scriptures for Reflection

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:29-30)

Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Our Daily Choice

All of us who are Christians can look back to a specific time in our life when we made the choice to accept Jesus Christ as our Savior. But being a follower of Christ is a daily decision. Joshua told the children of Israel, “Choose you this day whom you will serve . . .” (Joshua 24:15).

Every day when I wake up, I have a choice to make: Will I live for God, or will I live for myself? Our natural tendencies would lead us to live selfish lives, doing what pleases our flesh. There are many distractions—so many ways our enemy has to pull us away from doing what is right. Choosing to please the Lord in our daily walk takes a conscious decision. And it is only when we choose to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit that we are able to please our Father.

Because we live such busy lives, it is easy to get up each morning and “hit the ground running,” without taking the time to fellowship with the Lord and get His direction for the day.

How much better our days are when we take a few moments to consciously decide, “Today, I will follow Jesus.” Joshua said it best, “. . . as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15).

Scripture for Reflection

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

A Heart for the Outcast

This post is written by my brother David.

I was talking with a teen from church one day during this past school year.  He was telling me of recent events for him at school and how he gets picked on a lot for his medical disabilities and some of his learning issues.  Through a course of events he ended up in ISS (in school suspension).

He told me of that experience and how he really did not like being inside the closed-in cubicle all day.  However, he also said, “…but you know what…I kinda liked it…..no one picked on me today.”

I get tears in my eyes every time I think about how miserable that must be.  For him to live day by day and actually prefer to sit in a claustrophobic box rather than deal with the outside pressures of such condescending cruelty.   A well-known and often-quoted scripture is John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  But do we really in our hearts believe and accept ‘whosoever’?  Or do we ourselves look down upon others because of their race, handicaps, social status, family history, past sins, or any other thing that makes us feel we are better than THAT person.

I pray we can all receive the heart of God for the lonely and the destitute around us.

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’  He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, YOU DID NOT DO FOR ME.’  (Matthew 25:44-45 NIV, emphasis added.)

Mother: A Woman of Influence, Part 4

This is the final in my series of articles about mothers becoming women of godly influence.

It burdens my heart that some women seem to think they have found a better way, that without God they can successfully raise their children.  Some women have become so “sophisticated,” so haughty because of their blessings that they feel they have need of nothing.  But Revelation 3:17 reveals to us that when we think we “have it made” and have everything we need, without God we really have nothing:  “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked”

We need Him!  We need the Lord’s help!  And the most important lesson we can teach our children is: They need the Lord!  Not that they need a job making a lot of money, not worldly prestige—although these things are fine if they are serving the Lord.  But it is most important that they become a success in God’s eyes.  It is imperative for them to seek God’s face and learn His will for their lives.  Otherwise they can flounder for years in the wrong profession, or in the wrong way of life, unhappy and confused!

Example of a Mother Who Exercised Godly Influence:  Moses’ mother, Jochebed

In Exodus chapter 2, we find the account of Moses whose mother hid him for three months when Pharoah had said the Hebrew babies were to be killed; then she placed him in a basket at the edge of the river, and he was found by the daughter of Pharoah. 

Even though he was raised by Pharoah’s daughter, Moses’ real mother was given the privilege of nursing him when he was young, possibly until he was five years old, and during that time she was able to instill in Him the importance of loving the Lord and living to please Him.

When he grew up, he chose to live as a Hebrew, rather than a privileged life as Pharoah’s grandson.  “By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.  (Hebrews 11:24-27)

"Really examine this passage. See all that it reveals. As a result of the few early years of training that Moses had before he was five years old, when he grew up, he…knew who the people of God were --- knew that while sin offers pleasure it only lasts ‘for a season’ --- knew and believed about the coming Messiah (Christ) --- correctly evaluated that heavenly rewards are of greater value than earthly treasures --- knew that the invisible God could protect him from the anger of an all-powerful earthly king --- and had the character to do what was right no matter what it cost him."  —Dr. John Stormer

The early influence of Moses’ mother helped him to make the decision to serve the Lord later in life.  He truly was a success in God’s eyes, and so was his mother!  I want to be that kind of success as a mother.  The most important thing to me concerning my child is that she lives for the Lord, and that we spend eternity together in His presence.

Mother: A Woman of Influence, Part 3

Continuing with the areas that are important to mothers who want to exercise godly influence:

2. A Mother Needs to Develop an Understanding Heart.

“Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?” (I Kings 3:9)

This scripture is actually a prayer of Solomon after he became king, as he sought direction from the Lord in leading the nation of Israel. But I felt it appropriate to use here, because mothers lead their children, and each of us needs a discerning heart to do so—a heart that can understand spiritual things.  That can only come from the Lord. 

When I became a mother, I realized I was in way over my head.  I needed (and still need) understanding and discernment from the Lord.  Raising a child can be a bewildering experience.  We are in a battle for the souls of our children, a spiritual battle.  And we need to be able to discern spirits.  We need insight about the spiritual enemies our children are facing.  Our human feelings and our motherly instincts are not enough against the onslaught of spiritual forces!  We need the power of the Spirit!  “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zech. 4:6)

3. A Mother Needs to Cultivate Wisdom.

“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” (Colossians 1:9) 

We need wisdom from God in dealing with situations in our children’s lives, or giving advice to our adult children.  Wisdom is more than knowledge.  It is the God-given ability to apply knowledge to a given situation.  In other words, it is the ability to use the knowledge we have received to make correct decisions about the future. 

Human wisdom is not enough.  We need God’s wisdom.  We need to know His will.  He knows the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:10), and He can direct us in making correct decisions. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” (James 1:5)

Father, I pray, give each of us an understanding heart and fill us with wisdom, that we may lead our children in a way that is pleasing to You.

Mother: A Woman of Influence, Part 2

As one draws close to the Lord and endeavors to become a woman of godly influence, there are three important things on which I believe mothers should focus. I will cover the first one in this blog:

1. A Mother Needs to Grow the Fruit of the Spirit

Spending time in worship, prayer and the Word, we grow in our relationship with the Lord and learn to walk in the Spirit.  And as we yield to the working of the Spirit, the fruit of the Spirit becomes evident in our lives, and we develop a Christ-like character which enables us to raise our children in a godly manner. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV)

Let’s take a look at each of the fruit of the Spirit:

Love:  We are to serve one another in love.  We have to love our children even when they are unlovable, just as Christ loves us.  We don’t just love them when they do everything right!

Joy:  Joy results from healthy, loving relationships.  And even when things are going wrong, we can exhibit the joy of the Lord that comes from within.  “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)

Peace:  In the midst of the storms of raising our children, God can give us an inner peace and harmony.  And if we exhibit peace, it can change volatile situations.  “A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.” (Prov. 15:1)

Patience:  Patience is the opposite of a short temper.  And, oh how we need patience as we raise our children!

Kindness: Children are sometimes treated harshly out in the world; they need a kind word at home.

Goodness:  Do good to the members of your family, treating them well, and having their best interests at heart. 

Faithfulness:  Be committed to God, husband and children. No one else is more important in your life!

Gentleness:  Minister to the needs and hurts of your children. A mother’s caring, gentle touch will soothe a hurting child.

Self-Control:  This is the opposite of self-indulgence, considering your husband’s and children’s needs above your own. 

Father, help me and every mother who reads this to grow the fruit of the Spirit in our lives. Help us to be godly women who influence our families for good.

Mother: A Woman of Influence, Part 1

This series of articles is taken from my Mother’s Day sermon.

Mothers exercise influence over their children.  A child will be led to do good or evil according to the teaching and actions of his or her mother.  (Of course, this is also true of fathers.) I realize there are mothers in different situations. Some are still in the process of raising children.  Others have children who are grown and are no longer in the home.  Some also have grandchildren over whom you have influence.  And some women don’t have children.  But all of us, in whatever circumstance we are in, exercise influence over others in some capacity.  You can be a woman who influences her children in a godly way, whether they are still young or are adults; and even if you don’t have children of your own, you can be a woman of godly influence to others.

I believe there is one all-important thing that a woman can do that will enable her to exercise godly influence, and that is to develop a close relationship with the Lord. We cannot influence our children to do something that we do not do ourselves! They will practice what they see, not what we preach. More than just a once-a-week Sunday morning experience with God—we need an intimate relationship with Him. How does a mother (or anyone) develop that kind of relationship?  A time must be set aside each day to be alone with the Lord and worship Him, to hear from Him by reading His Word and listening to the voice of His Spirit.  I find morning to be the best time for me, when I am the only one up, before the activities of the day begin. Each day is new—a fresh start.  Let God write on your heart each morning before anyone else does.

From a vibrant, alive relationship with the Lord will come the spiritual strength a mother needs to raise children in a godly way, or to exercise godly influence that will benefit her adult children. 

In future blogs, we will look at three areas that are important as we grow in our relationship with the Lord.

Scripture for Reflection

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. (Psalm 5:3)

For Such A Time As This

This post is written by my brother, David.  I am so proud of him and his walk with the Lord.

There are many times I sit and ponder the things that have happened in my life….both the good and the bad.  I wonder what it all means and why does God allow all this to take place?  Why am I blessed in so many ways?  Why do I go through all the adversity that I do? 

A scripture comes to mind… ‘and who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this.’ Esther 4:14b (NIV).  I have to realize that God has a much bigger plan than I, and I am only a small instrument in His plan.  The things I go through, good and bad, are all meant to move me to the place God can use me best. 

Moses was son of a pharaoh.  He was later a lowly shepherd for his father-in-law.  But God used him as an instrument to get the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt.  Esther was a Jew who became a queen in Medo-Persia.  God used her to spare the Jews living there from deadly prejudice.  However, Stephen was simply a local church leader who happened to be stoned to death in front of a man named Saul (later to become Paul). 

I have helped people through adversities before, all the while wondering why God was allowing all of this bad to happen to them—only to find out later that these same people encountered someone else going through similar circumstances which they counseled them through. 

In this life we may never know all that God is working in places we are not even aware.  If I go through the challenges and glories of this life, and from these happenings God can bring one sinner to His fold, is it not worth it?  We hear God’s heart from His Word… ‘Not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.’  II Pet 3:9b

Father in Heaven, help me to see the trials in my life as opportunities for me to grow in You.  Help me not to be proud when blessings fall on me, but rather to see the real purpose in Your giving them to me.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

He Knows My Heart

“Well, God knows my heart.” How many times have you heard someone say that? Have you said it yourself? I have. Most often we mean that our heart is right and we had good intentions, but somehow our actions didn’t quite live up to the expectations of our heart. “But God understands—He knows my heart.”

The truth of the matter is: God does know our hearts. He knows us better that we even know ourselves. Psalm 44:21 tell us, He knows the secrets of the heart. In those moments when we are really honest with God and ask Him to shine the light of His Holy Spirit on our lives, He will reveal things to us that need to be changed. And when we are faced with His displeasure, we find ourselves wishing we had just remained in ignorance, because now that we know, we have to decide: Will we live in such a way that we continue to displease Him, or will we obey what He is telling us to do?

Jeremiah 17:9 says, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. That’s not what I want to hear from God’s Word. I like to think of myself as a good person who lives right. But the Word makes it clear that all of us have wicked hearts. The Lord said in Genesis 8:21 that the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth.

No amount of trying to be good will change a wicked heart. Outward changes can be made, but they will be short lived if the heart is not changed. The only One who can change a heart is God. It is easy for us to comprehend that sinners have wicked hearts. But even those of us who are His children can be deceived into believing that our hearts are in much better condition than they really are. It is only when we ask Him to search our hearts and show us what is inside that we become aware of the truth. Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24)

Father, I am asking You to search my heart and show me the areas of my life that need to change. I want to repent of the sin that You reveal, so that You will lead me in the way everlasting.

When Will You Bow?

On Easter Sunday, our congregation sang the words of a familiar chorus: He is Lord, He is Lord, He has risen from the dead and He is Lord, Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Philippians 2:8-11 says, Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (NASB).

There are many people who arrogantly assume that they can live their lives as they please without having to answer to their Creator. Even though nature shows proof of intelligent design, some are unwilling to acknowledge that mankind was created, choosing rather to believe that human beings came about by some process of evolution. For me, it takes more faith to believe that our complex bodies could have evolved, than it does to believe we were created by a loving God. I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

As we observe the world around us, we see that there are people in all walks of life, including the political arena as well as the movie and music industries, who seem to think they are gods themselves, and that they answer to no one. Everyone does what is right in his own eyes. They see no need to acknowledge the One who is greater than they, and seem to forget that they are mortal and will not physically live forever.  Proverbs 12:15 tells us, The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.

The above scripture from Philippians makes it clear that everyone will one day bow down to Jesus and call Him Lord. The question to ask is this: When? Will it be while you still live on this earth and have the opportunity to accept Christ as your Savior and Lord? Or will you wait until this earthly life is over and there is no more hope of salvation—when you are forced to bow down to Him as your Judge?

I am thankful for the free gift of salvation that is extended to anyone who will accept it. To receive, all you have to do is let go of your dependence on self and acknowledge that there is One greater than you who loves you and gave His life so that you could live! Choose to bow now. Make Jesus Lord of your life!

Prayer to Accept Christ

Dear Jesus, I admit that I am a sinner, and that I have lived my life to please myself rather than You. I am sorry and I repent. I ask You to forgive me. I believe that You died on the cross to save me. You did what I could not do for myself. I give my life to You and ask You to take control of it. Be the Lord of my life! Help me to live every day in a way that pleases You. I love You, Lord, and I thank You that I will spend eternity with You. Amen.

Easter: It’s All About Jesus

What do you think about when you hear the word Easter? Does your mind entertain thoughts of springtime, bunny rabbits, and colored eggs? When I was a little girl, Easter was an opportunity to get a new dress and new shoes, maybe even a new hat and pretty white gloves. I always looked forward to getting my Easter Sunday outfit. And Mom would color Easter eggs for my brothers and me to find.

But I also remember hearing the story of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those of us who grew up in the church have heard the account many times. Don’t let the familiarity of the story cause you to lose sight of the wonderful salvation provided for us. Let’s review what happened:

· Mankind was lost, separated from God with no hope of redemption.

· Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, God’s only begotten Son, was born of a virgin and lived a sinless life.

· Jesus willingly offered Himself to die by crucifixion, taking our sins to the cross with Him.

· After three days in a borrowed tomb, Jesus arose from the dead.

· Because Jesus lives, we can accept Him into our hearts, be saved from our sins, and live eternally with Him.

No matter what kind of life you have lived, Christ died for you. You are not beyond redemption. You are not beyond the reach of His love. Accepting Christ does not mean that everything in your life will suddenly become perfect. But it does mean that you will have a peace inside that you have never known before, and the assurance that you can now look forward to eternity.

The Bible says that for the joy that was set before Him Jesus endured the cross (Hebrews 2:2). I believe Jesus looked into the future and saw the results of His death and resurrection; He saw those who would accept His gift and come into His family. And because of that He was able to endure the cross.

Jesus is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). I am so thankful He is in my life. I am thankful that God desired relationship with us so much that He was willing to send His Son. And I am thankful to Jesus that He was willing to die a cruel death to buy our redemption, and that He arose from the dead so that we can live also!

Scriptures for Reflection

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:7-9)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

Love With His Love

Last Sunday, my husband preached a message about love.  We as Christians are familiar with the fact that we serve a God of love, and that He expects us to love.  The message inspired me to search my heart and review my own actions in light of what the Word of God says on the subject.

During his sermon, my husband told the story of a minister who stood in his pulpit one Sunday, looked very slowly and deliberately over the congregation, and delivered a powerful, one-word sermon: "Love!"  So much is contained in that one word.  If we do what it says—if we love—then our actions will prove to others that they are loved.  The Word of God tells us "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son . . ." (John 3:16).  God showed His love to us by His action: He gave His Son; then Jesus showed His love by His action: He gave His life on the cross. 

The Word not only says that God loves us; it says that He is Love (1 John 4:8). And that we are to imitate Him (Ephesians 5:1). As we follow Him and imitate Him, love is to flow from us.  Our human love is imperfect and could never live up to what God wants from us.  So how do we love the way He commanded?  We love with His love.  The love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts (Romans 5:5).  If you are a child of God, then you have His love.  The Word says so.  It's just a matter of getting the love to others. 

Our own love is imperfect.  It is selfish and self-serving.  Our human love is often an "arms-length" love.  We say we love, but we don't want to get too close.  We don't want to get our hands "dirty."  It is easy to look at someone and say, "I love you."  Harder to get down in the grime of their lives and really love them.  In I Corinthians Chapter 13, the love chapter of the Bible, the King James Version uses the word "charity."  Charity is really love in action.  If you say you love, but there is no action, have you really loved?  The love I'm writing about today is a verb.  A verb is an action word.  Many of us have an impersonal kind of love that really isn't love at all.  It looks good on the surface, but it doesn't go very deep and doesn't cause us to do anything.

As I contemplated this, I came up with my own definition of love: Compassion that causes action.  Jesus looked upon the people to whom He ministered and had compassion on them, and out of His compassion, miracles occurred.  Only God can give that kind of love.  It is shed abroad or poured out in our hearts. He has given us plenty of it, but often the flow of that love is impeded by our bitterness over past experiences, our fear of rejection, our fear of being hurt.  More than anything, it is selfishness that keeps us from giving away love.  We want to protect ourselves.  Jesus gave away His love and died in the process.  It wasn't easy.  He poured His whole life into loving humanity.  And He wants us to be like Him.  He wants us to tap into that love that has been poured into our hearts and then pour it out to others.

Father, help us to love with Your love!

Scriptures for Reflection

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8)

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children. (Ephesians 5:1, NIV)

. . . the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5)

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV)

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14)

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. (Matthew 20:34)

No Pain, No Gain

My family has begun a journey that I am sure is familiar to many of you. We are now making regular visits to the orthodontist because my daughter has recently been fitted with braces. The first evening after having the braces put on, she brushed and flossed her teeth. This is important for all of us, but it is especially important for a person wearing braces, and it takes diligence and meticulous attention to make sure the teeth are kept clean. Although she had seemed somewhat excited earlier in the day, after her first experience with the tedious process of brushing and flossing around the braces, she came to me and said that she had already decided she does not like braces.

I smiled and told her, “Honey, you will have to look at the goal. What you have to go through for the next two years will be worth it when you see the end result.”

Almost immediately, I thought how true that is in every aspect of life. A person who wants straight teeth has to endure the discomfort of foreign objects in the mouth and the pain involved when the doctor adjusts the braces every six weeks. In the same way, to obtain the desired end result in many areas of life, we must submit ourselves to the discomfort of the Holy Spirit convicting us of the need to make changes, and we have to endure the pain of making those adjustments.

My daughter’s mouth would be more comfortable if the orthodontist was not attempting to make changes. But in two years, she would have the same crooked teeth she has now.  In our spiritual lives, we can sometimes see how good things could be down the road, but we are unwilling to make the changes necessary to get there.

I want to submit myself to the One who can make the changes in my life. I want to endure the discomfort—even the pain, so that I can become everything He wants me to be.

Scripture for Reflection

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2 Cor. 4:17)

Looking for Love

The world is filled with people who are searching for love. Many are trying to find that special someone with whom they want to spend their life. Then there are others who are with that person who at one time they thought was the fulfillment of all their dreams, and they have become disillusioned and wish for the “greener grass on the other side.” The sad thing is that many people believe the lie that another person is going to make them happy, when in reality happiness comes from within. I have come to understand, after I won’t tell you how many years of living, that a person must decide to be happy regardless of the circumstances of his or her life. I have a good life, but I don’t have a perfect one, as is the case with all of us. And on the days when life is not so good, I have to make the decision to have a positive attitude, to trust God, and to allow the joy of the Lord to dominate in my life, rather than the negative feelings that threaten to overtake me.

And regarding the wonderful, fulfilling love that we all long to receive, many of us fail to realize that there is only One who can love us perfectly and fulfill us completely. He loves us with a greater love than we could ever imagine. That love was expressed to us when Jesus gave His life on the cross. Jesus was willing to lay down His life so that we could be set free from our sins and live an abundant life here and now, and we have the promise that if we make Him our Lord, when we leave this world we will live eternally with Him. When we accept Christ into our hearts, we have the assurance that He loves us, that He will guide us, and that we are never alone.

While the love of those in our lives is imperfect, and life can sometimes be disappointing, I am thankful for the One who loves us completely with an everlasting love. He has promised to always be there for us!

Scriptures for Reflection

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3)

That Wasn’t In My Plan

We all have plans for the future. For some, they are no more than vague notions; for others the plans are more elaborate and detailed. Whatever plans we have, there are many times that life just doesn’t work out the way we had it all mapped out. I didn’t plan for the first month of this year to be the way it has been for me. If I had been given a choice, I would have asked for smooth sailing. Instead, I have been very busy and overwhelmed to the point that I missed blogging for two weeks. And my plans did not include getting sick and spending several days in bed. Nevertheless, that is what I faced. And then I have spent a week trying to recover and feeling like my head is in a fog because of the medication I am taking—So if anything in this blog does not come out right, I am going to blame it on the meds.

We plan our lives from a human perspective, and we can only really see today. We have a picture in our minds of what we want tomorrow to be, but there is only One who knows what tomorrow holds. I am so glad my life is in His hands. His Word tells me He has a plan for me and that it is a good one. Sometimes life is scary. I think fear is one of the biggest hurdles that I have to overcome. I have to remind myself that the all-powerful One whom I serve really does have everything under control. I am thankful His plans for me are good. I love Jeremiah 29:11, ”For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Things often seem to be chaotic around us, and the future may look bleak, but we have to remember that God’s economy is different from the economy of the world. He can take care of us no matter the situations we face. I am reminded of how the Lord met the needs of the children of Israel while they were in the wilderness. He guided them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He provided food from heaven. He gave them water from a rock. And remember the story of Elijah, and the widow and her son recorded in I Kings Chapter 17? God caused the flour and the oil to be replenished throughout the famine to keep them alive. And I serve the same God! He loves me and will provide for my needs as well!

I am thankful God has good plans for those who trust in Him. We do not know everything about His future plans for us, but as long as we depend on Him, we have no need to fear what tomorrow may bring!

Scripture for Reflection

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Is It Morning Again?

This morning, I opened first one eye and then the other and groaned as I realized it really was time to get up. I am not a “morning person.” Probably the hardest thing I do each day is just get myself out of the bed. That may seem strange to some of you. I know there are people who pop up each morning like toast out of a toaster, but I have never been one of them. Somehow I don’t think there are many people like that. I believe a lot of us struggle. We live busy lives, often don’t get enough sleep, and face discouragement—all of which leads us to want “just a few more minutes of shut-eye.”

Today was particularly hard because I seemed to have an extra weight pressing me down, and I quickly recognized it as depression. Not that I have any real reason to be depressed. I believe this is just one more scheme of the enemy to bring God’s children down. I had a decision to make. Would I stay down or would I fight?

After I dragged myself into the shower, I chose to sing a song of praise to the Lord:  I worship You, Almighty God, there is none like You; I worship You, O Prince of Peace; that is what I want to do; I give You praise, for You are my righteousness; I worship You, Almighty God, there is none like You.*  It was not because I really felt it to begin with, but because I knew it was what I needed to do. Gradually, as I repeated the song again and again, I could feel my spirits lift. I sensed the presence of the Lord. I was reassured that I am not alone, that the One who created me still cares.

God has promised He will never leave us; He will not forsake us. As we reach out to Him and acknowledge His presence, God will dwell in the praises of His people. I want His presence to dwell with me, so I choose today to praise and worship Him!

Father, You are worthy to be praised. No matter the circumstances of my life, You deserve my praise. I worship You. I adore You. I acknowledge my need of You. Thank You for Your presence in my life!

Scriptures for Reflection

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1)

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3)

*I Worship You, Almighty God, Don Moen