Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23


We know that God speaks to us through His word.  But have you ever heard that 'still small voice' nudging you when you begin to doubt?  Let me assure you, it just takes a little of that doubt to settle in and soon the mind becomes  paralyzed by fear.


 I was privileged to hear a Ladies Day speaker a few weeks ago who challenged me in my weakness. "I want to leave you with two words today, "Trust Me."  She reminded us of what God had already said, but my own thoughts drowned out.  I shared a few of her thoughts with my husband, but left this one out. Maybe I was feeling guilty over my lack of trust and faith.  I don't know.  But Sunday evening I heard him say, "God is telling us, 'Trust Me.'"   It made me squirm!  I knew I was being reminded that I was wavering and needed this reminder!  Again, the next day, someone or something reminded me of these two words.  Believe me, after hearing it three times in three days, I became very contrite and humbled over my lack of belief and trust.  


There was just no getting around it.  I was not really believing God was going to keep His promise, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." (From Hebrews 13:5) When the going gets tough, sometimes I just want to run and hide.  But that isn't an option.  We either need to prepare for the battle that we see coming and remember that God's grace is sufficient for the day, or we will fail miserably in our Christian walk.  


I'd like to leave you with these words in closing, "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21  We don't need to fear, because He has promised and He, unlike our earthly friends, family or neighbors, will always keep His promises.  

Isaiah 43:1-3 (and 4a) has become 'home' to me recently.  It is easy to become overwhelmed when life is out of our control.   We begin to feel like those waves crashing over us will swallow us up.  We feel frightened at the heat of the fire all around us, licking at our feet.  

'But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
³ For I am the Lord your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
⁴ Since you were precious in My sight,

As the dear friend who pointed this passage out to me noted, "It does not say 'if', but 'when'"  In other words, why are we surprised when trials come our way?  When the way is not smooth and easy?  God has promised, not to keep the hard times from us, but to see us through them!  Unscathed.  And with personal attention.  I so love reading those words, "I have called you by your name, You are mine!" and, "Since you were precious in My sight. . . "  

We all need to feel loved and cared for.  We need to belong to someone.  It is too easy to give in to the lies that we are uncared for, unloved and unwanted.  He has called me precious!  He keeps His eye on me, because he said so!  According to the Psychology books I read in college, we have basic needs for food and water, but even deeper, we need to feel loved and to belong.  Those needs are stronger than our hunger and thirst even.  They can cause us to do some strange things if not satisfied.  If we surrender to the thought that no one cares for us or that we don't belong anywhere, we may even give up on life.  

But what sweet words to hear that the very Creator of the universe looks down on us with such loving, caring eyes.  He has not forgotten us, nor has He abandoned us.  So when we are crying out to God for relief when the waves or the fire get too near us, remember these words! Hug them close to your heart, whisper them in the dark of the night.  Shout them when you feel like you are  drowning.  Lift your head and repeat them over and over: 

"Fear not. . . "  for

"I will be with you."

"I am the Lord, your God."

"You are mine."

When all comforts of this world flee and you are not sure where to turn, look up, let God comfort and secure your soul.  He cares and wants us.  He made us!  We belong.

Hagar - - Choices

Now Sarai, Abram’s wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the Lord has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes. ----Genesis 16:1-4

What is written in the scriptures is there for our instruction in Godliness.  When you consider Hagar, several issues that we as Christian women should consider come to mind.  First:  although Abraham and Sarah were God-fearing and faithful, Hagar never, apparently, comes to an understanding of who God really is.  She talks with Him a few times in desperation and God saves her and her child more than once from certain death.  Yet, she never apparently comes to an obedient faith.  

There may be different reasons for this, but it was her choice ultimately.  Some things that happened were because of the decisions of those in authority over her.  She bears a child for her mistress' husband in an attempt to satisfy Sarai's and Abram's desire for a heir.  That backfired and Hagar and the child are eventually sent away.  The effects of those decisions are still being felt today. 

We as Christian women must be careful of the decisions we make each day.  Those around us are affected, today and in the future.  Hagar had choices, those in authority over her had choices, and we today have choices.  

The saying, No man is an island, is true on so many levels.  We live in the world, but we are not to be of the world.  A small preposition makes a big difference! Two little words can change the meaning of a phrase.  And so a little decision today may have effects for generations to come.  Think on these words found in Joshua's appeal to his fellow-countrymen:

“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!  And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” - - - Joshua 24:14-15

How Do You Walk?

"This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." ~ Ephesians 4:17-19 

I hope you will bear with me in a little foolishness, but when I read this, an illustration of futility came to mind .  In the past, I was a huge Star Trek fan and followed the show for some years.  At one point they were battling a seemingly overwhelming foe.  I remember the cold monotone voice when anyone tried to defy them, "Resistance is fu-tile."  The intent was chilling and no matter how valiantly they fought, the end result was assimilation into the collective conscience of the enemy.  Of course, as is the way of such things, they eventually found the Achilles Heel, and the enemy was defeated. 

Do you ever feel like this, that resisting temptation is useless?  No matter how hard you try, nothing you do will change the outcome?  Failure seems inevitable.

 But if we have committed our lives to Christ, by repenting of our past life (Acts 2:38), being baptized in an appeal to God for a clean conscience (I Peter 3:21), and desiring to live new in Him, then God has granted to us an avenue of escape from the empty lives we once lived.  Our walk as Christians is not in the futility of sin.  We are not destined to be part of the collective, futile mind of this world.  

But rather, in contrast, let us consider the change in us:  

• Our thinking has changed (Romans 12:1-2, II Cor. 10:4-6),

• We are no longer aliens, but family, washed in the blood of our Saviour and brother, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:10, 2 Cor. 5:18, Col.1:21), 

• Our hearts and lives are new in Christ (Romans 6:4, 1 Cor. 5:7, 2 Cor. 5:17, Gal.6:15),

• We have a clean conscience (1 Tim 1:5, 1 Tim.3:9, Hebrews 9:14), 

• We are intended for good works (Eph.2:10, I Tim. 2:10, I Tim. 6:18, Titus 2:7. Heb.10:24, 1 Pet. 2:12)

I know this was rather long.  I do hope and pray that you will take time to copy these scriptures, to read and meditate on them and be renewed in your commitment today to walk as one who has overcome the things of this world and is headed for a home in heaven.

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Recently I hosted a tasting party at my home.  We were chatting about this and that and someone asked me, "Where is your home?"  It is a common question, but one that made me stop and think.  I quickly smiled and said, "Why, here!"  But later I thought how that answer missed the whole point I wished I had made.

First of all was the inquirer's intent.  The questioner meant,  'Where are you from?' in recognition that I wasn't 'from here.'  Since everyone within 10 miles knows we are new to our present home and work it was an honest question.  We ask our new neighbors or acquaintances where they are from in an attempt to gain information about where they were born, raised, and where their family is established.

Many thoughts ran through my head as I quickly answered.  First, my family and my husband's family are scattered from coast to coast.  My parents are not homeowners, and so they don't have a permanent address.  I also consider the idea of my husband and children as my family and 'home.'

Later on I also pondered on the belief that my spiritual family is my true family.  We share an eternal bond through Christ Jesus. The conclusion I come to now is that this earthly existence is temporary.    My real home is not the USA, although I love Kentucky and the beauty of this earth.  My hope, my aim, my joy lies in heaven, where Jesus has prepared an ever-lasting home for me.

"Home is where the heart is," is often quoted.  Where is your heart today?  Is it longing for the acceptance and love of family?  Do we recognize that this longing was place within us by a tender and kind God Who wants us to search for Him?  Only in Him will we find the peace and contentment of true family and home we are looking for.

I see many searching.   They try to fix the longing and fill the emptiness by using people, things or  philosophies instead of turning to the One who created them.  He knows just what we need to be complete and truly 'at home.'

Praying that your search ends at the feet of Jesus!

Benefits

“[A Psalm of David.] Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits:”Psalm 103:1-2 NKJV 

Everyone is talking about the economy today.  We see our country and our world spinning out of control in spending, debt rising, values on homes dropping. . . . it goes on and on. 

 As our young people graduate High School and University, they are wondering where they will find a job and what benefit packages they will have.  It seems the cushy perks of the past generation may be gone; the 401K's, the generous salaries, the health insurance and retirements being cut to the bone or disappearing altogether.

 I found this as the 'verse of the day' on Biblegateway, and it was so appropriate.

In this day many find the words of Jesus difficult to follow. I see some who think  his teaching is about making life here on earth easy and trouble-free, they look for the benefits of following Him like they do their job search.  So, it is encouraging to find this verse that states:  ". . . .forget not all His benefits:"  One benefit is the peace He gives in the midst of storms.  He does not promise we will have no storms, just His peace, comfort, and mercy as we pass through them.  I hope you will think of these words today, as you continue on this uncertain journey towards your everlasting home.

Morning Song

 My soul still remembers



And sinks within me.


 This I recall to my mind,


Therefore I have hope.


 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,


Because His compassions fail not.


 They are new every morning;


Great is Your faithfulness.


 “ The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,


“ Therefore I hope in Him!”   Lamentations 3:20-24

This passage is such a comfort to me this morning!  I have been feeling overwhelmed by the events unfolding in my life.  Many things have simply thrown me on my knees, imploring God for relief and comfort.  What a joy to rediscover this beautiful passage.  I am reminded that my faith in God is not hopeless.  He will have compassion on me.  In His mercy He will not let me be overtaken by the circumstances not within my control.  There is hope that in His merciful compassion I will find the sweet relief.

It occurs to me that others have faced as much and far worse.  Paul and Silas were able to sing through the night while in chains.  Surely I can remember and sing a song of praise and joy to my Maker?

Psalm 77:5-6 says it well (they are God's words, after all!):

I have considered the days of old,



The years of ancient times.


I call to remembrance my song in the night;


I meditate within my heart,


And my spirit makes diligent search.


This 'remembrance of things past is what we should do in times of trouble;  look to God's word for wisdom and guidance.  Diligently search where we know to find the best advice! 
 
May you be guided to His counsel and wisdom.  Often I have found just the words and tender comfort I needed.  Thank you dear Lord, for your inexpressable gift of salvation, and of gift of the Spirit who dwells within each believer!