Listens
“...And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me." ~ John 11:41-42
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Provides
“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” ~ Matthew 7:11
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Protects
“Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” ~ Matthew 10:29-31
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Forgives
“For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; And plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” ~ Psalm 86:5
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Loves
“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
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Prepares
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” ~ John 14:1-3
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No matter what you’re going through...Be encouraged today, Friend! These Bible verses promise that you are loved with a Heavenly love that far exceeds anything you can experience here on earth. Pass on the link to this quick read to someone who needs to hear these words of Life and Hope about our Heavenly Father.
Our church just experienced a wonderful Missions Conference and then a powerful Resurrection Sunday this Easter. Our hearts were stirred about what God is doing both around the world and in our local church family.
What we saw by way of pictures and missionary testimonies was a great hunger to hear the “Good News” of the Gospel all around the globe. People in other countries walk countless miles to be able to sit in church and listen to God’s Word. They have a desire to experience a Hope that can be found only in Christ. They are longing to know what can change their lives since they’ve already tried paganism, heathenism, and empty “religion.”
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Those who are receiving Christ in foreign lands are increasing their faith. Some even have to meet secretly underground to fellowship around God’s Word because it’s a crime in some countries to even own a Bible more less read from one daily.
Yet, I could not escape the feeling I had in the pit of my stomach that this hunger for God is missing in America. And even worse, it’s missing at times from my own Christian life.
The Lord convicted me as He does in each Missions Conference that if I’m not careful, the appetite I have for the pleasures so freely enjoyed here in America can overtake my hunger and thirst to know God and make Him known.
Our country is lacking in a desire to include God. They have replaced God’s Word with an idea that God is so loving that He would never deal harshly with sin. Every man is doing that which is right in his own eyes. The ungodly are working to remove God’s Word from our country’s foundation and to silence and even shame those who would oppose sinful behavior. Recently a powerful politician said, “God’s will is of no concern to this Congress.” These are dangerous days for our country.
The Bible says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.” We as God’s people must live righteously ourselves and pray for our country. We must seek after God “while He may be found.”
This disregard for God and His Word reminds me of a powerful truth in song. The lyrics are:
There’s a famine in their land, Not of bread not of water;
But of hearing the Word of the Lord.
There’s a famine in their land. They can be fed by no other,
Than the bread of life; The one they hunger for.
When Jesus was on the earth He said in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
I’m praying that God will fill me with His power, with love, and with a sound mind. I’m asking God to help me. I don’t want a hunger and thirst for God to be missing from my life or from my country. Will you ask the Lord to give you a hunger and thirst for Him and then join me in praying for Christians in America (like me) to have a desire to follow after God?
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and
turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
- 2 Chronicles‬ â€7:14‬ â€-
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving
let your requests be made known unto God. ~ Philippians‬ â€4:6‬ â€
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Ever since I can remember my parents have been concerned about us kids as we travel, especially when on major highways or when we are all traveling together. They are not alone. I think most parents feel this way.
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I read of a famous basketball player and his wife who had an agreement that they would not travel together while their children were young so there would always be a parent in their lives...just in case. We parents would probably all say we anxiously await to hear our children are safe when traveling because that has definitely been passed on to me.
One Thanksgiving, my daughter was planning to travel from college in California all the way to northern Oregon. That area was having an unusually bad winter and the weather advisory board had just issued travel warnings due to snow drifts and black ice. Needless to say, I was extremely thankful when she called to tell me her plans were being revised and they were going to Plan B.
Plan B sounded much better because she would be going to her best friend’s house just about an hour and a half away. In true “worried mother” form, I texted her so I would know the details of the trip and when she was planning to arrive (and of course, so I could pray). To my surprise, she texted right back: “We’re already here.” I could not believe it! My immediate thought was, “I didn’t even get a chance to worry!” God had already taken care of my child for me, and I no longer had any reason to be concerned.
How many times does God show His grace and love to us when we don’t even realize it or aren’t even praying for it at the time. He is a good Heavenly Father who watches over us.
The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him. - Nahum‬ â€1:7‬
Here are some things the Lord taught me through this story:
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*First, worry never causes the outcome of any situation to turn in our favor. This means I must purposely occupy my mind with something else instead of worrying. Good ideas would be listen to music, read the Bible and pray, watch a favorite show, clean, exercise...
*Next, God is always looking for our faith. He says that it is impossible to please Him without it. This means if I’m not resting in the Lord, I am not relying on God’s ability to keep my loved ones safe in His almighty hands.
*Lastly and most important, God is in control of this life, and we will be at peace when we trust Him for its outcomes. We must remember that one of the characteristics of being a Christian is placing our trust in the Lord not only for our salvation but for our family and the circumstances of this life.
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God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear. - Psalms‬ â€46:1-2a‬
Happy Traveling!
Over the summer, I visited a body care and home fragrance store. I had been looking several months for a certain fragrance and still couldn’t find it in stock.
Finally, I asked a store clerk if they had the fragrance. She said, “No. That’s one of our summer scents.”I really didn’t know what to say after that since it was the month of June when this took place.
She said, “We had a bunch of that for summer, but they’re all gone now.“ I said to her, “They must have sold out quickly because I’ve been looking since April.” Her response was, “Oh ya, they were long gone by then.”
Again I stood there in stunned disappointment. I said, “How could I have missed the summer fragrances?”
She continued our conversation as if I didn’t have a clue. Guess what? She was right. Curiosity finally won over which led me to ask my final question, “For next time, what month should I start looking for this summer fragrance?"
Imagine my surprise when she gave me a bewildered look and said, “January.” January! She went on to say that the summer fragrances come out in January and are gone from stock by February. Wow! I was way off.
I learned that day that sometimes in life people can be on two totally different pages. I had one way of thinking and she had another. We were trying to communicate from two different pages and it did not go well until we started understanding from where the other person was coming.
I’ve gotten myself in these situations before and haven’t always handled things the way that I should. If we’re not careful, the same thing can happen in families and friendships.
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Miscommunication can often be the result when we are thinking one thing and our loved ones are thinking another. This is why it is so important to be on the same page with God, our family and other Christians. Then we can communicate and love one another properly as we all draw from the pages of God’s Word.
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Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another
according to Christ Jesus. - Romans 15:5
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I am so thankful that Jesus is always the same and the more we read and study God’s Word, the more we find His wisdom helps us to communicate with others.
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Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. - Hebrews 13:8
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Victory Over Death
When I lost my sister to ARDS over 11 years ago, my grieving process also included dealing with feelings of guilt. (Not spending more time with her, not helping her more with her handicaps, enjoying my life even though she was dealing with hardship, etc...)
This Bible verse helped me, “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” - Nehemiah 8:10
I realized I needed to make peace with the good and the bad. My sister is not mad at or disappointed in me or holding anything over my head. Neither her life nor her death were in my control. God is the author of life and He holds the keys to death. My loved one is okay that she is in Heaven with Jesus even though I was not happy about her death at the time and still struggle that she is no longer here with us.
I think that is why the Bible says we do not grieve as others who are without Christ, because we know "all things work together" and God rights all the wrongs.
As a matter of fact, God says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” - Psalms 116:15
Your loved one would not want your grieving process to be prolonged because of sadness or guilt. You need to live abundantly in Christ and allow Him to restore your joy so the devil doesn’t have victory through his or her death.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:54-55, 57-58
I hope this helps you like it did me. God hears your prayers and sees your tears. He wants to wipe those tears away and see you rejoicing in the promise of Heaven while still remembering and honoring the memory of your precious loved one.
Is the devil having the victory over death in your life? Are you questioning God and wrestling with His desire to give you peace? I pray instead you are being a testimony to the lost of the reality of your loved one being in Heaven “which is far better”? If you realize that “whatsoever the Lord pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places” then you can exchange the struggle with rest.
Make peace with the Bible truth that “the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taketh away.” Bless the name of the Lord as you allow God to decide what is best. Even in your sadness, remember to rejoice that we will all be reunited in Heaven one day because Jesus took the sting of death and offers eternal life to all who believe. Then live abundantly in Christ and see Him give you victory over death through the power of the Holy Spirit!
Who Is Admiring Your Orchids?
Orchids have always been one of my favorite flowers. One year my family asked what I wanted for my birthday. I casually said, “I think I’d like an orchid.” I was so happy when they took me seriously and bought me one, because I definitely do not have a “green thumb.”
I put it on my back porch because orchids do best in indirect sunlight. I used ice cubes to water it because an internet search said they do best being watered that way.
It brought me a good amount of joy while it continued to stay alive. As the sun shifted its angle into our porch, I ended up hanging it high on a hook and honestly, forgot about it.
Several months passed and I noticed my neighbor also loved orchids. She hung them on the trunk of her largest trees under the shade of the tree’s leaves and watered them every so often. At times, I would see her walk around and look at them and maybe even talk to them.
I mentioned to my husband several times during those few months how much I admired her orchids and the fact that she really seemed to enjoy them.
One day when he got home, he saw her in the yard and said, “I just want you to know my wife really admires your orchids and how well you take care of them.”
To our utter surprise, she responded, “Really? It’s me who admired her orchid plant on your porch. When I saw that and how she took care of it, I was inspired to get orchids for myself.”
I learned very important lessons that day.
1. Many times our lives look much more glamorous to others than the reality we see in ourselves.
2. Most of the time I don’t realize what I have and am not truly grateful.
3. People are watching, especially because we’re Christians. If we act and react properly, they will admire the life God is allowing us to live.
4. How you act makes an impact on others to inspire or repel them though they may never tell you so.
5. Even the smallest things in life can open the door to witness and share the Gospel with others.
Who is admiring the “orchids” of your life without your even realizing it? Don’t ever stop adding beauty to your life.
"O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” ~ Psalm 96:9
Remember ~ people most likely are admiring something about you from afar. If you will allow it, God can use your life to inspire others to want the same salvation you possess that is only found in Jesus Christ.