Tag: hope

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Not Worthy, But Welcomed & Wanted

                                              Acts 10

 

     Acts 10 is an enormous blessing to me and to all who are not Jewish. It’s in Acts 10 where Gentiles are grafted into the family of God.

The cross is our beginning and the testimony in Acts 10 is our blessing. It is the fulfillment of John 3:16. For God so loved the world…….not just part of the world – the whole world – Jews and Gentiles. Hallelujah!!

God loved me so much that He did all this for me. I can’t wrap my head or my heart around it. I’m not worthy. And that is exactly the point.

None of us is worthy, but we are all welcome & wanted.

One of the main characters in Acts 10 is Cornelius, a centurion of a battalion. He was a commanding officer.

I am very familiar with command. My husband was a squadron commander of a C-17 squadron during 9/11. The weight of responsibility is quite significant. The actions and beliefs of a commander affect the troops under him or her. And so it was with Cornelius.

Cornelius feared God and his household also. He gave alms to the Jewish people, meaning he supported them perhaps mostly in a financial way. And Acts states Cornelius prayed to God continually. His lifestyle and beliefs would  have spilled over into all areas of his life. It’s merely speculation on my part, but from my military experience, I surmise he was an honest, fair, righteous and trustworthy commander. He would have been a commander that his troops respected and followed without question.

 I love that God noticed him, call out to him and commended him in verse 4. It must have thrilled Cornelius’ heart to have that from God, even though he was a Gentile. Extraordinary !!

Though unworthy, God chose Cornelius & Peter to usher Gentiles into God’s family. All who were there received forgiveness, the Holy Spirit and then were baptized.

Not worthy, but welcomed and wanted. God is just that amazing. God loves extravagantly. God is not prejudiced and He welcomes all.

The Jews are God’s chosen people.  Thank you God for choosing me too, and grafting me into your family. You welcome me and you want me even though I’m unworthy. Praise you……….both now & forevermore.

Peace & Blessings friends………………..

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When We Listen & Obey

                                                  Acts 8   

In Acts 8, I’m struck by the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunich.  what strikes me is that Philip listened to the angel of the Lord and then obeyed – he went where the angel told him to go.

It seems pretty straightforward as far as Bible reading goes. But do I/do we simply read it through and neglect to see it play out in our own life?

When we accept God’s gift of salvation, we receive the Holy Spirit. So for us in this current day, we don’t encounter angels, at least not usually; although angels are among us, but are often not recognized till later, if at all.

So for us, it is a prompting from the Holy Spirit within us to go to someone, write a letter or card, send an email or text. Maybe we are prompted to do something specific like take them some food, ask them to join us for lunch, or simply go sit with them in a church service or other venue. Perhaps it’s to go stand by them when you notice they are standing with a group, but no one is engaging with them. It could be when a new neighbor moves in or when there’s a loss in the family and you are prompted to make banana bread to share with them.

I believe it’s all these things.  I’ve seen it play out over and over in my life.

While I always did these things sporadically over the years, I see now that sometimes I listened but never followed through. I conveniently forgot or was too busy or much worse – chose not to respond. Yikes!

I’m sure I’m not the only one  with the sin of omission in their lives. Sin of omission is knowing what to do and then not doing it.

Often I find the Holy Spirit prompts me simply by bringing someone to mind.  Most often when this happens, it is a prompt to pray for them.  Praise God I do believe I do much better at this than I used to.  It’s certainly not any goodness in me. It is God’s growing me to be more like Him. It’s showing me time & time again the blessing of praying for the person.

With so much negativity in the world, I pray we will pay attention, listen to the Holy Spirit’s promptings and then obey. Even though people talk about “random acts of kindness”, I’m not sure I believe they are random for Christians. Because of Christ in us, the hope of glory, I believe He helps us make godly choices/kingdom choices.  It doesn’t matter if it’s seemingly spontaneous or carefully thought out.  All of our obedience in being kind to others matters.

May we all pray that God opens our eyes and our ears. And may we not only listen, but obey. May our kind deeds bear witness to the faith we profess and hold so dear.

Peace & Blessings friends………………………

 

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Where I Found Hope

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Deuteronomy 31:8

 

I love to walk, but not alone.

My husband and I loved to go for walks.  We would walk in our neighborhood, the Air Force base where we were stationed and in local parks.

Sometimes we would hold hands or just walk side by side. We might talk, or not. It didn’t matter.  We were walking together. Together is the important word.

That’s how we walked through life until cancer took him in 2014. That’s when I started walking alone.

My world shattered. My future was uncertain. And my purpose disappeared in the emptiness.  I lost who I was. I lost my dreams. I lost focus.

But just like walking always brings me back where I started, my broken heart brought me back to God’s word, sitting silently in His presence. It was there I cried, I was numb, I was speechless. He wrapped me in His arms and spoke to me from His word. Verses leaped off the page becoming etched on my heart.  Each provided a twinkle of light, and that light sparked hope. I knew that more than loving God, I trusted Him.  I could trust Him to walk with me.

So right then, Deuteronomy 31:8 was tattooed on my heart.  I began speaking it out loud every day. “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

It is in God’s word that I found hope. It was a tiny light that got brighter and warmer as I spent time in scripture. . .in His presence. He was filling in the empty cavern inside me. The fact that He will be with me & never leave is what I needed to hear.

Do I know the whole plan? No. Do I like this part of the plan? No. But do I trust the One with the plan? Yes! Oh Yes!

It’s been nearly 7 years since I started my earthly walk alone. God has been with me through daunting life decisions. He has provided wisdom, resources, and help from faithful friends.  I am truly very lonely, but I’m not alone.

This walk with God gives me a spark of joy in my heart.  His purpose is unfolding as I take each step. The light of hope surrounds me and while it might only shine on my current step, it is enough.  

I don’t know what loss has left you walking alone. But I know where you can find hope.  I know Who will walk with you no matter where your journey takes you. Give God a chance and He will walk with you. Out of your emptiness a flicker of light will grow, lighting your path, and leading to hope.

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A Crutch or an Anchor?

At the end of 2020 – we all shared a collective sigh……………it’s been so much……too much. 

On the other hand, it’s brought out some very good things in people.  And – I am convinced we will never take certain things for granted…………………ever again.

  • Eating together at a restaurant.
  • Worshiping at church or going to a bible study.
  • Going shopping – not the targeted stuff we do now, but sauntering through a store just to look.
  • Singing in a choir.
  • Hugging…………………………oh my word – yes, the hugs we have missed.
  • Holding hands, touching a face, being close………….the communication of……..TOUCH!

The struggles we have been through cause me to think about what we are holding onto.

Over the years, I’ve heard people talk about faith and liken it to a crutch.  After losing my husband 6 ½ years ago, I am here to tell you and anyone who will listen – – – – – it’s NOT a crutch – IT’S AN ANCHOR !!!

God’s people have had their faith tested sorely this year. And while we are all tired and sad and struggling in one way or another, we are still standing…………….if our faith is truly an anchor. 

We’ve generally had a pretty easy time of things over the years – with a few major bumps in the road.  This year – the whole road is bumpy. It pushed us, tested us.  Do we really believe what we say we believe??? 

Scripture holds promises – precious promises.  And – we learn so much about God’s character in scripture.  But how well do Christians know scripture?  I don’t mean that we need to sound like we’ve been to seminary.  But what do you know for certain from God’s word, whether you can quote the address of it or not?  Have you had scripture you memorized because it was intensely personal to you? 

It’s all of this that we can hold onto right now…………….and it matters.  And. . . .it will matter, truly matter as we move forward in the days ahead.   

I heard Dr. Charles Stanley say that we need to “obey God and trust Him with the consequences.”  That’s so good.  Do we trust Him?  Do we firmly believe in His character?  He is always faithful.  He will never leave us or forsake us.  He’s the only one that will do that & oh by the way – never change.  Everything around us changes……………..He doesn’t. 

This brings me back to the crutch vs Anchor subject.

A crutch props one up to assist giving extra support.  An anchor is a reliable support, holds an object firmly.  One is temporary and may or may not be reliable.  The other is reliable and can hold firmly.  I don’t know about you, but I want the second one.  No matter what happens, I want something that’s sure, that’s reliable, that will hold me firmly while the storm rages around me. 

Jesus is my Anchor!  The hope, a know so hope, we have in Christ is sure, certain, reliable.  Hebrews 6:19 says – This hope is a strong & trustworthy anchor for our souls.  Hebrews 13:5 says – For God has said, I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.  (NLT)

That’s what I want.  That’s what I hold to.  That’s my Anchor.

As one who has gone through the top 2 experiences on the Trauma Scale – Death & Move – let me share a couple scriptures that have encouraged me and helped me maintain my focus.

Isaiah 41:13 – For I, the Lord your God, hold your right hand; it is I who says to you, ‘Fear not, I am the One who helps you.’ (ESV)  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. (NIV)

Horrible 2020 is done.  Welcome 2021 !  While it feels like a fresh start, we know everything isn’t going to be normal for quite awhile.  But God……………………oh yes, God’s got this.  He has not relinquished authority or command. 

So dear one, do you have a crutch or an Anchor?   Take time to examine your heart.  Where are you putting your hope? 

Now is the perfect time to seek God’s face and reaffirm that He is your Anchor – for  now & for always. 

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The Awesome Imposssibleness of God

Isaiah 43: 1-3

It’s mid-January in St. Louis.  The dead of winter.  Snow on the ground, 10-12 inches worth.

As I sit in my chair reading Isaiah 43 in the stillness of the morning, I can sense the Spirit speaking to my heart.  

You & I read our bibles looking for something to feed our heart, mind and especially our soul.  Some days it’s stronger than others.  Today is strong, focused, encouraging, bringing hope.

Do not fear is found many times in scripture.  I love that because I need to hear that lots.  You too?

Sp much has happened over the nearly 6 years since my husband’s cancer diagnosis.  I’ve clung to the words – do not fear – in countless situations.  And I still do.  

The description of intense turbulence speaks volumes.  Have you ever felt like you were passing through waters?  Crossing mighty rivers?  Walking through fire?  Can you feel the fear of drowning?  Of fighting the current & depth of a river?  Of enduring intense heat so afraid of being burnt to a crisp?

We all walk through circumstances or situations that make us feel this way.  It’s frightening.  We cry.  We tremble.  We stumble.  We sometimes fall. 

But God never leaves us.  The most comforting part to me in this scripture is the phrase – I will be with you.  Friend, neither of us is alone.  God walks us through the most intense turbulence – waters, rivers and fire, that seem impossible.

But God. . .another common phrase in scripture.  I use it here to show you the awesome impossibleness (new word) of God.

Impossible is where God starts.  I heard that from Christine Caine, a well known Christian speaker and founder of A21 and Propel.  Can you hear God speaking against the intense turbulence in your life?  In this passage He says – don’t fear the waters because I will be with you; don’t fear the rivers because they won’t overflow you; don’t fear the fire because you won’t even be scorched.  And why is this?  “For I am the Lord our God.”

I hope this makes your heart feel better.  It does mine.  God is going to be with me.  None of my turbulent circumstances or situations will do me in because I have the God of the universe, of all time and space, walking with me & in charge of every single moment of my life. Life sometimes feels impossible.       But God. . . . . . .

He has redeemed me! He has called me by name! He knows who I am! And He’s got this thing called life. . .and I trust Him.

Here in the dead of winter, at the beginning of a new year, I have hope and confidence for the future.  I know I’ll come to Isaiah 43 several times this year as the turbulence rises.  I need to remember God hasn’t forgotten me.  I need to remember I am His.  I need to remember the turbulence is no surprise to Him.  I need to remember there’s no reason to fear because He is the Lord, my God.

Maybe you need to remember too.  When you do, when your situation or circumstances become overwhelming, run to Isaiah 43.  Remember the awesome impossibleness of God. 

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A Brand New Thing

Isaiah 43: 16 – 19  The Message

The end of one year and beginning of another makes us think about  new things.  Many people consider making New Years resolutions.  

Most forget, ignore or fizzle out on these, but it still feels good to think about this fresh start each year.  Our problem is that  we are human -flawed and more often than not, inconsistent.  But there is One who is  totally and ever faithful.  He doesn’t change.  He won’t give up on us part way through.  He is not flawed – He is perfect.  

This is why, I believe, God brought this passage in Isaiah to my mind  this morning.  I particularly love verses 18 & 19.   “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.   Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand new.  It’s  bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is!  I’m making a road  through the desert, rivers in the badlands.”  

How often we drag what’s happened in the past with us into the  present…………and on into the future?  I can’t help but think of the popular song from the movie,  Frozen………..Let it Go.  But we don’t  let it go…………..do we?  Not completely.  

The next part give us clues how to let go……………”Be alert, be present.” 

How alert are we really?  Honestly most of us should start a new  support group – Multitaskers Anonymous.  We are so busy and running so hard, it’s impossible to truly be alert to what God is doing.  We miss  so much.  And being present??  Our phones are wonderful things, but they distract us and take us away from meaningful listening, sharing,  fellowship………..loving one another.  

What’s this “something brand new” that God is about to do?  We don’t know.   But because He has said it, we must choose to believe it.  It’s faith………..pure faith.  Hebrews 11: 1 says it best, “Now faith is  the confidence in what we hope for & assurance about what we do not see.”NIV  If we could  figure it all out, we wouldn’t need faith.  Putting faith in something we can see,  something we know…………isn’t faith.  Trusting God for this “something brand new“………… believing though  we cannot see…………….relying on God’s character & who  He is………………….remembering  who we are in Christ and all He has done  before……….choosing to take  that step or that  leap forward…………..that’s faith.  

Walking our place on the planet makes us tired.  Life can be unfair,  upsetting, tragic.  We can easily have tired hope.  But faith………………Faith reminds us that God is at work in the silence.  God really is about  to do something brand new.  

Let’s hold on to this faith…………….this hope.  Let’s encourage one  another to push through the tired hope and watch our faith become sight.   Remember God’s word says,”Trust God from the bottom of your heart;  don’t try to figure out everything on your own.  Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you  on track.”  The Message

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An Unusual Court Case

Isaiah 1: 16-18

TV court cases can be exciting, suspenseful, disturbing and even triumphant.  There’s lots of testimony.  The prosecution and defense go back and forth.  Each wants to make their case and win.  It’s such a tug of war.

In Isaiah 1:18, the words “come let us reason” means deciding a case in court.  But this court case is different – – completely different.

There’s no back and forth.  No tug of war.  It all hinges on a condition, or choice.  IF the people would repent and turn from their sin, God would wipe the record clean.  Just that simple. 

I love the words that follow.  They are not just poetic, they’re precious.  “Though your sin be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

Red is a strong color, a deep dye that is not easily removed.  I immediately think of blood or wine, even grape juice or Kool-aid.  No matter how great the cleaning product, sometimes these things leave a tell-tale stain.

Not so with our sin.  When God cleans us up, it’s perfect.  It’s white and pristine like snow and clean wool.

There’s no way I can clean myself up.  It has to be all God.  My part is to repent and turn away from my sin.  I   I John 1:9 it!!  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

So there’s hope.  We don’t have to endure a court case.  We don’t need to fear a harsh judgement and condemnation.  The blood of Jesus, which by the way is red, pays the price.  It washes us clean.  His Red erases our red.  Amazing, right?

How I praise You, Jesus for going through unimaginable pain to shed Your blood for me.  I don’t deserve it and could never earn it.  Your unconditional grace amazes me.  You give me hope.

Dear one – – repent and turn from the sin that’s got it’s grip on you.  Lay it down.  Be washed clean – pure white. Embrace hope.  Case closed.

Hallelujah!!

 

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A Different Looking Kind of Warrior

Judges 6:12  When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”   

Galatians 1:10    Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God?  Or am I trying to please people?  If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.

 

I feel like I’ve been just getting through stuff.  Sometimes I feel warrior-like and other times I want to hide away like Gideon.  You too?  But that’s how it goes right?  Sometimes we’re brave and sometimes we want to sit it out. 

In Gideon’s story, the angel makes a startling announcement.  “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”  God was letting Gideon see what He saw in him.  Gideon wasn’t buying it and truthfully, I don’t either on most days. 

It’s not easy feeling fully confident in our calling.  Whether you are a people pleaser or not, at some point we are afraid of other’s opinions.  And what makes this fear worse is social media and lots of folks who don’t filter what they say or post.  And so we live a little scared.  We may not admit to it, but we are.

Recently the verse in Galatians has given me courage and hope.  People’s opinions mean nothing stacked up against God’s.  I know that solidly in my head, but my heart doesn’t believe it as much.  Maybe it’s a matter of trust?  Do we trust other’s thoughts and opinions more than God?  If we are honest, sometimes we do.

So maybe like me, you need to repent.  Because I love God SO much and want desperately to please Him, it crumbles my heart to know I’ve chosen to believe others opinions over God’s firm affirmations and direction.  I’m a wreck.

But as I look closely at scripture and see the people God used, I see how they were wrecks too.  God used ordinary people who were so incredibly far from perfect to do great things.

For me, it ends up being a choice – every day and often every hour.  Do I believe God when He tells me I’m a warrior princess?  Am I going to listen and bend to others opinions or am I going to rest solidly in God’s opinion and sovereignty?  We forget, I think, that He created everything – not just planet earth, but the whole universe.  If He did all that and still holds it all together, can’t He take care of us?  If He’s really all that, and He is, can’t He know what is best for us and give us what we need at just the right time?  Yes – to all that.

This is easy for me to write and for you to read, but it’s not easy to implement.  My heartfelt advice, and the only thing that works for me, is to talk to God honestly.  Lay it all at His feet and cry out to Him for courage, wisdom and strength.  In faith tell Him you trust Him, you need Him, you will obey and follow Him.  It’s helpful to speak it, not just pray silently.  Declarations made out loud are powerful.  I pray with all my heart that you will do this and find that peace that transcends all understanding.

As I close, let me offer a prayer for you, yes, but for me too.  We are walking this together.  

Lord – We come to You with all our weaknesses.  We have a hard time believing we are warriors.  And we can be distracted and swayed by the opinions of others.  Remind us of who You are, of Your promises and declarations over us.  Take us to Your word where You give us examples of how You use ordinary people for the kingdom.  Help us be courageous when we would rather hide.  Help us hold up the Shield of Faith to quench the fiery darts of the enemy – those we can see and those we can’t see.  May we stand firm in who You say we are, not bending to the opinions of others.  Thank you for Your word that sustains us – Your grace and wisdom as we move forward – and Your love that is way more than amazing.  Amen

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Happy New Year!

Happy New Year !

My apologies for being away from the blog for so long.  Fall is my over-the-top busy time and I didn’t manage it well with some of the new things in my life, like this blog.  I promise I will endeavor to restructure my time and get my act together.

Last Year

At the beginning of 2017, I noticed people on Facebook chose a word for the year.  Some examples were – joy, faith, grace. Mine for 2017 was –> God’s Timeline.  In 2017 God showed me that He is Lord of the timeline.  He is, in fact, Author of the play.  His Word clearly states that His ways are not my ways.  It all made sense.

This Year

For 2018 my word is Trust.  Not only am I seeing that word in bible study, song lyrics and sermons, but that word is popping up in other devos as well as Facebook, stores, you name it.  I’m convinced God is telling me to focus on this.  If I’m honest, I think I’ve only been trusting to a point. You too? If you are like me, this realization didn’t come easily.  It took some time in His presence talking to Him and more importantly, listening, in order to get it.   I see now that I have to completely trust Him in order to press into hope.

Hope

Hope. . .it’s what we long for – – – it’s what we need sometimes more than anything. And I want to get there, but right now things can seem pretty hopeless.  I know that God is working even when I can’t see, but in my heart, it’s not always easy to be “all in” with that.  And perhaps for me, trust and contentment go hand in hand.  God is truly calling me to be content where I am – and to be honest that’s a hard one.  This is where I have to rely on God’s promises, and so do you.  God is faithful even when no one else is.  God is fully and completely reliable.  God reminds me in His Word who I am in Him and that I have an awesome inheritance too.  I have a heavenly home waiting for me once all this earthly mess is done. So I’m choosing to believe that He is able to do “beyond the beyond’, as Priscilla Shirer says in one of her bible studies.  I choose to remember that “impossible is where God starts” as Christine Caine has said in her teaching sessions.

Are you struggling to trust completely?  Let’s do this thing together.  Keep in God’s Word – Keep praying & listening – Cling to His promises & know that He’s got all this – Jesus is able to do far more than we could ever ask or think. Hallelujah!

Ephesians 3:20-21  Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever & ever. Amen.

 

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Called to an unknown place……

Genesis 12: 1-20

We moved pretty often as an Air Force family.  By the time we moved to St. Louis in 2008, it was the 13th move in our marriage.  Probably half of the moves were to a specific home – a door to door type thing.  But sometimes not.  We were in essence homeless for awhile before securing housing. 

Even when we went nearly door to door, I didn’t know what was ahead for me.  What would God have for me to do?  How would I invest in the kids, in my husband, in Air Force service, in kingdom service?

Thinking about all I went through came bursting back to life in my mind as I read today’s scripture.  It’s God’s call to Abram.  He was about to embark on the most uncertain part of his life.  Yet in the uncertainty, God was with him.

Me too.  I’ve periodically questioned where God is taking me with this whole Spouse Survivor Guide booklet thing.  I am uncertain at times.  What should I do next?  Am I on track/off track?  Why would God choose me to do this?  I fight feelings of inadequacy.  And yet, I know God is walking with me. I know He has called me.  I know I can’t make it without Him.

God called Abram to go.  Go –> from his country, from his relatives/family, and from a stable, established home to an unknown place. Abram had many challenges.  But he had amazing successes too.  God blessed him greatly and changed his name.  God fulfilled every promise.

That’s my sure hope, and yours too.  The God of Hope is walking with us.  We are not alone.  He promises never to leave us or forsake us.  Hallelujah!!

I’m not going to get things right all the time and neither are you.  Abram had his share of mess-ups and bad decisions.  But God still used him.  God blessed him.  God fulfilled His promises to Abram.  God will use you and me too.  God will bless us and fulfill His promises to us.

I’m still frightened and unsure of my future.  But as long as God is with me, I know it will be not only all right, it will be good.  His word says so.

Jeremiah 29:11      For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.

                                                                                           .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  Amen

 

*Spouse Survivor Guide information found at www.beyondashes.com