Year: 2016

As I contemplate what today represents for our country, I’m also reminded of the original promise upon which America was established. “In God We Trust” . . . because of this trust in God we have the opportunity of true Freedom. Through the work of Christ upon the cross I have been set free !!!

And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make ye free. John 8:32

Our founding fathers knew this truth and fought to establish a country where we could be free to hear these truths taught. Christ laid the foundation upon which these truths became a reality, He became the sin sacrifice through which true freedom became possible for all mankind. 

If the Son therefore shall make you free ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Today I’ve been set free because I have placed my faith and trust in the finished work of God’s Son, Jesus Christ. It’s because of my faith in Him that I am able to experience complete freedom of heart and soul. Regardless of what might be going on around me, regardless of how crazy this world may be, I have complete freedom and inner peace because of my savior. 

Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. Romans 6:18

With freedom comes responsibility, we are to serve not only our country but our Lord and Savior as well. Not to be free but so others might experience the freedom that we have been given.  

Our freedom came with a price for those who fought to establish America as a free land. My freedom from sin came with a cost that was paid by Christ, because He paid my sin debt I can experience complete liberty in Him. To remain constant in that Liberty I have to focus on Christ and what He has done for me so that I do not become entangled with the sin of this world.

Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hast made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Galatians 5:1

Today as I contemplate my freedom as an American, I will reflect upon my freedom of soul as well knowing that I have the promise of eternal freedom because I have been set free. 

I recently spoke at a ladies conference at a church in Tennessee. It was an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to share my testimony through scripture. The theme for their conference focused on Psalm 56:8 ” Though tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”

As I prepared for my talk I was reminded of so many things, so many times when God made it clear to me that He saw my tears and He heard my prayer.

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and He inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings, and He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God, many shall see it and fear and shall trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1-3

No matter where I went in life, or what was happening God was always there to see me through. He knew my hearts cry even before I uttered it; because tears are the expression of our heart to the heart of God. He understands our tears even when we do not have the words to express what we are feeling. Just as the song says, “Tears are a Language that God understands”.

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry: hold not thy peace at my tears for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence and be no more.” Psalm 39: 12-13

There are moments when all of our strength is gone, all that we have is God to hold on to. In those moments we find that His strength is revealed through our weakness. I was saved at the age of 6, lived in a Christian home surrounded by family that lived a strong life of faith before me, but it wasn’t until my faith was something that I had to fight to hold on to that I actually took ownership of my own personal faith in God.

“I am wear with my groaning all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief: it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. Depart form me, all ye workers of iniquity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer.” Psalm 6:6-9

It is through the hard times that we learn the most about God and His faithfulness. It is through these times that we see just how real He can become in our lives, as we experience His presence and feel the power of His strength.

“My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holy day. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?” Psalm 42:3-5a

There were times when I questioned God’s presence, times that I asked Him if He was really there, times when I asked Him if He was listening and if He heard my heart crying out to Him in prayer. He was always there, He never left me, He heard every cry and He caught every tear.

“I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice and He gave ear unto me.” Psalm 77:1

Even when I wondered if God heard me, His ears were always open to my hearts cry.

“For His anger endureth but a moment: in His favor is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. Lord, by thy favour thou hast made my mountatin to stand strong: thou didst hide thy face and I was troubled. I cried unto thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication.Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me, Lord, be thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness. To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever.” Psalm 30: 5,7-8, 10-12

No matter what we face, God can turn our sorrow into joy. Even when I did not understand God’s plan in my life, I continued to trust Him because I knew that He was making all things new in His time according to His plan. My faith wasn’t in man, it was in God and in Him I put my trust.

“In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.” Psalm 56:11, 13

No matter what man may do to us, we can simply trust in God and He will deliver us. When we find ourselves at our lowest point God is there to lift us up and deliver us. He will keep us from falling and hold us steady when the world around us is falling apart. God can use the struggles of our lives to speak to others as a testimony of His amazing power.

“They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing bringing his sheaves with him.” Psalm 126: 5-6

Tears of sorrow often turn into tears of joy. God promises to reward our tears. Sometimes God allows pain to enter our lives so that His greater purpose can be revealed, so that we might be a comfort to someone else.

“Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort. Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” II Corinthians 1: 3-4

After a storm the sun’s light is reflected from the puddles that are left behind. If we allow Him to, God can reflect the light of His Son from the remnants of puddles left behind by the storms of life. We all face storms, its how we respond to those storms that makes the difference. Often that which hurts us the most becomes the ministry through which we can reach out to others who are hurting.

“What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are thy not in they books? When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.” Psalm 56: 3, 8, 9

Things that we put in a bottle are important to us, they are often things that we treasure, all of our tears are important to God. He treasures every one and each one of them fulfills a purpose. “Tears are a Language that God Understands” 

 

 

 

When life hits you with complications, when the struggles pile up high; remember that “the devil fights the hardest” just before the new day’s dawn.

“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow” Matthew 28: 1-3

During the days leading up to the crucifixion, “the devil fought his hardest” to destroy Jesus. He saw the difference that Jesus was making in the lives of those he came into contact with and the devil did everything in his power to stop Jesus. The devil knew that Jesus was God’s answer for a sin cursed world.  Little did the devil realize that each act of vengeance he set into motion was actually assisting in the fulfillment of a plan that had been set in motion even before the creation of man, a plan of sacrifice that would provide a way of salvation. Every evil act that the devil deployed against Jesus actually  became a stepping stone toward the realization of the ultimate plan of redemption.  As Jesus died upon the cross, when it seemed that the devil had the victory; Jesus arose with the dawning of the new day.

Today as we face life’s struggles that the devil uses to discourage us, we need to focus on the one who gives the victory. Sometimes it seems that the more we try to do for God the harder life becomes, it is in those moments that we need to be reminded that “the devil fights the hardest” just before the new day’s dawn.

“We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” 2 Peter 1:19

Each conflict that the devil brings our way actually works in us to perfect us. It develops within us the faith, the courage and the strength to make a difference in the world around us. When others see the struggles we face in contrast to the joy that God places in our hearts, they are able to see Jesus shining through our lives. We don’t need to allow the devil to use the attitudes or actions of others to take from us the joy that the Lord has placed within us.  When we are faced with difficulty we need to remember that “the devil fights the hardest” just before the dawn, and through tribulation God can continue His work in and through our lives.

“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1: 3-4

In continuation of prayer we seek God, yet often times His response doesn’t come. In the silence we struggle as we try to hear His answer, yet it doesn’t come. Day-by-day we seek to know and night-by-night we pray for answers, yet it doesn’t come. We have all been there enduring the inner turmoil of soul knowing that God is “Able”, but yet we “Wait”. The hardest part of having faith in God’s plan isn’t in knowing if He can accomplish what we ask, its in the “Waiting” for Him to move, in “Waiting” for His answer.

I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God. Psalm 69:3

Sometimes we are tempted to cry out to God asking if He is even listening; does He hear our hearts cry? Is He aware of our struggle, does He know how desperately we want to hear from Him? We become frustrated as we see others going about in seeming full awareness of God’s plan in their lives, yet we “Wait”.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Psalm 37:7

The hardest part of “Wait” is the struggle; the struggle that occurs within us as we want “today” what God has planned for “tomorrow”. We fail to see that “today”,  He is preparing us for what He has planned for “tomorrow”. We do not yet possess the strength or the wisdom that we need. We have lessons still to be learned, strength that He still needs to provide. It’s the failure to see where we are today that is the hardest part of “Wait”. Each day comes as a blessing, a moment in time through which to fulfill God’s plan for our life. We spend so much time seeking His will for “tomorrow” that we lose sight of where He has us “today”.

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. Psalm 27:14

One day at a time, God leads us toward the future that He has planned for us. One day at a time, He guides us toward becoming the person He needs us to be “tomorrow”. The actual truth is that we aren’t yet prepared to receive what He has for us “tomorrow”.  He is preparing the way today; putting each piece of the puzzle together so that in due time He will reveal to use the answers we seek.  But, the hardest part of that is the “Wait”.

For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. Isaiah 64:4

Each day begins anew with new purpose, it is up to us to focus on each one as it comes trusting that God will provide the answers one step at a time. He is in control and He will reveal all things as we become prepared to see them. His will is perfect and His plan is carefully detailed to the ensure that we have the knowledge, wisdom and faith to meet tomorrow when it becomes today. The hardest part of the “Wait” is actually the sincerest demonstration of “Faith”; faith in God and faith in His timing.

Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Micah 7:7

During a recent night time devotion with Bryant we were reading about the children of Israel and how they seemed to go through a vicious cycle of “following God – falling away from God – experiencing the chastisement of God – returning to God – discovering the goodness of God”; a cycle that never seemed to end. As strange as that cycle may be to us today as we look back on all of the miracles that God worked in the lives of the Israelites, its not that far removed from how we live today. Often times we seem to forget that “When God Moves In” our thoughts and desires of the flesh that are self-seeking are suppose to “Move Out“.

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” Ephesians 4: 22-24

When we accept Jesus as our Savior, “God Moves In” and the old man is replaced by the new. In that newness we are suppose to die to self and take on the characteristics of the spirit.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. Romans 8:9

Yet even though the Spirit of Christ is within us, it becomes a constant battle to remain true to God and focus on His plan for our lives. Daily we struggle to keep our eyes on Christ and allow Him to work in and through us.

“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

When we become frustrated with the constant fight, when we become downhearted because one more time we faltered, just as the children of Israel did so many times. We need to remember that within our struggles we are not alone, we need to remember that “God Moved In” and He has already won the victory.

“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:57

So just like the children of Israel we need to focus our eyes on God, the one who saved us and the only one that can keep us. We need to focus each day on the fact that within us exists the power of a mighty God that has the power to overcome this world. We need to focus on the “God that Moved In” and lose sight of the restraints of this world that continue to try to hold us down.

“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40: 28-29

As I sat by the “waters edge” listening to the seagulls with the sun upon my face I felt the smile of God warming my heart. The water tossed back and forth returning to its place again in constant motion, it’s rhythm in perfect peace. The grace of the seagulls in flight, the white of their feathers in crisp contrast to the blue of the water. All in all it was a moment that refreshed the soul bringing a calm that set this place apart from the chaotic world just beyond the waters edge. In reflection I thought about the God who created such a place, a God who considered the soul of man knowing the chaos that would overtake us round about and making provisions for those special places where we could seek refuge. Who is man that God would consider us so?

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man that thou visitest him? ” Psalm 8:4

In his divine nature he established places of refuge for man among a world of turmoil. God is our refuge, He is our place of solace. In times when our soul becomes overwhelmed we have a place where we can go, a place where we can pour out our heart before Him.

“Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” Psalm 62: 8

In those moments when we find our quiet place with God, we can find rest that will renew our spirit with a new sense of purpose and strength.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.” Psalm 107:30

The whole Earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth in singing.” Isaiah 14:7

Take a moment today to pause beside the “Waters Edge”,  take solace in the words of God, seek refuge in him and find the quiet in the midst of the chaos of this world.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While traveling last week I watched as people were hustling about going here and there in an apparent hurry; I paused for a moment to look at their faces and reflect on their final destinations. Not just for that day, but for eternity . . . I paused to reflect on the reality of of a far reaching moment in time, the moment when each of those faces would come to the end of their race here on Earth.  What would be their end? Did they realize the true frailty of life? Had they given thought to the value of their eternity?

“Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am. Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.” Psalms 39:4-5

“Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” Psalm 73:17 

As I began to think of each one as a person with a final destination, I began to contemplate my own vision. When I look at others do I see an eternal soul, or just another face in the crowd? Do I have a clear vision of the reality of eternity?  I’m afraid the answer would be no . . .  my heart cries within me as I realize just how cloudy my vision for the souls of others has become. So much of the time I go about my life at a mad-dash without reflection or thought to the frailty of life. I spend my time working toward a to-do-list that in its very existence is primarily filled with items that hold no relevance when compared to the moments of time that reach into eternity. Looking inward I begin to cry out to God for a “Clearer Vision”.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish; but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18

“Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh the harvest? behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.” John 4:35

Please help me to see the harvest, open my eyes to clearly see. Give me a “clearer vision” of each person that crosses my path enabling me to focus on the reality of their eternal end, their final destination.

 

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath give us an understanding that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” I John 5:20

What must have been going through Jesus’s mind on that week prior to Easter morning so long ago? In the hours of agony leading up to the moment in which He bore my sin, what must have crossed his mind? Did he look down through time and love me just as I am ? Did he see all that I am and all that I could be? Did he long to reach out and secure me in his love so that I might truly comprehend the true extent of his gift to me? What thoughts were upon the mind of God as he watched his only Son in my place upon the cross? How he must have loved me, yearning for me to see even just in part the true magnitude of his great love for me. How does he feel today when I fail to see the incredible gift that he has given to me through the death of his Son? Not just the gift of eternal life in the future, but the gift of life today.

“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” I Corinthians 13:12

“I am known” . . .  I paused as I read those words, trying to capture the true extent of just what that meant. “I am known” by the Father of all Creation, the Master of the Universe; because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross and my faith in that work that has been completed . . . “I am known” !!!

“But if any man love God; the same is known of him.” I Corinthians 8:3

“O Lord, thou has searched me, and known me.” Psalm 139:1

Yet, so many times I fail to remember the confidence that I have in and through my Savior. I return to the bondage of a life that is full of doubt and fail to rely on the one that “knows me”.

“But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?” Galatians 4:9

As I reflect upon the week before the resurrection that occurred on Easter morning, I will reflect upon the fact that “I am know”. I will rest confident in Christ’s finished work upon the cross and I will be reminded of the confidence that I have in him.

“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath give us an understanding that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” I John 5:20

 

 

Watching the birds flitter about as the sun starts to shine through the clouds, I pause to consider the fact that God, the creator of the universe thinks about me just as He considers the birds of the field.

“Consider the ravens; for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than fowls.” Luke 12: 24

Its really a staggering thought . . . why would the supreme being of all things great contemplate my comings and goings in the smallness of my existence? Why would He spend time watching over me; providing for my every need, giving me strength to face each new day? In His word He expresses that His thoughts are toward us.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

The God of Heaven thinks of me  . . .  His thoughts are of peace . . . His thoughts are of my eternal value . . . He looks forward to an “expected end’ when I will be with Him in Heaven. He longs to be a part of my life, to share each moment of each day with me.

“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17

Everything that God does is to bring about goodness in and through my life. Even in His creation of the Earth and the establishment of life, He set out to provide for me. Never in my wildest imaginations will my thoughts ever be equal to the magnitude of His thoughts. I can not comprehend even in the smallest sense how the mind of God works.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.” Isaiah 55: 8-10

Daily, God supplies my every need, in fact He knows what I have need of before the need even comes to be. Each new day that dawns has already been written in the mind of God, He sees all and knows all.

“Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” Matthew 6:8

When I pause to reflect on the truths found in His word and evidenced in all of creation, I begin to question why I would ever fear the day ahead or doubt the provision of my Heavenly Father. I can greet each new day with the assurance that “God Thinks of Me”, He knows the path ahead and has provided all the resources necessary for me to reach my “expected end”.

“Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou has done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” Psalm 40:5