With LOVE and TRUST – I Caught the Outside Kitty!!! God is Good!

This WAS the night and this WAS the way – with LOVE and TRUST, I caught the kitty tonight – the outdoor kitty at my friend’s house I promised her I would help with – WHEW!!!

All praise and honor to the Lord, I caught the stray cat at my friend’s house! I really felt it was trust that would catch him not a trap… I even pet him tonight. He wanted to be social and then I scooped him up with my hands, as I did have gloves on, and I put him in the cage and reinforced the cage a lot and got it closed and I used leftover vacation bible school carabiner clips to secure the door and all the edges…

He is in my laundry room in the big cage, on a blanket on plastic bags, has water, he ate. I will drive him up to the vet hospital tomorrow early morning as the woman who’s taking him to her farm is a vet technician, and she will get him all his shots. Whew!!!

I said to the Lord, it would be a great way to finish my sermon for tomorrow – about TRUST – wow yeah! and it is true – the cat had to trust me – I had to trust in patience – I had to apply love and we all did – my other friend who helped me out too – and of course the woman who will take the cat.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

TRUST TRUST TRUST

All praise and honor to the Lord – especially because the weather is getting colder and even today I said to my friend that we might need to get a professional trapper – well, all praise and honor to the Lord who is more than a professional trust-worthy Lord – He is ALMIGHTY!!!

AMEN !!!!

Trust in Deep WELL-NESS

I have two terms continuously around me these last few weeks – TRUST and Wellness.

Trust is a topic from a book I am reading about trust in the workplace – interesting timing on that – but really I want to talk about WELLNESS – as in being well (wellbeing) and the promotion of being well – physically and certainty mentally and spiritually. I want to change the word and add a hyphen and talk about spiritual WELL-NESS – in a different way – a good WAY – like a water well – and the WELL being a deep well that you draw upon – to draw not just water but to draw spiritually from a flow – to draw emotionally from a healing – to absorb and then to share from as a gift – yes a WELL-NESS of life-giving peace from the Lord – from a deep WELL.

My family has a well an old farmhouse – it is a small conduit but 100 feet deep – and the pump is newly installed and they put it way down at the bottom. The water is “clean” from the filtering of the earth and rocks – comes from the natural waterbed – and hopefully not contaminated. The world and new homes and construction interruptions and even dumping zones, back before regulations and protections were in place, may contaminate the well. There are also natural sulfur deposits and well, the well water tastes of sulfur. I don’t drink it but I trust it enough to wash my hands with. These waters (like many wells which flow in different ways around the world) are needed and yet we are wary of them. Well-ness of wells held in a spiritual way would also have the flow coming from an influx – and this well would be inside our hearts souls spirit – and we are refilled by the Lord.

WELL-NESS is drawing upon a deep well that can only be filled by the Lord. WELL-NESS is keeping an opening in your soul unblocked and ready for re-FILL. WELL-NESS is trying to not be jeopardized by letting the world clog the flow – because if anything we should ask that we become conduits to flow the LOVE from the Well. We ask for a good scrubbing of our clogs of life and re-open the pipes. Jesus said to Nicodemus: “whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:21 NIV

It would really be too easy to interrupt the flow if the flow came from man and circumstances. Our well-ness pursuit ALSO won’t work too well (too good) when we think we ourselves have to pour the water INTO the well ourselves. We can’t. Our WELL-NESS will fill with God’s merciful flow – not by magic but by majesty – HIS MAJESTY.

John the Baptist said of this flow: “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven” (John 3:27) and John said of Jesus: “The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:31-36)

May we trust in the deep well-ness of God’s flow and make ourselves available to receive it – to share it – to come back for more – to be thankful – and to TRUST in His Truth. Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-31)

Jesus said: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. (John 7:37-39 NIV)

AMEN

(BE WELL in DEEP WELL-NESS)

Trust in the Morning but Trust in the Lord MORE

I appreciate waking up early (I really appreciate just going to bed early too – it is like a joy to say the day is done – I am “eligible” for bed – whew… (Sleep is also better than the best TV show or movie – more needed than eating or showering when we are THAT exhausted. It is an ultimate “Give it to God, so I will rest in His presence under His watch of everything.” If we didn’t rest, we would wear out so fast. God invented a system to make sure we knew He was watching us so we could rest. TRUST GOD with the world and rest. Trust for night – and trust in the morning arriving – but TRUST in the LORD MORE.

It is unusual to think that we sleep different times than others sleep – or that they sleep differently than us – we are a round world and there is a rotation of night – it seems that there are sleeping people all over the world – and that is true – and awake people – awake at different times – how interesting our circadian rhythm is set up to help us know our mornings from night. And what about nocturnal animals – they have night as their morning. Does it all make sense?

One thing I do know – is that before I awake, and after I go to sleep – and at every waking hour of the day – God is awake, alive, present, and watching. GOD IS !!!!

We have these busy days to keep us mentally sharp – but what about the quiet of the morning or of the evening or maybe the moment we sneak away in the middle of the day? God is with us. There is never aloneness from God. AND, there is always an opportunity to be alone with God even in a crowd. If we want to be quiet in our own minds, perhaps we are to listen more intently and rest more deeply – both. We are to rest in Him always – keep working but in mental rest that He is in control.

Instead of listening to the outside world – let us feel the rest with our inside hearts – and protect our hearts with God’s wisdom and our being with His armor. “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23

Perhaps like a newborn baby, we are to recognize warmth, nourishment, and comfort – all these things in our relationship with God. Care and correction and carrying by Jesus Lord, walking with us – lifting us – providing us light. Perhaps as full grown people, we are to also remember that God is much older in an infinite way – we are but young in His years and much better off listening to Him. Don’t try to go it alone – in acts or duty – in figuring out schedules or whatnot – listen to Him and wait on Him – be His and be His helper – His loving into the world. Believing that through our trust of Him, He will get us not only through the day, we will walk even closer to the Way.

In David’s time they waited for Jesus to come. They trusted – we can trust too. We know He, Jesus, came. We know He is here with us in our hearts – in Spirit we are moved and we follow by faith. We can trust. We can now trust in all of the Word and in God’s Plan. He WILL make things right at His time.

We can trust Him and ask Him to help. Psalm 5 (KJV) is a scripture which is also a beautiful promising song: “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” v1-3

Psalm 5 continues about Trust in verse 11-12: “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee. For thou, Lord, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.”

David would write Psalm 130 also about Trust – and awaiting the Lord – but knowing He is here – before the morning even comes. Verses 4-6 “But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord More than those who watch for the morning – Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.”

Trust in the Morning but Trust in the Lord MORE

AMEN AMEN

God’s Ear is NOT Clogged with Wax

“From your mouth to God’s ear” was what the fellow bagel-shop customer laughingly blurted out when I had just ASSURED that it was NOT supposed to rain that night. WELL, I WAS WRONG. That was 2 weeks ago now, and the rain did stop raining eventually and then the temperature shot up, I can’t even imagine the winter gear so necessary such a short time ago. God’s ability to put together our seasons of the year and of life are unimaginable. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

I am thankful for the cool weather in hindsight because I was in the last stages and days of helping my friend move, filling pods, sorting paper, cleaning, clearing, and closing a chapter. Whew… only thing left now is to catch a cat, but that’s another story… So the photo we received yesterday was worth it all, the JOY of grandma and grandkids together. How blessed they all are!

The temperatures moderated and now I’m definitely in summer mode. Inside and outside merge for me, I love it. Now it’s going to be beach weather. And I’m gearing up for a decent long vacation. And I hope it doesn’t rain TOO MUCH… but let’s let the Lord lead His plan, we just prepare for it.

Well, I also was wrong last night and the rain caught me off guard, I had left the mower out to finish the grass. I quickly called home and my youngest got it into the shed, whew… I should have prepared for rain. This is where we must prepare for God’s Plan over ours. Yes, I left it, was doing errands after a meeting and there are never enough hours in the day for me. Busy blessed busy… Someday I likely won’t be able to have such freedom of movement, so I’m maximizing my motion now. I did appreciate sitting at the members meeting for a historical society last night, one more opportunity to be busy in a small way. I appreciate that we sat but those people 200 years ago worked!!! We work – but not in a back-breaking way they did… Well, anyway – it was a good finish to my day. Saw the fireflies and thought a perfect night weatherwise (until it rained).

My evenings can’t even comprehend how I got through the day. Isn’t that true for you?

So in the morning, I try to remember to stop and write, write a praise for these Godly days. The Lord has blessed us being the Lord of our lives if we only could listen more for His Will. It’s like the Lord has to melt our hearts and also the wax in our ears of our hearts, we then have to listen, not just hear. The wax protects our ears but we have the ability to close our ears too much to His Will. “Walk by faith, not by sight”. And listen by faith too. And rest in Him. And work FOR His Will in us and others.

God’s ears – He must have wax-like waterproofing in His ears too – can you even imagine? God is God and needs no human protection to our tears – but oh the rivers overflowing in tears must keep his ears busy… and our complaints? Yikes… And yet His heart is FOR US. GOD LOVES US!!! God does not have clogged ears to our prayers, not clogged with wax. God is working on a whole other level that we can’t perceive nor understand. We must just trust.

Faith is for understanding deeply within THAT GOD IS READY TO GUIDE US. If we get from morning to night, then how amazing we get from night to morning. God’s Way is to start fresh with us, fresh hearts, fresh starts. Let us remember to praise what we do see, and double praise what we don’t.

Let us melt the earth wax and heart blockages, and trust, and PRAISE.

Amen

—

Isaiah 55 NKJV

An Invitation to Abundant Life

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you -The sure mercies of David. Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, and nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the Lord your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.”

Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says 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 comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

“For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the Lord for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

My Sermon from today – Knowing God as our Shepherd – John 10 and Psalm 23

Blessed to share my sermon from today:

Knowing God Through Relationship – God as a Shepherd – Psalm 23 and John 10

Have you caught the media frenzy about the new pope, Pope Leo? WOW! Hard not to catch the news – I think it is like the FEEL-GOOD STORY for this month, before the next news cycle – but it IS exciting to see the excitement – don’t you think?

We love a local kid hits the big time story – even if we are not really local to Chicago – well most of us – and I had to even be reminded that there were 2 baseball teams in Chicago – yeah I knew that but sure wasn’t on the forefront of my news every day – and whether or not you have figured out that the pope is a Chicago white Sox fan over the Chicago Cubs – what IS clear is that people have a thirst for info !!! and as he becomes a pope for the people, the people find connections – and this brings them the sense of guidance. PEOPLE NEED AND FEEL GUIDANCE IS A WANT.

Why do I bring this up when we, as a community church, don’t follow the pope as an organization? Well, we can see that folks revere the office of the pope – many religious leaders – see the willingness of him and of all people of the church to serve. I bring it up because you may see there truly are people searching, searching for a shepherd- truly searching not just for a pope to give just an agenda, but for a person of faith to be a shepherd to lead. It’s a normal thing and I am intrigued and blessed to have this good news of faith displayed.

And this is where I want to speak about Jesus as our Good Shepherd – God with Jesus and the Holy Spirit – as a triune God – knew that “SHEPHERDING” WAS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEEDED!

I have to mention another aspect of Jesus being here on earth – He was accessible – He was with the people as He is now with us – but also in the flesh – and He had disciples including brothers who may have been so surprised AFTER Jesus rose – after they realized He was the Messiah – brother James especially in his chapter of scripture is so touching in his devotion – and giving us insight – as the other disciples did…

And yes – going back to my news media frenzy last week – Insight was key for the Pope has 2 brothers still in the US, Chicago and Florida – they really look like him – and thank God they provided that immediate media frenzy need for information – good or bad the responsiveness helped and wow did we get to that white sox over the cubs controversy answer quickly – (scary that we learned all this stuff huh? Over real issues of the day ) but that accessibility to fulfill an insatiable appetite is SO VERY HUMAN of us -and amplified by media – and amplified by our worldliness – which is ANOTHER reason why Jesus needs us to know to be a sheep to Him as shepherd and watch out for becoming a media wolf trapped in the worldliness of the world – we need to be shepherded to look to things above…

So seriously, the shepherding that Jesus took on (and takes on) was so necessary and so fitting too. We want to know the best of God’s plan and will listen for Jesus’s voice – and gratefully we can listen with our souls to the Word – which is Jesus – Jesus is the Word made flesh… John is the gospel of wisdom, written by a seasoned John who likely told these stories for years and was urged to write it down – John would know more fully when Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.”

Jesus fully God, fully human and accessible to us through the holy spirit, His Word resonates to tell us that no one – no one can pluck us out of His hand… We pray and seek Jesus, knowing Him, reach for Him, and be shepherded by Him.

Because you know there are evil forces around – no sugar coating the wolf that comes after the sheep – the evil one in the devil is on the prowl – and yet we can speak the name of Jesus and tell the devil to stand down – that is the relationship that Jesus wants us to have with Him – with God – to know how to stay safe – Jesus tells us – also from the gospel of John that Jesus Shepherd is also the Gatekeeper. Jesus gatekeeper ^“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

Jesus – such a GOOD Shepherd – and the Chosen one – not a chance that Jesus would turn away from His work. John 10:11-18 again records this amazing passage by Jesus: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”

Ah yes – not the hired hand – Jesus is true and forever – and being God, He will never change. You can’t fall out of God’s LOVE because God IS LOVE – that is key to our relationship because it is about God’s plan – never to be snatched out of Jesus’s hand. Here is more from Jesus:

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. “

AH – sheep from other pens – that is Jesus speaking of the Gentiles in addition to the Jews – that is Jesus speaking about us – in addition to the people of the time – Jesus for all generations is unchanged and still the Shepherd.

“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Ah – so Jesus wasn’t forced or “voluntold” – Jesus chose this path – Jesus chose to save – Jesus chose us – Jesus chose to serve God – and to be the LOVE.

How could we ask for anything else???
———-

Our often favorite Psalm is psalm 23 – it is a tremendous reading to recite if you are able to – or us the colors to help you remember this comfort – it is a key “go-to” it in times of trouble and in reflection – I can imagine David writing it from processing so much that God had done in his life. Here is the beginning: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Yes – we shouldn’t want – and we should be grateful and see what we have FROM the Lord – we are shepherded – and provided for:

As I went to find the psalm to paste into my writing and came across a very succinct description of how encompassing these short phrases are – this is from “bibleinfo” webpage:

”The restored soul is then led on to another stage in God’s plan for his life – ‘He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.’ That is, God leads us into work, into service for Him. Rest in the green pastures and refreshment by the still waters are to fit us FOR work. – In the gospel plan, works do not precede but FOLLOW rest. The restoration of the soul comes first, then the works of righteousness. We are not saved by our works BUT WORK because we are saved. We are not justified by works, but FOR works.”

YES – I appreciate this – that our relationship with God is being shepherded to be MOVED. Not just kept inside a gate but moved through life.

Here is an important part of life: the next part of Psalm 23: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me…

HMMM… I question – have I walked thru the valley of the shadow of death? Don’t think we have to have a near death experience – so what does that mean to us? David experienced it – We could take that to mean that we have been in awful situations – near death – or that we know those who were near death – or especially that we have seen the shadow of death with life but we are walking past it with salvations.

I have been watching a Netflix documentary of the “Blitz” in London – the WW2 stretch where they were bombed – unbelievable the horrors of war and the scariness of them – this but a fraction of the fear and the devastation seen in war – in any attack – the people in the streets of London went out during the day on their normal business but at night they pulled black out curtains to block the light from showing where population was – and at night they would take their families down into “the tubes” the underground train stations – they packed in for safety. And yeah the bombings were devastating – I is amazing to see the colorized film reels – brings it more to life – These are situations where these people surely felt they were walking thru the valley of the shadow of death – needed Jesus, need peace…

And there is footage of Winston Churchill in the reels – and I remember a quotation from Winston Churchill: “If you are walking thru hell – keep walking” sounds like Psalm 23 doesn’t it – and great advice for us – to KEEP WALKING!!!

———————

Evil exists. Evil makes the conflict bigger. War is awful – we can’t even imagine.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies

Yes – a rod and staff are shepherding tools – God’s ability to keep us moving in the RIGHT direction – the Holy Spirit shepherding we experience. The table – surely a heavenly banquet. And going after us – we are shepherded if we go astray: one sheep. Even was reading this for my upcoming prep for vacation bible school this summer – Jesus will leave the 99 and go after the one sheep.
—

I want to talk about a very personal time that I was shepherded – still am – by Jesus and this going after the one sheep story is so fitting – Jesus really does go find us – really loves us – really leaves the salvation up to HIM not to us wandering sheep….

I know that I was shepherded by Jesus when my dad was sick and then passing – going downhill and then just a few weeks left became a few days and even a few hours – – and I have told at least some of you previously in a sermon that I write a daily devotion – this was a whole month specifically on dealing with my dad’s death – already was prewriting in my head – I have a chapter which will eventually become a book – I feel it would help others – and it was and is extremely healing to write – and I was and am shepherded – and clearly in journaling – which I implore all of you to try – I also found comfort in that my dad was shepherded too… the one sheep …

So – I have a friend who is like an editor and voracious reader and child of God – and she is 92 now – and I gave her this chapter about my dad – and one of the writings included Psalm 23 which we have talked about for shepherding – and the copy from my dad’s prayer card from his funeral – And we checked this card over greatly because the misspellings of my maiden name – people put an N in it… well – we were good – and surprised even… the N is a running joke in my family… OK – no N – good to go…

Well, Sue – never saying “been there done that” with scripture – she took a moment to actually read the Psalm 23 to herself. And WOW – she showed me and said: “Debbie, there’s an extra ‘N’ !!!” WOW – I was shocked – did we miss it in our name? No. then how and why??? “… thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over…” Psalm 23 OH – THERE WAS THE N – AN EXTRA “N” IN ANNOINTEST – WOW

I LAUGHED SO LOUD – it was both laugh and tears because it may not mean anything to you – certainly was just a typo to sue – but to me – oh the lord found the UNIQUE littlest of shepherding – the funniest thing – to let me know he was still listening and watching and shepherding and encouraging… and being there… Shepherding is SO UNIQUE to us!!!

HOW CAN WE NOT BE THRILLED AT THE LORD SHEPHERDING US – AND PRAISE HIM ! Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. Psalm 23

AMEN

PRAYER: LORD THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR SHEPHERD – FOR US TO REALIZE IT – MAY WE GROW IN RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU TO WANT TO BE SHEPHERDED TO HAVE DIRECTION – TO HAVE SECURITY – TO HAVE A FUTURE AND TO HAVE A HOPE TODAY – AND EVERY DAY – Lord – thank YOU for YOU. AMEN

Jesus Headlights

Easter morning was a blessing of being able to stroll into the cemetery with the lack of fearing death. Jesus VICTORIOUS, celebrated on Easter morning… Us knowing He overcame and we won’t have the eternal sting of death either one day, in rising one day WITH His command.

Yes, we do have such sorrow for our lost loved ones – as my daughter was able to express in the cemetery when we went later that afternoon. Yet even then as I comforted her, I could think of the peace these folks had now – whether they feared death or not, they were now at peace.

The fear of death, however, came back for me surely quickly as I rode the roads home, with a good but NEW driver at the wheel. Whew, Jesus take the wheel, the whoa, the woe, and the whew… I gripped that “Oh God bar” in the view of a few semi-trucks swerving and us going into construction cattle corral-like chutes with no breathing room… Whew, we are fine, and I took over in the last 45 minutes as it got dark… Whew, Whew, thank you Lord for the safe arrival home. Praise that is due!!! And THANK YOU LORD for an extra and safe driver as she journeys now through life.

Life moves fast and the road bumpy bumps as the Day grows long…

Remember however that we have ULTIMATE PEACE ahead of us, even if we have a bumpy ride getting there. Like our roads, life it seems is always “under construction”… We are to know the narrow gate is Jesus Himself getting us through to heaven. Sometimes it feels like someone “picked up” the life we have and is shaking us, like a game, into a slot labeled home. But we are the know that as Jesus holds our hand, we are going to need Him for this bumpy road challenge course called life. Our challenge to keep looking to Him.

We need to hold onto this fixation upon Him, especially when we travel into the rest of this year. After that early morning celebration, we need the Holy Spirit hope and movement going forward, staying on track, lighting the way.

Back up home, I took a moment to see the natural gorgeous waterfalls. We all do love waterfalls, the sight and loud sound, but probably not being in a barrel tumbling down them. We appreciate simply sitting or walking around the waterfalls and hearing that crashing water sound helps drown out noise of our heads overthinking, help us remember that the Lord moves mountains and is IN CONTROL. With a rumble of a waterfall crash or with the calmness of still water, He hold it all in His Power.

In driving, my new driver did well, my new “passenger position” is what stressed me out. In life you also have to let Jesus drive, you have to keep your eyes on Jesus more than the earthly road. And ask for that fresh filling of Spirit – fresh air in the tires that we need to keep rolling…

Follow the Light, the Jesus Headlights, He knows the Way…

Amen to today!

“God is Light, in Him there is no darkness at all”, 1st John 1:5

Teachable Moments, Luke 11

We got home and then I went back out to the car, looking looking looking because my son lost his wallet (probably) in there, knew he used it in the car, good for that. So yeah it was a situation with an unknown mystery and he started to retrace his steps (again). My first time looking, I bumped my hand against it – found it “easily” while getting trash (straw wrappers) out of the way. I hadn’t seen it blending in either until it was SO OBVIOUSLY there. But really it took a second. Then, I left it there and called to him to come see. It was a ‘teachable moment”… true… it was OK, nothing lost, but still a moment for teaching the value of reevaluating and relooking without panicking.

So you’ve been there surely – imagine in a panic (hopefully never) of this type of situation – a wallet or phone or whatever… Remember too the hope – those memories of “it is OK” it might resurface, should resurface, will resurface and then it WAS OK. That trust is teachable. We fortunately or unfortunately have LOTS of teachable moments.

Isn’t that true for us in faith too? We should be teachable and reassured that mistakes happen, accidents too. And we need to get into a learning frame of mind!

Another teachable moment for kids this time was tonight – I was happy to help just for a little bit at a STEAM event – Science Technology Engineering Arts and Math hosted at the high school for a madhouse of kids – wow. I sat and helped and I love watching the kids WANT to learn – want to TRY – want to PARTICIPATE. And I appreciate having enough strength to tell the parents who might try to “do it” for their kids to LET THEIR KIDS LEARN. Of course each parent was super close and monitoring.

Interesting that THIS is EXACTLY how God is handing us – allowing us to learn – wanting us to learn – and OF COURSE being RIGHT THERE – monitoring – guiding – WANTING to be relied upon. God would rather we NOT take it into our hands only – He would rather we LEARN to be dependent upon Him – and when we praise Him – we please Him.

A teachable moment from God is a real adventure in faith…

Keep Faith!

Keep keepin on!

Amen

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Keeping the Word – Luke 11:27-28
And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!” But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

AIM – Angels in Ministry – Even in the Wilderness, Mark 1 and the Psalms

Fast Fast – we like everything FAST! And yet we yearn to slow down…

We also think too fast and comprehend too slowly – we are human.

We need a moment!

Even Jesus went to the wilderness – more for just a moment – He went 40 days at times – such a long time… Actually He wanted to go, did not hesitate – and he went to rest NOT like a spa but to be apart from the world but in the mind of His SPIRIT – Jesus went to pray, to fast, to be tempted like us humans, and to demonstrate worship in the way He knew was the best way – to completely TRUST – by being completely in God’s Hands.

And God sent angels.

God ministered to Jesus (like to us) with extra hands of angels. God told Jesus (and those there at John the Baptist’s scene) that He was Pleased with His Son. Then Jesus took the time out to go to the wilderness. Mark’s gospel is the shortest but to the point: And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

Jesus already knew that the Spirit led Him there – required Him to Trust – would be there WITH HIM.

Angels are everywhere – the wilderness is wild but not barren.

My cat sits sometimes looking at the wall – I wonder of her wondering – but I think she is looking at angels who are telling her to sit – to wait – to rest. I can’t even imagine the angels who are attending me attending us – except that they are – and that they are for all of us for God’s Spirit in us sake. Angels are working all the angles in our lives – especially the spiritual battles that we are not even paying attention to. “Angels are all around us” – we say this phrase but do we know the scriptures? I went to google and “AI” found angel scriptures. Really “AI” is algorithms for the searching, then let us say “AIM”, I will make a new acronym, to be “Angels in Ministry” – and for us to be in the receiving. The AIM of life in this wilderness of earth is for us to be in the receiving – in the trust – in the living of our lives.

All around us is God’s AIM – that is God’s Angels in Ministry.

Let us accept their help.

Amen

—

Mark 1:9-13 NKJV

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness. And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him.

MORE AIM – Angels in Ministry:

Psalm 91:11-12: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone”.
Psalm 34:7: “The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them”.
Hebrews 1:14: “Are not all of them ministering spirits sent out to serve, for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?”
Matthew 18:10: “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.”
Exodus 23:20: “See, I am sending an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”

A Sermon about Gideon and to KNOW OUR GOD IN ACTION

GOOD MORNING! The beginning of March- if you can remember that far back – we roared like Lions – roared like the weather and I think it was quite the roaring March weather. Don’t you? It is now the end of March and March goes out like a lamb and? Wow – yeah!!! More peaceful and calm, and is it teaming out there with new life – like lambs being born – like beautiful spring flowers opening – like beautiful daffodils. So – instead of roaring like a LION – let us take a second to be quiet like a lamb – and maybe think thankful thoughts for spring – maybe take thankful moments to remember easter coming up. And I will pray for my message to be meaningful and part of God’s action plan.

Moment to be silent… thank you…

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I LOVE THIS INSIGHT WRITTEN IN ECCLESIATES: He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

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I love SPRING – before summer gets too hot – and wow we are MOTIVATED in Spring to get moving – I got outside yesterday – planted flowers and cleaned up my yard. I had to pull some leaves out so that my daffodils could bloom less encumbered… They weren’t going to wait for me – and that is like the Lord – He works in HIS TIME… There’s scripture and great song lyric: The Lord makes things beautiful in His time.

SING: Lord, please, show me everyday — As you’re teaching me Your way —- That you do just what You say — In Your time — In your time, in your time – You makes all things BEAUTIFUL – In your time…

And today we’re going to talk about the Lord making things happen – our God of action – helping us – some would say tolerating us – when we are to respond to God’s call and maybe delaying –

and I will be sharing just a small snippet of Gideon and his calling and his answering the call, But especially about God IN ACTION…

I am appreciative of this sermon series coincidental with our mission statement – to Know God, Show Love, Grow Community

TODAY we are learning KNOW GOD – by Knowing God in Action – and I love that – ACTION!!! – both by God and by us – and when we are to be “Responding to God’s Call” – there is BOTH the need for us to “Be STILL” – and to “BE MOVING” – but most importantly remembering that God wants us to “BE HIS”…

For being STILL – we remember a previous speaking of Elijah that he had to be still and “hear” God in the stillness and in the gentle whisper of the wind.

For being MOVING – let us remember our GOD OF ACTION – remember the sermon on Isaiah where Isaiah first said: “For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips” Essentially saying “I’m not worthy” – and GOD IN ACTION – an angel touch to Isaiah’s lips in a purifying manner.

“with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

Then Isaiah felt able to respond to God’s call willingly: “Here I am , Send Me!”

And OH, what amazing prophesy that Isaiah was able to deliver to the people of the time and to us: this is an excerpt from Isaiah 40, I am SO glad that Isaiah responded to God’s call and wrote these words:

“Behold, His reward is with Him, And His work before Him. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, And carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.”

Yes – we our God of Action IS a Shephard.

—

SO – our opportunity today is to learn about OLD TESTAMENT worker Gideon – God calling Gideon, speaking to him – This is like God speaking to us – for sure – and what strikes me is when we are able to know God enough to talk back to Him and know He tolerates that – YES to QUESTION HIM!!! yeah! – This is a perfect topic for me – and for us – for Gideon – like verifying verifying – double checking – asking for proof…

Gideon was a man who was minding his own business – and an angel of the Lord came to him while he was threshing wheat – he had to do this hidden – down in a winepress to keep quiet – afraid for the Midianites who were an issue for Gideon’s people of the day… These scriptures are from Judges 6:

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

¹³“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.”

¹⁴The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

¹⁵“Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.”

¹⁶The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.”

¹⁷Gideon replied, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. ¹⁸Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.”

And the Lord said, “I will wait until you return.” – God had the confidence to try to convince Gideon “am I not sending you?” – meaning ‘I GOD have got this!!!’ And yet Gideon had to be sure…

WOW – CAN YOU IMAGING US MAKING GOD WAIT – OH YEAH – WE DO THAT ALL THE TIME… AND GOD WAITS!

Gideon did prepare that offering – and then FIRE flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. ²²When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!”

²³But the Lord said to him, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” ²⁴So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The Lord Is Peace.

SO GOD HAD GIDEON’s ATTENTION NOW… Then God forced the hand of the situation and stirred up the conflict between all the groups of the area – by having Gideon destroy the false god Baal’s altar and build one to God – and make a sacrifice on that one…

Our God of Action was setting the stage for a battle – one in which Israel would triumph by Gideon’s lead but by God’s Plan and God’s Power.

But not before Gideon QUESTIONED GOD!!! We learn this was “the ask”:

³⁶Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised — ³⁷look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew ONLY on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.”

REALLY? IS GOD A MAGICIAN? IS THIS LIKE A PENN & TELLER SHOW?

BUT REALLY: ³⁸And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew – a bowlful of water.

WOW – GOD DID IT – AND OH – YOU THINK GIDEON WAS SATISFIED?

³⁹Then Gideon said to God, “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” ⁴⁰That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew.

WOW – GOD DID IT AGAIN – I CAN make fun of this BUT I SHOULDN’T AND I WON’T – BECAUSE I TOO AM GIDEON – QUESTIONING A PLAN FOR ME – AREN’T WE ALL?

Gideon wasn’t testing God’s sovereignty or testing God’s plan. GIDEON WAS TESTING GOD’S SPECIFIC CALLING OF HIMSELF – and if he believed this prediction to come true – AND OUR GOD OF ACTION SHOWED TO BE A GOD OF WAITING – AND A GOD OF PATIENCE – AND A GOD OF PROMISE – AND A GOD OF ANSWERS – AS WELL AS A GOD OF ACTION…

Gideon was testing God’s specific calling of himself… BOTH: Is this really YOU God asking me? (Emphasis on God). And is that really You God asking Me (emphasis on ME)… SO GIDEON wanted to know: LORD DO YOU HAVE MY FRONT AND MY BACK?

Did God punish Gideon? NO – He NOT ONLY let him ask, God performed miracles – very specific miracles upon request. It wasn’t like Gideon meant to ask like asking ‘a genie in the bottle’ – can I have riches and etc. Gideon didn’t even ask like Solomon would – for wisdom. Gideon actually asked “if it is really YOU, Lord…?” AND “Is it really me???????????”

YES, GIDEON IT IS YOU.

Gideon kept asking God many times to prove this was THE CALL… that the plan was TRULY from God – and if it would succeed – remember Gideon said ‘hey Lord – You didn’t help on ON TIMELINE”… HMMM…

Later we will see that Gideon DID answer the call after all. But in all this questioning, God kept RINGING – and then God kept the line warm until Gideon came back and said “Yes Lord”. God was like “can you hear Me now? Can you hear Me now?”

AND we don’t have time to read all thru the battle plan today but I urge you to sit sometime this week with this judges scripture – AND SEE THE ACTIONS THAT GOD TOOK – HE Wanted Gideon to fight with such a low number of soldiers – YEAH – Because the Lord wants it to be known that it is HIM Who made the victory.

Gideon was like modern day us – checking the Caller ID before picking up the phone. And he didn’t just look at the area code because you know those cellphone spammers – using our own area codes, Gideon would be like someone who would pick up the phone and say: IF that really IS You, Lord, Can you give me proof? You know that advice that we should ask for a code word, so we verify that we don’t get scammed.

Gideon wanted proof. Gideon wanted his version of code words – miracles that no one else would know about – remember he was hidden in the threshing floor – this conversation was just between him and God – and God certainly allowed this line of questioning because God really DID want Gideon in this plan – HIS PLAN… GOD PICKED HIM – God picks US TOO… and waits for our answer.

— A side story – my daughter successfully took her driver’s test yesterday – and we were watching her (after a successful parallel park) go up to the light for the road portion – and immediately wondered if she was going to take the right on red – this is by the mall…. WELL, she said later that she wondered the same thing – she knew she COULD take the right on red – and she asked the driving official – she felt comfortable enough to ask! – And it is a common conversation we all have – “can I take this right on red?” – well the driving official said “I can’t answer that question.” Hmmm… well, she waited and that is safest of course – and isn’t that like US asking God as a friend “can I do this? Should I do this? Can You wait here until I am ready?” and instead of God saying “I can’t answer that” – God may wait with you in the silence until the answer – or God may give you signs, like He did for Gideon…

—

It was convenient for Gideon to pick up fleece, a common sense object of the day that certainly held water, if you have ever washed a wool sweater. Yeah

Here is a fleece – and I have a beautiful memory of my son loving this as a youngster in a reading nook of his room – it holds a lot of water when wet!

I know it is NOT a coincidence with easter coming up that we think of our March going out like a LAMB – and we know Jesus as a LAMB on the move.

Isaiah gave us prophecy – AND WE NOW KNOW THIS OF JESUS – THAT GOD IS A GOD OF ACTION.

Remember the Isaiah 53:6-7 scripture. All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him (JESUS) the iniquity of us all. – He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

Jesus was silent action as that lamb that day and He continues to be a God of VOCAL and PHYSICAL Action for THE DISCIPLES AND for US: Like Doubting Thomas, Jesus showed Himself… JESUS then said to the apostles to wait until the advocate comes – at pentacost – WAIT FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT…

WE SIMPLY ARE TOLD TO TRUST AND TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME.

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QUESTION: SO, are we like Gideon and have to HEAR, SEE God in Action ? – and we can take this reminder that it is OK to say: “what’s the plan today Lord?” – what is the plan here? and the Lord waits for us to figure it out and often he does send a signs…

Remember, “THE SPIRIT” CAME UPON GIDEON – remember that the Holy Spirit comes and re-energizes the situation for us – we can ask for a fresh filling of Holy Spirit – this is not like gold dust that wears off but a filling of Jesus HIMSELF – a comforting – an understanding – and a DRIVE…

Deborah, my name sake, was a Judge in the scriptures before Gideon, she was all about telling people that God’s victory is already won. Deborah said: “Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” We need to believe that…

We don’t think that our actions are as monumental as Gideon’s for a big battle – but they are for us and for the Lord… Each step we take with the Lord, for the Lord, is part of His victory. Because at the bare minimum, IT GIVES US THE CONFIDENCE TO TRY to live each day in His Love.

I want to close with a great Lauren Daigle song speaking of the Lord with us :

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough

Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low

Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know

—

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing

You say I am strong when I think I am weak

And you say I am held when I am falling short

And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours

–

And I believe – Oh, I believe – What You say of me – I believe

——-

Please pray with me: Lord, May we hear YOUR Call – see YOUR Actions – and take our part in YOUR Work. We know Lord that the best first place to start is to LOVE YOU – and know YOU LOVE US. We know Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is YOUR PURPOSE, the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”

Thank YOU, Lord, for standing by us, waiting on us, and strengthening us.

Amen

Travel Transitions Truly

Travel Transfer Transit Transitions Transient Transportation Truth

I’ll take TRUTH for 100, Alex…

It’s not any “Jeopardy” game when you fly, it’s fun and engaging if you choose this path. You just need to wait sometimes, haul it faster sometimes, relax and go all at the same time. I don’t mind flying, turbulence is not fun, but cars can have bumpy rides too. The truth is that the Lord never changes, but surely transportation does!

Riding the friendly skies home today, I started eating an extra piece of candy from “The Candyman” tucked in my pocket. An Almond Joy. This is a good travel memory of someone making a difference, JOY, making a party bus out of the Enterprise shuttle van, encouraging us to take selfies and sing along to pop tunes, so fun in a normally mundane job… Silly Silly Silly people, like the Candyman, make the bumps in the road much more fun. I tipped him girl scout cookies, the cooky mom meets candy man. And we transitioned easily from the transfer back of our rental car to airport terminal. Convenient Calm Cool… Candy…

This is where I wonder why a terminal (like a station) is called a terminal, because it’s not an end but current life runs through it. Busy busy busy waiting is so comfortable these days with electricity everywhere and comfy chairs, restaurants food and of course moms smuggle in snacks – NOT for the kids, they are ADVENTURE ADULTS, what a joy to see them self-sufficient. “Mom Win”…

I appreciated taking this trip and the flying high sky is yet another movement in the history of transportation – for which the Henry Ford museum was a great travel stop yesterday afternoon. Worth the money even just 2 hours, saw A LOT! We “flew” through the exhibition… trains, planes, cars, carts, cool…

I appreciated the Kennedy car, the McDonald’s and Holiday Inn neon signs, the Lincoln chair, and especially the Rosa Park’s bus, we sat in the bus, wow… great museum… love the trains, so in my blood…

The truth of counting one’s blessings includes remembering that this life is but a short stop, not terminal as in our terminal end, even in death we WILL TRANSITION in a TRANSPORT by the Lord. We will TRANSFER if we TRUST in the TRUTH. LIFE IS TRANSIENT, LIVE IT IN TRUTH.

(And just now TOUCHDOWN, we landed from our flight. It’s good to be home earth, a TEMPORARY home for now… TRUTH).

AMEN and THANK YOU LORD for the ADVENTURE.

https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/henry-ford-museum

By Faith, We Fly. “Have Faith and Live It Too.”

By Faith, people do LOTS of things and BY FAITH we easily flew yesterday, both in the plane, train, bus and automobile AND flew through time. It was 40 years ago that I was last in Michigan, but years melt like hugs for cousins (I am youngest of 23, now we have next generation of my kids and so forth into the future).

Yes. It’s SO good to have come to my uncle’s memorial service long weekend in Michigan, and so good to simply click click click feel the ease of modern travel with old-fashioned friendly skies. So good to see my kids overtake with their traveller’s smarts too, experienced at flying. This is experience that’s not too much expense. My advantage that I take it all in stride, including talking my way into easier situations… It’s The Friendly Skies we fly.

Well, BLESSED as we gathered last night at the hotel for pizza reception travelling cousins from 5 plus states, before today’s military service at the cemetery (we are north of Detroit). Saw 2 remaining aunt’s, who with my mom (arriving this morning) are the 3 remaining spouses of the 6 brothers, my uncle being the last one to pass.

BLESSED to fly over God’s Fingerlakes too! And oh the ice on the great lake Erie was gorgeous. BLESSED to see ithaca in the distance, see the NYC skyline and Statue of Liberty from our Newark flight. We easily took the train to the plane and shuttle and rental car… by faith it all worked out. My great grandparents steamed across the ocean from Ireland and saw lady liberty, wow what would they say, seeing their next and next generations now… WOW. By faith they forged ahead, let us not forget.

BLESSED, while waiting at out gate, to see the little birds drink from the water fountain in the airport. Yeah, they got in somehow, so at least they have something to wash down their french fries. God provides. And if He takes care of the birds, how much more He cares for us…. yeah…. by Faith we know that this is TRUE.

The March Lion of Scripture is that Faith in Action shuts the mouth of Lions, as said the writer of Hebrews, likely Paul, recounting the faith of those who came before Jesus and trusted God. The people of the Scripture stories had SO MUCH FAITH, and yet never say Jesus in the flesh to finish the prophesies, but they had faith. We are encouraged to have faith, not just for adventures, it’s faith in life everlasting and life everyday and especially in God’s Sovereignty. We can “have Faith and live it too!!!”

Scripture says faithful people gained what was promised – shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword – their weakness was turned to strength !!! I’m SO THANKFUL for the Lord God Almighty to coordinate life and living it.

Let us trust Faith in Action and take action in faith. Let us live the BOLD lives God gave us to live. LET US TRUST IN HIM!

AMEN

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Faith in Action Hebrews 11

Faith in Action

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.

By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.

By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.

By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones.

By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.

By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.

By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2025!

Trust. Forgiveness. Abundance. Goodness. Peace. A Path Forward.

Those are the continual themes for the last week of readings in the Jesus Calling daily devotional – which I didn’t read until now because I didn’t take the time. Time flies, right? It’s already next year! Yeah! Thank God for extended Christmas spirits and Christmas refrigerators too, because there’s even so much christmas food that has to WAIT until we have time to eat it! So, it’s not hard to imagine that it is tough to process the end of the year at the end of the year or the beginning of the next!

NEW YEAR 2025 is already here! So, yes, THANK YOU LORD, for FAITH in TRUST, FORGIVENESS, GOODNESS, PEACE, ABUNDANCE and a PATH FORWARD. These are consistent themes for us NOW and in the future. Let us look to the Lord to fulfill our relationship with Him and others AND trust in the Lord in the times of trials, of which 2025 surely will have.

It’s impossible to not feel both relief and sadness of the Christmas stuff that isn’t so important a week later. It really shows us that like the uneaten ugh calories, we need to toss the falsehood that may have creeped into Christmas and get back to the strong sustenance, the protein of provision of the Lord’s coming, His Daily Bread.

Thank You Lord for the new year and the consistent never ending You!

Amen

Faith Makes It Possible, Luke 1

I thought I am SO busy I don’t know if I have time to write this morning but the Lord showed me something on the floor in the clutter of the room, but for a moment I thought it was one of my dollar store stickers that said: “FAITH does not make it easy – FAITH makes it POSSIBLE”… Amen to that and then some. Amen to not easy. Amen to FAITH making things work, and work together for His purposes. We can believe in this message. We can believe God will ALREADY and ALWAYS be with us. (and especially since He Holy Spirit used but a swirl in my vision for something that was NOT that sticker – wow)

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.” Luke 1:37 KJV… This was the angel Gabriel talking about Jesus to fulfill a plan for forever. If God can work out the WHOLE plan in advance and see it succeed, He can work on our plans now, as we faithfully try to align with Him. We project tough things into this trust statement if we trust God’s Word, which we should. We should also remember FAITH is believing in things and direction unseen. We got to give it to God…

Mary and Elizabeth would bear sons of great importance… Jesus and John the Baptist… surely God can help us with the little and big things today and always…. let us apply FAITH. Jesus IS the Possible – Trust God for everything possible.

Amen

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Luke 1:26-38 NIV

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

WOW – What’s Our Witness? SERMON OF TRUST AND WITNESS OF JESUS!

So Very blessed to share my sermon today which was well received – and a miracle happened – both Liane and I showed up to church EARLY – probably because I was preaching about Liane and she had to make sure I did OK!

BLESSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John 20:19-31 NIV

Jesus Appears to His Disciples – On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

Jesus Appears to Thomas – Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

The Purpose of John’s Gospel – Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Sermon 14APR – “WOW – What’s Our Witness?”

I had all the parts of this sermon swirling in my head and also sorta on paper for there were stories I knew would go great with the scriptures – and then also when writing last night I was thinking “well, news is posting about drones coming from Iran to Israel – and how much little impact that was having on me at the moment where I was – and yet has great impact in many lives – in lives we will never meet – and yet how usual for these days but unusual in times past would one have “pre-knowledge” of not just what kind of weapons folks had – but of when they were launched – and would have thought there would be the ability to intercept the missiles and shoot them down (hopefully) – and they DID shoot then down last night – they have like a GPS tracking and GPS zoning in – and so, after that one attack was done, I flipped back to my “regularly scheduled programs” which was the other browser tab on the laptop and I restarted watching the TV shows I was watching… I thought how funny that I got to sit there and both know it and ignore it at the same time and “check back later”… even go to bed… even do frivolous things plus important things too, like pull together this sermon… Really isn’t it funny the known that we “get” to ignore wars because they are not close by… Well, forgive me for not delving into world issues that I can’t solve – at least not solve in an hour – and allow me to step aside from the tragedies of the day to look at and expound upon these most important scriptures from John about “Journeying with Jesus” for the next few minutes because in this, I pray that we realize that we are really really really blessed in His guidance and His blessings seen – and especially blessings unseen… We are created to praise God – even in unknown times.

I have called this sermon “What’s Our Witness” “WOW” – because we should be filled with the WOWs of our experiences and understandings on this “Journey with Jesus” and then even more wow-ed by faith in things that we will never be able to understand in this lifetime and here – hoping to understand more when we are face to face with God. And yet – I know that we are experiencing God ALL THE TIME without seeing Him… aren’t we?… We are experiencing Him thru the Holy Spirit Who helps us understand. We do and should witness AMAZING things – big and small –

Unseen – sometimes the unknown scares us – we should rely on God to help understand Him better – understand He lives for the LOVE that He is and wants to give… Certainly the ancients, people of Moses’s time would have thought seeing the face of God would make them die… Well, some ancients DID see God in various forms – the burning bush for Moses – he believed didn’t he? The cloud filling the temple Solomon built – they knew that was God. And Jacob wrestled with God – ouch my hip hurts too – I wrestle with God too much.

I was returning to the book of Lamentations in the old testament – about the exile that people were forced into by the hands of the Babylonians – and here people were forced to look to God to plea: “I called on your name, Lord, from the depths of the pit. You heard my plea: “Do not close your ears to my cry for relief.” You came near when I called you, and you said, “Do not fear.” You, Lord, took up my case; you redeemed my life….”

So – we also can call in this manner and we DO know this redemption – for eternal life – because we have learned and experienced this great day of Easter – of Jesus rising to save us -and from the scriptures we have just heard, we are to remember our redemption and believe – even without seeing…

Collectively we can remember God’s faithfulness – especially because Jesus came – and like the poet in Lamentations, we too can reflect that we too are saved:

I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lam 3:19-26

How AMAZING now for Jesus Himself to come to earth to be seen and for those that Easter day like on the Walk to Emmaus disciples to see the scriptures come to fruition? They did not know it was Jesus – all the while the walked and talked – all the while the scriptures were opened up to them – they did not know even though they saw HIM – and walked with Him for 3 years – they ONLY knew Jesus when He broke the bread – to remember HIM…

Amazing for the ancients before and for us now to believe – there were lots of people who believed in God without seeing Him… There is a GREAT set of scriptures that my friend Patti brought to my attention when I was dilly dallying and looking at facebook and not writing my sermon – yeah – then I called her about her garage door and discussed the lawnmower and my procrastination too for mowing my grass – well I digress – and so I explained my sermon bits and pieces floating in my head and she gave me these great scriptures –

—- Hebrews 11:1-2, 7Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for…⁷By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. – So Noah really had to trust God, didn’t he? before he saw any raindrops… The Lord rescued Him—- Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. Meaning that God made everything not from a drawing or a model in existence – it was made from nothing seen – something which is not nothing and yet nothing to our mind – we can’t wrap our heads around this something or nothing… We are so human and therefore we must have this faith – faith for faiths sake – for our sake and for God’s… Just like our money says: In God we Trust – we trust and know how God is amazing… So even God Himself knew what He could make and why He was going to make it… We must praise a God who can handle it all and love it all and want to share it all with us – and even saw and knew and loved us before we were even “knit in our mother’s wombs”. God was Love before the beginning of time… Faith-living, for faith with faith is to know that God is looking out for us and wanting us to Praise Him in return….

I want to share an amazing story of faith – of struggling to keep all the faith and the benefits praying and calming down and trusting in God… We do have to keep the praise going – having it remind us that we need to count our blessings and calm down – and put God first – and we need to understand that God is in control… this is a great story of seeing what is unseen – that God is for us… My friend Liane wrote me – this was almost 10 years ago now – Liane has been relying EVEN more on God since an accident took her sight in her early teens. She is so amazing – my sister in Christ – so capable – filled with PRAISE. This is her email, she is addicted to her phone and a computer whiz and facebook fanatic like me:

“Hi Debbie,
When Pastor John (we called him PJ) asked in church today if anyone had a praise offering, it was silent. Then a few people spoke up. I was thinking about saying I was thankful for being at church since I haven’t been there in a while and also wanted to thank God for rocks and trees and of course, I thought to myself, people are probably going to think I’m crazy.

“So PJ’s message was about how we do not praise God enough and for the simple things. He went on to say how God created nature and the things in it to sing his praises – like the rocks and trees – we who were created in his image don’t realize how important it is to give thanks and praise.

“So this is why I wanted to say praise for rocks and trees, you’ll understand how it all connected for me. Friday morning after putting my son on the bus, I stupidly decided to go across the street to a very familiar corner to walk my dog without his harness on. I wasn’t feeling that great but I go there often and besides that, I had my trusty I-phone. So Basil (that’s her previous guide dog) and I walk across the street and then I realize we are not where I wanted to go. I felt around with my foot and was trying to get oriented by listening to the traffic but the more frustrated I got, the more disoriented I became.,
Lightbulb moment, use your I-phone to call someone or use GPS. Well, my phone was not working because before the boys went to school they told me to update my phone but they neglected to tell me I need to go through setting up my phone after that. I was getting upset with myself since I haven’t grasped this technology and [yet] have become so dependent on it. So, I stopped and prayed asking God to send me someone or something to get me back home. I was already lost for about a half an hour and was panicking because I left my house open and Mom was going to be coming over but she always calls first to see where I’m at and of course, she wouldn’t be able to get hold of me. So I waited a little longer for a sign but no one or nothing clued me in so I calmed myself down, prayed again and decided to walk towards the sound of traffic in hopes I would figure out which intersection I was at.

“I told Basil to go home and he started pulling the leash a little but then stopped and he seemed confused as well then I felt the sun. I started thinking about where I am when I can feel the sun when I go for my regular walks. I decided to turn around and walk the opposite direction and I started getting closer to traffic. Then, a tree branch brushes across the top of my head – [ah] – this branch feels like the one I always bump my head on while passing my neighbor’s house who lives across the street from me. So I keep walking and find a driveway and decide to cross the street and if I’m correct, it will take me to my driveway. Well, it didn’t. So, I step up on the curb and decide to still head toward the traffic but use my foot to trail the grass line hoping for a clue. I didn’t have to walk too far before my foot bumps into a pile of rocks which I immediately recognize as the river rocks my husband placed around the sump pump pipe sticking out of our yard. I say out loud, “Thank You God!!!!” and I immediately get this message from God, God is my rock. He is there no matter what I’m going through and as long as I believe and have faith and hope, he will take care of me. I found my way back to my house and went inside and cried tears of joy. God is awesome!

“So when PJ said about the rocks singing praises and then he mentioned the trees, it just confirmed my belief. I know you will understand what I mean.”

AMEN and for sure, Liane, I understand – yes, I understood what she meant – and what a beautiful testimony of trusting God… gave me tears of joy because I in those days had also just started to understand this amazing world of God we were in. … The rocks will cry out if you don’t praise God, and sometimes the trees will knock you in the head until YOU praise!

This was a WOW – and in my response to Liane – I thought these rocks were an emergency GPS – “God Positioning Stones”. I have those GPS letters from our VBS days – and I want us now to have WOW cards – to think about and write some items of WOW – of our witness – presence – believing – and GPS – where God positionings/blessing or God-winks some would call them, occurred – for us to remember when we have been blessed.

SO – these WOW cards are actually stickers, and perhaps you can take a moment to write down a real witness you have – we are not collecting them – they are for you – and perhaps we can share some or our experiences later – so with this in mind – let us return to our scriptures of WOW today – that keep us thinking…

And so – WOW – A Risen Jesus walks into the disciples’ room and says: “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” WOW and now we learn the HOW – How did Jesus give his disciples (and us) this ability to praise and witness? With what did fill these disciples (and us) with ? “He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” WOW!

Here is more of that verse: If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” WOW !!!! the peace and ability and greatest gift of love and mercy is forgiveness! WOW !!!!

I love how my friend Liane felt for the sun to orient herself that day she was lost – and she still does that – but in that situation – she found the best reliance was on God, and Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit to help.

Did you enjoy the eclipse? I know that Liane enjoyed the eclipse and I did too – even if I didn’t see the sun (or feel it) – I was in western NY near where I went to college up on a golf course (and bar and grill) – with lots of university people – 180 plus – and it was cloudy but that was OK because I was still on vacation and still blessed -and so out of the blue – there was someone who eclipsed my eclipse – I got to see my p-chem professor and his wife from like 30 years ago… WOW! – I could care less that it was cloudy now that I was positioned to talk to them for well over an hour – and it was cool – an astronomy professor answered questions and then a little boy – asked simply: ‘what IS an eclipse?’ – and the professor says: you have a sibling? Well his sister was of course there – and the professor said – you ever watch one of your favorite tv shows and then your sister stands right in front of the TV? – well THAT’S an eclipse – so funny – yes …

And I will share how my friend Liane enjoyed the eclipse – she sent me a text: she listened to a zoom call of blind people from Texas and sequentially all up the path of the eclipse where the people were listening and then describing these light measuring devices – making decreased noise when the moon moved in partially and then totally and then moved back out increasing the noises measuring the light.. so cool – and Liane said it was like experiencing the travel around the world of New Years celebrations one after another – and it was such an excitement for these folks to collectively enjoy that phenomenon – as a community – over zoom but collective in appreciation… so cool… I have told dozens of people this week that Liane and her description – that she appreciated and enjoyed the eclipse more than most sighted people I know – she experienced the excitement and the community without seeing the light but by KNOWING the LIGHT – that is the love of God – we walk by faith not sight…

Jesus Appears to Thomas – Now Thomas, ‘doubting Thomas’ said to the others: “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later Thomas was with them and Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Are we not the blessed ones to believe without seeing – and yet have our WOW moments – our witness of His Love? This is my segue transition to avow what is something like an eclipse but much more severe than the moon getting in front of the sun (or the sister in front of the tv) – Sin is between us and God and ends up with us living in the darkness and the cold – like the eclipse day I had – and it is more frighteningly easy to get lost. All that stuff that gets in the way between us and God – yes this is an eclipse from being close to Him – an eclipse of us experiencing and feeling God less – God is still there [like the sun is still there but behind clouds etc] and yet the LOVE does not dim but we feel it less because we are clouded and eclipsed by sin. and how is that removed? By forgiveness… and Jesus comes to forgive – forgiveness is more easily given (and commanded to be given) by Jesus and felt by the presence of the Holy Spirit Who gives you that ‘Jesus Peace’ so that we can and may forgive others… If you have not yet accepted the forgiveness that Jesus has been giving out then please consider coming out of the cold – please consider coming into the warm loving light – you yourself have not been sharing in a gift given by Jesus to be in the full capacity of total love that we could be in. Likewise, if we hold grudges and we don’t forgive then we are in risk of being stuck in an eclipse between that gift and us… I have heard it said that Peace is already given and if we don’t feel peaceful, it is because we have given away that ability to feel the peace – we need to hold onto it – feel it – and give it –

WOW – what is our witness? Like did we forget all the times that God saved us and we forgot to praise Him and also bad that we get ourselves so worried at another time and forget we can call upon His Name to help us?

Lastly we listened to the end scriptures of “The Purpose of John’s Gospel” :

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Jesus was and is not a side show – an attraction of God’s power to impress… sure they as disciples had seen impressive miracles in person – but John wrote this down for us to believe… Likely those gathered at his feet, would have been among the first earliest Christians who would have not seen Jesus alive directly – at least one and two generations after Jesus … Jesus provided continuity in people who witnessed and shared – with John, the only disciple to live until old age – He provided an overlap in generations – and knowledge to the real stories of I was there… God knows what time after time after time, really did witness those who were listening to the stories and to us. But it is not JUST the listening to a trusted soul – like a nice salesman at the car dealer – there is more to it – Yes there is – we the people listening must open their faith by letting God open our hearts… Yes, God’s intention in sharing THESE miracles is so that we believe who have not seen them first hand – INN GOD WE TRUST – and God would know not too little or too much info – and God knows that the witness in the person would develop to see God in their own miracles and WOWs -and be able to explain how each section touched their hearts…

If you wrote on your WOW cards, What’s Our Witness – or just have a short thought from this past week that would be good to share – please let us share – these WOW statements or experiences – and if you did just write it or just thought it out – maybe now you can use this as a book mark or put it in your car or on your fridge – then remember that we DO have our own WOWs – our moments that we praise – and we DO remind ourselves of how faithful He is, so that in the future when we doubt we can look back at these.

You are free to share with us or keep it a secret – there are such good secrets to keep between us and God – but before a tree hits you in the head or rocks cry out – well – you best call it out in PRAISE PRAISE PRAISE!

And we can be God’s WOW – a Walk of Wonder – and Witness of Whew … Maybe you have understanding and witness – Like seeing spring rebirth – or an old friend or mentor – or held a baby like I did recently, experiencing the trust of the mom to let me hold her – maybe you have a WOW of Jesus forgiveness when you were distant – maybe you have a WOW of simply being alive today.

I will pause and wait a moment…

WOW – let us end with a WOW – What’s Our Witness – knowing types of witness are physical and spiritual – how we see things working in our lives, like Jesus showing up in the flesh; physical like Thomas needing to actually touch and see. Maybe we are not wanting to believe either – but I must urge you to try. Look for your WOWs:

Spiritual like the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gift of forgiveness to share. Spiritual in us understanding salvation.

Wisdom-filled – experience-derived – understanding the stories like John is giving

And Trust: All the miracles and happenings of Jesus would be more than too many books could contain – given what we need to know was on a “needs to know” basis ONLY.

TRUST the REST.

Let us Pray……….

AMEN!

Numbering Our Days

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” – That is a great reminder of scripture, Psalm 90, which urges us to learn and watch the Lord put us into focusing upon the importance of life, of listening to the Lord’s Will for us. Number our days and be productive, yes. Number our days and pay attention, 100%. AND numbering our days gives us something to do while we are waiting – YES. Number our days and keep moving through them making the most of every opportunity.

I have often said that Jesus gives us pause where the devil gives up panic. We have an agenda and if disrupted, many might curse the Lord – but it is our worldliness which is a curse – and we must apply trust – we also must remember when we DO see something that the Lord has led us too – like people and events – to give Him the Glory.

Yesterday I was tired of hearing the wind howling, as it had been for 2 whole days – silly thing to be upset about – but the noise was bothering me – I just wanted the quiet and the change. Whom am I to be annoyed by the wind – that is not my call – there are much worse things in the world. the wind is done now. I also was debating yesterday – was I OK to drive – now that my back is subsiding in pain (still with ice and ibuprofen) – I was – and I both MUST appreciate when I was told and made to BE STILL and now when I am able to move, MOVE. My craving for chicken made me move – and when I got to the store I met an old friend who was now working there. Cool Lord! I was looking at the pile of dishes and of laundry and then when I was able to do them – I thanked the Lord. Just the other day – my bad back made me alter plans and I was able to accept some big balloons for a neighbor who had not yet gotten home from shopping for a party. Interesting timing. And of course my biggest squeal to be sitting quietly and all of a sudden I got the call to go see that wienermobile – wow! Do number my moments Lord and let me know that I am paying attention to the right things. One more crucial moment on friday (before my back went out), I was telling my friends about something I had done, helping people, and my friend said (with others listening) – “wow, you are definitely going to heaven” – and I was able to correct gently and excitedly that I was giving a sermon about that exact thing – that it is not our good works that bring us to Heaven – because with man it is impossible – but with Jesus – with God – it is POSSIBLE! and this was a teaching to three listeners, cool. AH – see trusting the Lord to put us in the right place and right time. He does.

Lord, teach me to number my days and find those ways to glorify and teach about YOU!

Amen

Psalm 90:1-12

Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

You turn people back to dust, saying, “Return to dust, you mortals.” A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death – they are like the new grass of the morning: In the morning it springs up new, but by evening it is dry and withered.

We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. If only we knew the power of your anger! Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due. Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Our Jesus Calling devotional book for today is so fitting – as God is – Written by Sarah Young for March 12th – written as if Jesus is speaking this: “Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand, because it is the response from My children that I desire the most. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Me. Waiting for Me to work, with your eyes on Me, to evidence that you really do trust Me. If you mouth the words, “I trust You” while anxiously trying to make things go your way, your words ring hollow. Hoping is future-directed, connecting you to your inheritance in heaven. However, the benefits of hope fall fully on you in the present. Because you are Mine, you don’t just pass time in your waiting. You can wait expectantly, in hopeful trust. Keep your “antennae” out to pick up even the faintest glimmer of My Presence.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. John 14:1 ESV

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14 ESV

Well, Wait and KNOW – Jeremiah 37-40

A cute puppy was running around at my friend’s apartment complex, they said to let it run, but I thought maybe we should have held onto it and called someone, or if there was a neighborhood association… hmmm… they said let the puppy run. I pray the puppy got home, he was not there when we left the apartment, someone must have taken him in. And we saw the animal control van driving around. But that was tough for me, I wish I could say I’ll wait and see, but I will never know this outcome. Except for this assurance in my heart that the puppy is alright. I have to trust in the system and in the Lord.

It’s like when we don’t feel well, after surgery, in therapy, we wait and see. When we await news at times, we wait and see. But for us waiting on the Lord, we wait and KNOW, plus that wait and see, because we have to KNOW God means what He says. He has rescued us before! And for us, we are to KNOW it will be OK, eventually, BECAUSE GOD SAID SO… Even if it seems like forever from now.

(And if God warns of consequences, steer away from His Wrath please).

I’m reading an intriguing section of Jeremiah’s story – not a soap opera because it’s got REAL abrupt events and real consequences for the people of Jerusalem that don’t listen to God. The king of Judah didn’t listen but he did ask Jeremiah to pray and he did tell the officials of the Babylonian plan God had. Jeremiah went to take care of business locally, but was arrested, imprisoned. He was freed by the king but watched and fed, but then others who heard his prophecy about Babylon wanted him done away with. The king took his hands off the situation. The annoyed officials threw him into a cistern well…. WELL, I never would want to wait and see in a well, but Jeremiah had to. A stuck situation. That same king allowed the rescue of Jeremiah, people who sent merciful pieces of old clothes to give support and comfort under the arms over the ropes. He was pulled back into a semi-safe situation, not free, but not stuck in the well.

Then the king started to listen to Jeremiah, who continued to hear from God, and be protected by God. But the king was not so fortunate and a horrible capture by the Babylonians was terrible for his family and the king gruesomely was blinded.

Jeremiah was protected, not harmed by Babylonians. The one who was also protected was the Cushite, Ebed-Melek, official in the royal palace, the person who pulled Jeremiah out of that cistern well. The lift-er and the lifted both survived captivity. “But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.”

Jeremiah’s story continues, including being allowed to live with his people for a time. He had to show trust in the system and in the Lord.

What about our wait? Do we wait and see or wait and know? God blesses the lifted and also the lift-er. We can endure not a prison on earth but a wait until the new kingdom. There will be others, at a certain day post rapture, who will need to hear and know about God who protects, and rescues after a tortured life. We will have to wait and see at that time… Not a soap opera but a prophetic fulfillment of God’s Plan. We have to trust in the system and in the Lord.

Well, We will Wait and Know. (meanwhile, keep asking the Lord for the mini-rescues too. Know He provides. Amen)

Amen

—

Jeremiah 37-40:6 NIV

Jeremiah in Prison

Zedekiah son of Josiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; he reigned in place of Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim. Neither he nor his attendants nor the people of the land paid any attention to the words the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah the prophet.

King Zedekiah, however, sent Jehukal son of Shelemiah with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah the prophet with this message: “Please pray to the Lord our God for us.”

Now Jeremiah was free to come and go among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison. Pharaoh’s army had marched out of Egypt, and when the Babylonians who were besieging Jerusalem heard the report about them, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Tell the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of me, ‘Pharaoh’s army, which has marched out to support you, will go back to its own land, to Egypt. Then the Babylonians will return and attack this city; they will capture it and burn it down.’

“This is what the Lord says: Do not deceive yourselves, thinking, ‘The Babylonians will surely leave us.’ They will not! Even if you were to defeat the entire Babylonian army that is attacking you and only wounded men were left in their tents, they would come out and burn this city down.”

After the Babylonian army had withdrawn from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh’s army, Jeremiah started to leave the city to go to the territory of Benjamin to get his share of the property among the people there. But when he reached the Benjamin Gate, the captain of the guard, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, the son of Hananiah, arrested him and said, “You are deserting to the Babylonians!”

“That’s not true!” Jeremiah said. “I am not deserting to the Babylonians.” But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten and imprisoned in the house of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison.

Jeremiah was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time. Then King Zedekiah sent for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there any word from the Lord?”

“Yes,” Jeremiah replied, “you will be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon.” Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “What crime have I committed against you or your attendants or this people, that you have put me in prison? Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, ‘The king of Babylon will not attack you or this land’? But now, my lord the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I will die there.”

King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Jeremiah Thrown Into a Cistern

Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehukal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard what Jeremiah was telling all the people when he said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives; they will live.’ And this is what the Lord says: ‘This city will certainly be given into the hands of the army of the king of Babylon, who will capture it.’”

Then the officials said to the king, “This man should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are left in this city, as well as all the people, by the things he is saying to them. This man is not seeking the good of these people but their ruin.”

“He is in your hands,” King Zedekiah answered. “The king can do nothing to oppose you.” So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.

But Ebed-Melek, a Cushite, an official in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate, Ebed-Melek went out of the palace and said to him, “My lord the king, these men have acted wickedly in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern, where he will starve to death when there is no longer any bread in the city.”

Then the king commanded Ebed-Melek the Cushite, “Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies.”

So Ebed-Melek took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from there and let them down with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, “Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes.” Jeremiah did so, and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.

Zedekiah Questions Jeremiah Again

Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and had him brought to the third entrance to the temple of the Lord. “I am going to ask you something,” the king said to Jeremiah. “Do not hide anything from me.”

Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “If I give you an answer, will you not kill me? Even if I did give you counsel, you would not listen to me.”

But King Zedekiah swore this oath secretly to Jeremiah: “As surely as the Lord lives, who has given us breath, I will neither kill you nor hand you over to those who want to kill you.”

Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down; you and your family will live. But if you will not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians and they will burn it down; you yourself will not escape from them.’”

King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Babylonians, for the Babylonians may hand me over to them and they will mistreat me.”

“They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared. But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has revealed to me: All the women left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. Those women will say to you: “‘They misled you and overcame you – those trusted friends of yours. Your feet are sunk in the mud; your friends have deserted you.’

“All your wives and children will be brought out to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape from their hands but will be captured by the king of Babylon; and this city will be burned down.”

Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “Do not let anyone know about this conversation, or you may die. If the officials hear that I talked with you, and they come to you and say, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you; do not hide it from us or we will kill you,’ then tell them, ‘I was pleading with the king not to send me back to Jonathan’s house to die there.’”

All the officials did come to Jeremiah and question him, and he told them everything the king had ordered him to say. So they said no more to him, for no one had heard his conversation with the king. And Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured.

The Fall of Jerusalem – Chapter 39

This is how Jerusalem was taken: In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it. And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through. Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon. When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.

But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah. Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people. But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.

Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard: “Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.” So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers of the king of Babylon sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people.

While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him: “Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city—words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear. I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’”

Chapter 40

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon. When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God decreed this disaster for this place. And now the Lord has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.” However, before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.”

Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go. So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.

Blessed is the One Who Trusts in the Lord, Jeremiah 17:5-10

When God says what He does not like, He is also saying what He DOES LIKE, what He blesses and blooms, and allows to grow in well-being like a tree near water. The tree reaches the water easily as it is near the stream. We, likewise, will be blessed by staying close to God. Blessed are those who trust in Him.

And a reminder, again through the prophets, that we are fallible humans, so trusting in human beings and corruptible notions will get us in trouble, we will live a dry existence, not lush. God keeps calling us back to Him, He wants us totally to trust in Him. Many times we are warned to guard our hearts and don’t let them be swayed away, don’t let our hearts convince our heads to follow in, guard the emotions, and trust deeper, God deeper, to the roots of our being.

Jeremiah reminds us, as he instructed the Israelites:

This is what the Lord says:
“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives.

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

“I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Jeremiah 17:5-10

Amen

Debbie Upper

A Child of God Awakening to His Love

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