Mid-Week Message - Peace In the Unexpected

 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.  Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.  But take heart, because I have overcome the world."  John 16:33 (NLT)  

In 1970, country singer, Lynn Anderson, had her first cross-over hit with the song Rose Garden.   The song was number one on the country charts for five weeks.  It was one of the biggest hits in any genre in the 1970's and Anderson won a Grammy Award for Best Female Vocal Country Performance because of it.  Although the lyrics pertain to an interpersonal relationship, the memorable line, "I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden" has been found suitable for many life situations.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if, just as our cars have GPS to guide us, God had given us a road map, or a daily itinerary that would alert us to the twists and turns in life that we would like to avoid?  It would be so much simpler if we didn't have unexpected occurrences.  If we knew what was coming each moment, we could plan ahead.  But that isn't the way God set life up.  In fact, Jesus assures us that it would be quite the opposite.  He then tells us, however, not to fear because He has overcome the world.  

As I listen to the news each day I am reminded of the surprises that life can spring at us.  Somehow we hear of all the bad things that happen and still have the notion that, "that only happens to other people, not to me."  Maybe it is a coping mechanism that we use when we allow ourselves to believe that we are immune to certain things.  Then when violence or tragedy becomes a reality in our own lives, we find ourselves questioning how a loving God could allow it to happen. 

A statement caught my ear a few years ago.  When a friend was diagnosed with cancer she said this, "First I asked God, why me?  But then, after I had a while to think about it, I asked myself, why not me?"  Our holy Creator does not have favorites.  When any difficulty falls upon us, it isn't because He is picking on us.  It has nothing to do with whether He loves us or not because He loves us all completely.  Jesus gave His life for each of us.  There is no greater display of love than that.  

Although the Father certainly could warn us before something causes problems in our lives, He just doesn't usually choose to do that.  But He has given us His Word that is a road map of sorts because it directs us to turn to Him.  He is there to run to at any time.  Even better, if we stay beside Him at all times, all we have to do is reach up and take His hand.  He always listens, always cares and will always lead us through whatever trials or sorrows creep into our paths.  We have the blessed promise that there is so much more ahead of us than what we experience here. 

I say often in my weekly messages that life is hard.  I repeat it to emphasize that we all struggle.  Pick any random person off of the street and we can be sure that there is something that person endures that would surprise us.  I know that each of us has something to contend with.  What I most want to keep repeating though is that we serve a God that is bigger than any storm that arises.  Because of Him, we can face today and all of our tomorrows knowing that He has us in His hand and ultimately we will see Him face to face and the trials of this world will be no more.  He promised and He always keeps His promises.  God bless. 

Mid-Week Message - Life's Burdens

"Then Jesus said, 'Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you.  Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'"  Matthew 11:28-29  (NLT)

When something heavy needed to be moved in our home when I was younger, I was the child that was called upon to help.  I had an older brother but he never quite seemed to be around when these things needed to be done.  I became quite good at moving television consoles, couches, dressers and anything else that was more than a one person job.  I learned how to move most things on my own even, if I needed to do so.  Where there is a will, there is a way.  

Heavy physical burdens are quite familiar to me.  As I dealt with obesity for most of my life, I know what it feels like to be weighed down and to be so overwhelmed with weight that I found it difficult to move at times.  One of my favorite things to do is to float in a pool.  The feeling of being weightless is sheer joy!  

The physical weights we carry are easy compared to the other burdens that life places upon us.  All of us encounter times of trouble that drive us to our knees.  In the last few years two of my closest friends have had to endure the death of a child.  I can't even begin to imagine how difficult that has been for them.  As a mother myself, I can think of nothing worse.  Carrying that grief was crushing for them.  They made it through by crying out to the Lord and understanding that they did not have to bear the sadness alone.  He was with them in the valley they had to traverse.  

Today's verse refers to a yoke, which is a crosspiece that is laid across the shoulders of two animals to lighten a load for each of them.  We are not meant to bear the burdens of life alone.  Galatians 6:2 tells us to, "Share each other's burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ."  We are to come together to help each other.  When we do not have the strength to continue on our own, we need to be able to reach out to those around us. 

Psalm 55:22 tells us, "Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you.  He will not permit the Godly to slip and fall."  We have been created by a loving and caring Creator.  He never desired for us to feel alone.  He wants to be actively involved in our lives.  He cares about everything we encounter.  When we are weighed down, He will be there to lighten the load, to walk with us and to support us.  He can bring healing to the deep wounds that the pain of this life brings.  And He reminds us that a time is coming when we will be free of that pain for eternity.

What are you carrying today that is weighing you down?  Illness?  Financial problems?  Wayward children?  Whatever it is, ask Him to help you through it.  He is faithful and true and will make a way where there seems to be no way.  He adores you and is delighted when you turn to Him. God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Spiritual Adequacy

"Then God asked him, 'Who gives a person a mouth?  Who makes him unable to speak, or deaf, or able to see, or blind, or lame?  Is it not I, the Lord?  Now, go!  I myself will help you with your speech, and I'll teach you what you are to say.'  Moses said, 'Please, Lord, send somebody else.'"  Exodus 4:11-13  (ISV)

Some weeks, when I prepare to write my mid-week message, I feel very inadequate.  This is one of those times.  As I read about those who have lost everything in tornadoes, fires or other disasters or read about recent mass shootings and wars, I think about all of the pain in this world.  I know people are in need of hearing from the Lord and knowing that He remains on His throne and sees all that has happened and that He cares and is present.  They need hope and compassion.  They need tangible help.  They are asking, "Why?  Where was He while my world was being destroyed?"  

As I type word after word, I am asking the Father if they will make any difference.  I never know who will read these messages.  Each week I pray that the message will be seen by those who need to see it.  My only desire is to point the reader to the Savior and I read and re-read what I've written before I publish it and eventually just have to trust that it will be used in a positive way.  

As Moses was being instructed by God to go to Egypt, he argued that he was not capable of doing what he was being told to do.  He tried to convince the Lord that he should send someone else.  He countered each assurance he was given with an excuse.  Finally, scripture says, the Lord grew angry with him.  He had chosen Moses and He does not make mistakes.  All Moses had to do was to be obedient.  God would give him the words he needed and direct each step.  

Each of Christ's followers is called to represent Him.  Whatever talents and abilities He has given are to be used for His glory.  They are to serve a much nobler purpose than to please ourselves.  Some can preach, some teach, others lift their voices in song.  Some are good with numbers, organization or administration.  Some are artists or entertainers.  No matter what your strong points are, there is a way to use them to uplift, to encourage, to assist others who are in need and thereby spread the love of Jesus.  

Life is overwhelming.  At times it is even devastating.  At any given time, there are those who are searching for answers.  They are looking for direction, for hope, for security.  Any one of us may be put in the pathway of someone in need.  We cannot simply turn our backs and walk away thinking that someone else will step into the gap.  God has placed us there for a reason.  We may be the only one that cares enough to love someone who is suffering, confused or lost.  All we have to do is trust that our Father will show us what needs to take place in the moment then be obedient even when it is frightening or uncomfortable.  We may not all be a Moses, but we can all touch lives and make a difference.  With sincerity of heart, God bless. 

Mid-Week Message - Security From Our Father

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you."   Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

One of the vivid memories from my childhood is a time that there was a thunderstorm in Amarillo, Texas.  It was in the middle of the night and I was scared.  As I always did when I was afraid at night, I called out for my Daddy.  He came in to check on me and asked me what was wrong, even though he already knew.  Because I was feeling so insecure, he pulled my bed away from the window and positioned it near the door so that I could see across the hall to my parents' bedroom and know he was there and I was safe.  

I think back on that night now and realize what a beautiful picture it is of my relationship with God.  When I am scared, He is always there.  No matter what time of day or what the situation, He is always there to help me feel secure.  Just as my earthly father acknowledged my fear, so does the Lord.  During this past year there have been numerous times when I didn't know what was going to happen next.  Our lives were completely turned upside down and I found myself in unfamiliar territory not knowing what my next step should be or in which direction.  To say there were days when I was terrified is an understatement.  But I knew where I could go for refuge.  

Psalm 23:4 in the King James Version says, "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."  When I read that there is something that jumps out at me and that is the word "shadow."  In order for there to be a shadow, there must be a source of light.  Since God is light, we know that even in those deep, frightening valleys we can be sure of His presence.  If we know that He is there then whatever is causing our fear loses its power.

Fear is a powerful tool used against us by the enemy.  He loves it when we feel frightened and alone.  It creates an opportunity for him to whisper such things to us as, "Where is your God now?"  He wants us to doubt the Lord's presence.  He wants us to feel isolated so that our faith will be shaken.  His goal is to create a wall of doubt that will separate us from the Father.  What we have to keep in mind is that there is nothing greater than the Almighty.  His greatness is always bigger than any situation we can find ourselves in and His light will always overcome any darkness that the enemy attempts to create.  We just have to have our eyes open to see it.  

I don't know what your circumstances are.  I share my own experiences in hopes that they may resonate with something you are either going through currently or have gone through.  My prayer is always that hearts can be touched in a timely manner and that the Lord will use the words He gives me to reach into lives that are needing to see His light.  I have no reason to write these messages except to glorify Him.  I pray for each of you and ask for His blessings in your lives.  If you are in a place of fear today, my hope is that you will see the Light that dwarfs whatever is causing your fear.  That light is the reassurance that you are not alone.  Keep your eyes on the Light rather than whatever is causing you to be fearful.  The temporary will always lose out to the eternal. 

Mid-Week Message - A Day of Thanksgiving

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever."  Psalm 107:1 (NLT)

The year was 1621.  Those who had made the pilgrimage to what is now the United States of America, had a great feast that lasted three days.  It was a celebration of thanksgiving to the Lord for His provision and protection which followed a time of extreme hardship in which many had died.  None of these precious souls had envisioned the difficulties they would face before they set sail and I often wonder how those who survived were able to show such gratitude after all they endured. 

The holiday of Thanksgiving that we observe each year has become a day that is engulfed in activity that causes tensions to run high.  Rather than a day of praise and gratitude, it is spent exhausting ourselves attempting to fulfill expectations of family and guests.  After the food has been served and the kitchen has been cleaned, men gather around the television and women rush out to shop in stores that now open early to capitalize on Christmas dollars yet to be spent.  

Before we know it, midnight has come and the day intended for giving thanks has ended for another year.  Recipes made once a year are filed away and all thoughts turn to the next big day of festivities.  In all of the hustle and bustle, how much time was actually given to the Lord in appreciation for His great love and care?  

Aside from the necessary prayer at the table tomorrow, will we spend any private time with Him reflecting back on how He has sustained us this year?  Will our hearts be consumed with gratitude or will our focus be on the troubles of the moment?  Whatever our struggles are today will likely still be struggles tomorrow and will be vying for our attention.  Will we choose Him over worry and chaos? 

We are the Lord's first priority.   He is always present.  Always listening.  Always within our reach.  We may not be able to see Him physically with our eyes, but He is always active in our lives.  Every blessing that we receive comes directly from His hands.  He has promised to take care of our needs and to guide us through each step we need to take.  No matter what arises in our lives, His power is greater, His love all-encompassing and He is worthy of our praise.  

This year has been full of ups and downs, some of them have knocked me off my feet, which I am sure you have experienced as well.  However, the one thing we have always been able to count on is that we have a Father that can be depended upon to pick us up and dust us off and help us take the next step, no matter how hard that step might be.  Let's spend time with Him tomorrow letting Him know how much we love and appreciate Him.  Without Him, there would be nothing to celebrate.  

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. 

Mid-Week Message - Thoughts About Thanksgiving

"Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!  Worship the Lord with gladness.  Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his.  We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation."  Psalm 100 (NLT)

Another year has passed and we are one week away from this special day we refer to as "Thanksgiving." It is the day we remember the group of people who traveled here on a ship called the Mayflower.  It was an incredibly hard voyage with even harder times before them as they worked to make this land their new home.  Had it not been for the blessing of an alliance with a group of indigenous people they would likely have returned home, or died. However, the Lord had a plan for their protection and provision and they celebrated and gave thanks.

Too often this story is forgotten as we gather around our own tables on this one day each year designated for gratitude.  Football games, shopping and outdoing one another with our recipes has dwarfed the meaning of the day.  What used to be a time for everyone to share with their families has become a "Black Friday" prequel.  Meals are planned around what time the stores open so that shoppers can hurry to get a deal on certain electronics or get their hands on the "toy of the year." Rather than concentrating on how our lives have been blessed during the year, we watch the news to see how many fights have broken out in the shopping centers.  

When I was in the fifth grade we learned Psalm 100 by heart.  That was when scripture had not been banned from the public school classroom.  And while it wasn't taught as a spiritual lesson, it was still able to seep into our hearts and minds and remind us, even as children, that the Lord is good and worthy of our praise and that we need to tell Him "thank you."  The Message Bible puts it this way when speaking of entering into His presence, "Enter with the password: 'Thank you.'"  I wonder how different our relationship with our Father in Heaven would be if each time we spoke to Him, the first words from our lips were "Thank you."  

Many families have had a difficult year.  But even though we may have shed more than our fair share of tears, we can still be thankful that we are here to share together.  The trials we have gone through, and continue to endure, though hard, remind us that the Lord truly is Jehovah Jireh, our provider.  Without His presence and tender loving care, we would not have made it this far.  Someway, somehow, no matter how dark the days may get, His light shines brightly and is our reassurance.  

On Thursday when we all meet around our respective tables, let's truly examine the blessings of the year and sincerely give thanks for all that we have.  James 1:17 reminds us that whatever is good and perfect is a gift from above.  The love we have around us, the smiles, food, the roof over our heads, the clothing on our backs, indeed our very existence comes from the One who loves us with an everlasting love.  We can never have enough gratitude for all He does for us, but we can start with a small, "Thank you, Father."

Mid-Week Message - Trusting That He Hears

"My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)

I'm sure we can all remember asking one of our parents for something when we were children.  I don't know how it was in your family, but the automatic answer in my house never seemed to be "yes." Usually the answer was, "We'll see", or "I'll think about it," or maybe even "Go ask your father."  Whatever the answer was I felt the need to explain all my reasons for why I needed whatever it was I was asking for.  Of course, I was attempting to convince my parents that they needed to agree with me and decide in my favor.  Sometimes I was successful but quite often the final answer was "no."  

It was very difficult to understand how they could answer negatively when I was so clear in laying out my thoughts and desires.  What I didn't understand at the time was that they knew more than I did and therefore knew if my requests were frivolous or could pose hazards or risks.  Now that I am an adult and also a parent, I am aware that there were probably many times they wished to give me what I wanted but couldn't for some reason that was beyond their control.  Age has given me greater understanding and perspective.  

That being said, I have to confess that I often approach God in prayer the same way I used to approach my parents with a request.  It is something that He has shown me that I am not very proud of.  I have had to learn that it isn't my job to convince the Lord of anything.  Since He is all-knowing, He sees my needs and desires before I do along with everything else in my life.  He knows what is ultimately good for me and what is not and He has perfect timing for the blessings He sends my way.

Some years have been dreadfully hard for my family.  So many things collided that caused us to wonder how we would make it through.  I spent hours before the Lord crying out, asking Him for help, reminding Him of His promises and telling Him what we were going through and what we were feeling.  So many times I forgot about His sovereignty as I begged Him to just listen to our needs.  I failed to recognize that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.  I let my heart dictate my words and overpower the knowledge that His timing is always perfect and that He would never fail to take care of His children.  In His great love though, He soothed my soul and assured me that He knew.

One night, after a particularly rough time and as I was drying my eyes after telling Him how afraid I was and asking Him if he was watching and knew what we were going through, I turned the radio on to a Christian station.  I came in right as a song was coming on.  It was "Fear Is A Liar" by Zach Williams.  Then the song right after it was "He Knows" by Jeremy Camp.  I cannot tell you how it ministered to me to know that those songs at that time were not a coincidence.  They were reassurance from above.  After seeing how He brought us through those difficult times I can tell you that I never needed to be afraid or worry that the Father didn't understand our plight as He answered those petitions and turned things around for our family.  Just at the right time.  

Brothers and sisters, our Creator is never negligent.  He is intimately involved in our lives and aware of every joy and heartache we experience.  Though many times have been trying, they would have been much less so if I had remembered that rather than listening to the lies of the enemy and allowing myself to be overcome with fear.  He has always seen me through whatever I have faced and I should have known He would do so again.  His love never falters and He will always be present no matter what we are experiencing.  We have only to trust that His Word is true and look for Him.  

As I thank Him for His extended hand to me and my family, I also lift each of you up and ask for His blessings for you as well.  Life is full of unknowns, so let's hold on to the One who never changes, who always understands and will never leave us to do battle on our own.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

Mid-Week Message - Life Struggles

"For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!"  Romans 8:18 (AMP)

My mother's father was a carpenter.  So was her step-father.  They could create some of the most beautiful pieces of furniture and cabinetry that could be imagined.  They both excelled at their craft.  And both were missing part of one finger.  My father's father was a jack-of-all-trades.  He took work when and where he could.  I don't know as much about him as I would like to.  He passed away before I was born.  All of them had something in common and that is that they all realized that life wasn't easy.  It took hard work to earn a dollar and if the economy took a downturn, and it did in a massive way, then those dollars dried up.  

Both of my parents' families struggled in life.  It was a hard road for them.  I have told the story before of how my father moved out on his own when he was nine years old.  As I was growing up I would watch him over-buy canned food.  He wasn't a hoarder, he just liked to have extra.  When I asked him why, his reply was, "I've been hungry before and I'm never going to be again."  That was very revealing about his childhood.  Because of what my parents went through, they were determined that, at the very least, their children would never know hunger.  And we didn't.  We may have gone without some other items, but food was never one of them.  

Life is difficult in one way or another for almost everyone.  I can't speak from the vantage point of the very rich because I have never had a lot of money to spare.  I'm sure they have their own hardships though. My family seemed only to have enough money to make it through what was directly in front of us.  If something big came up, Daddy would go to the credit union and borrow what was needed and pay it back as quickly as he could.  My husband has told me similar stories about his father.  They did what they had to do to take care of what had been entrusted to them but never really experienced any ease in life.  When my father retired, he was looking forward to relaxing some but life had other plans.  My mother's health began to fail and he had to take care of her.  Had he been able to choose, he would have preferred the work he did before retirement.  As toilsome as it was, it was simpler than being a caregiver.  

What is your family's story?  Depending on how old you are, it will differ, but the basic elements will probably still be there.  Hard work to earn a living.  Dealing with financial issues, emergencies, catastrophes of one kind or another, lack of work, illnesses.  These are just a few of the issues we encounter.  Somewhere in the family tree are those who have experienced the turmoil of living.  Find them.  Study them.  What helped them through?  

The Apostle Paul was used by God to write some of the most beautiful and profound scriptures in the Bible.  He was a man of deep faith and completely dedicated to following and serving the Lord.  He was a tent maker by trade so he knew what it meant to work for wages to support himself.  When we read about his life we learn how rough it was for him as a servant of the Almighty.  He was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, whipped, hungry, thirsty, robbed. All during his travels for the Gospel.  How did he make it through?  He trusted his Father.  And he knew that Heaven was coming at which time the struggles would no longer exist and he could bask in the glory of the great I Am.  

The troubles we have today are temporary.  Though they feel as though they will last forever, everything has an ending.  A job will be found.  Bills will be paid.  Illnesses will either be healed on earth or healed in Heaven.  Nothing lasts forever here on earth. We can make it through whatever we face, just as those who came before us did, by focusing on the promise that God will always take care of His own.  He will provide for our needs as He said He will do.  Our job is to walk close to Him and not give up.  He will give us the strength for the next steps, as he did for Paul, if we will ask Him to do so.  

I am so glad that I know how my predecessors lived and the trials they experienced.  It is a reminder that the Lord has always walked with my family and an assurance that He will do the same with me no matter how hard or tiring my days get.  I would love to hear the story of your family and how they made it through all they experienced.  History is a gift.  This week I pray that you will keep your hand firmly in His and that you will ask Him for strength whenever you need it.  God bless you. 

Mid-Week Message - No Separation

 "For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38-39 (AMP)

We married quickly.  Our first date was on April 27th.  He proposed on May 27th.  We married on August 24th.  Yes.  All in the same year.  If you ask us why, I will tell you that I knew he was the one on that first date.  If you ask him, he will say it was because I had a house and his apartment lease was almost up for renewal.  Humor aside, when it comes down to it, we just didn't see any reason to wait.  We loved each other and that was all that mattered.  We got a lot of questions and a lot of warnings that it would never last.  However, we celebrated our 33rd anniversary in August and we still love each other.

Our first year was spent getting to know one another.  Some days were trying, some still are.  When he proposed to me, after I got over my utter shock and initial elation, we talked about the future and came to the agreement that we would enter into our union with the understanding that divorce was not an option.  Whatever life threw at us, good or bad, we would face it together and we would work through any problems.  We are still together so apparently that agreement stuck.  It hasn't always been the easy way, but for us it is the right way.  In 2012 I broke my leg and ended up spending over four months in a hospital bed in our living room.  He had to do everything for me.  And I do mean everything.  In 2018 he went through his life-threatening illness.  I didn't have to do all the same physical things for him but he needed me to be emotionally and spiritually available and I did my absolute best to do that for him.  

Both instances reminded us of the relationship we have with Christ Jesus.  As we promised not to leave each other, so He also promised not to leave us, only His promise is for eternity.  We have been together 33 years.  Our Lord knew us before we were born.  He was there when we were conceived.  He saw each of our cells dividing and the first beat of our tiny hearts.  He watched as we developed each limb and hair.  He was there when we took our first breaths and through all of the bumps and scrapes of childhood.  He has walked with us through every moment of our lives, good or bad, and has promised to never leave us.  We have no fear of being separated from Him even through death, unlike an earthly relationship.  

This life, and everything in it, is temporary.  Everything except for the bond we have with our Savior.  That will continue forever.  Are you feeling alone or abandoned?  If you are a believer then you can turn to Him and He will hold you tight and reassure you that you are His and that you will never be alone.  If you do not know Him personally but would like to have that same oneness please feel free to ask me how to have that same relationship.  There is no need to wait and all of Heaven will rejoice over you with singing and celebration when you make that choice.  Have a blessed week and know that you are loved completely by the Creator, Almighty God. 

Mid-Week Message - Childhood Lessons

"Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts."  Colossians 3:16 (AMPC)

Children have been my life.  I started babysitting in the summers at the age of nine then graduated to babysitting on weekends and nights.  My first job was at a daycare center and I worked in daycare centers all through college and afterward.  Eventually I became a nanny for one family and then two.  

My daughter loves to hear the stories from those days, such as the little boy who could not correctly pronounce Pinocchio so he called him Pickanose.  I have no idea how many times I told her that story but it was a lot.  Children like to hear things over and over.  In my house we read the same two or three books every night for so long that I had most of them memorized!  Movies were watched over and over and songs played continually until Mom and Dad were hearing them in their sleep.  She had a Ronald McDonald tape that she got in a Happy Meal that I found myself singing the songs from while in the shower.  But I wouldn't trade those days for anything.  

There is great comfort in the familiar.  The first songs that we teach our children, such as "Jesus Loves Me", are simple but also easily remembered truths that teach them about the faithfulness of the Lord and the love that He has for everyone.  They like to sing them over and over and that is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom for them.  As they grow we begin to teach them scriptures such as John 3:16.  Because they hear them often, the words are written on their hearts and in their minds where they will dwell forever.  

I sometimes miss the days of childhood.  Things were much simpler when I could just allow the adults to worry about the problems of life and I could enjoy reading and re-reading books and singing the songs I learned in Sunday School.  Memorizing scripture was a challenge that was fun for me and although I had no idea the words would stay with me all my life, in actuality God was inscribing them into my very soul, preparing me for the day when I would need to refer to them in my adult years. 

I am so thankful now for the adults that the Lord placed in my life to teach me the basic truths about His love and steadfastness.  Each time they sang, prayed or recited scripture with me they were helping to engrave God's Word deeper into my mind and heart and teach me about who He is. Because I have that foundation I have hope to turn to on the toughest days. I am also thankful that He used me in so many little lives to do that same thing.  I hope they are thankful too.

As we go through this week, let's see how many of those songs and verses we can remember.  I am pretty sure we will each be surprised by all that comes to mind.  Then, each time we hum the tunes or think of the words, let's say prayers of thanksgiving for those people who invested into our lives.  Because they loved the Lord enough to share with us, we have knowledge and wisdom that is eternal.  God bless you!

Mid-Week Message - About Faith

"Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  Matthew 19:26 (NIV)

I want to share with you a great miracle that God performed in my life.  When I share this one, I get looks of skepticism, but I assure you it happened just this way.  I was on my way home from work in Austin, Texas one summer evening many years ago.  I was travelling down a busy road at about 50 mph.  I had just made it through a green light when all of a sudden the car in front of me slammed on its brakes which meant that I had to slam on my brakes.  I was barely able to avoid a collision.  What I was unaware of was a large, older model car behind me that was following me very closely.  The driver didn't see what was happening.  I looked in my rear view mirror just in time to see her look up in horror before ramming into the back of my car, a Ford Pinto. But God had other plans.  Her car passed straight through mine.  Her face and my face were as close as if she had been in my back seat.  Afterwards, she and I just sat there trying to piece together what had just happened.  Ford Pintos, if you recall, had faulty gas tanks that could explode on impact. If not for the Lord stepping in to prevent that accident, we both would surely have perished.  

Sometimes I answer those "getting to know you" surveys on Facebook.  One of the questions I recall answering was "have you almost died?"  I said no but then I recalled this incident and realize that my life very well could have ended that day.  I know it is hard to believe.  I was there and it was hard for me to grasp.  I just know it happened and I praise God for protecting me that day, and every other day.

A friend told me once that I have "great faith."  Because I know how much I struggle sometimes to wait upon and trust God for His perfect will, that is difficult for me to take in.  If anyone is able to see Jesus by something I say or do, then I thank Him, not me.  But there are some things about my faith that I do know.  I believe that He is who He says He is.  I believe that He can do what He says He can do and that His love for me, and for you, has no limit.  I believe that He has all power and all knowledge and can be everywhere at the same time.  I believe that although there are countless souls that He has created, that He can be with each of them as if they were His only child. I don't understand it but I believe it.

I take Him at His word because He has shown me too much in my life for me not to.  I don't need to know how many hours or centuries were in each day of creation.  He said six days and that is good enough for me.  I don't need to know how He was able to part the Red Sea so the children of Israel could pass through on dry land.  It is enough to know He did.  I don't have to know for sure if Jonah was swallowed by a whale, a shark or something we are unaware of today or how he wasn't dissolved by the stomach acids.  Scripture says a big fish and God is great enough to keep him safe in there, just as He was able to help men walk through a fiery furnace without being burned, keep Daniel safe in the lion's den and help David kill Goliath with a stone in a sling.  

Simply put, He is.  When Moses asked who he should say sent him, the Lord's reply was "I Am".  If He was able to create the earth and all things in it along with the universes and beyond, then I know He is able to have all control over it all.  A pastor in Austin many years ago was asked how he was so sure God exists.  His answer has always stuck with me.  He said, "I know because I know because I know."  That is faith.  I have enough faith that I don't have to see His face to know He is there.  The evidence of His existence is etched on my soul.  I believe what He says because He has never let me down.  If I am disappointed in an answer to prayer, it is because I have been trying to fit His limitless will into my tiny box of expectation.  He is not bound by what I desire and has always, always, surpassed anything that I could dream of.  I may have to wait awhile, but patience is a fruit of the Spirit that needs more growth in my life.

Where do you stand today?  What is your faith like?  Can you take Him at His word and let Him be who He is or do you need for Him to be who YOU want Him to be?  The created does not get to dictate to the Creator.  I pray that if you find it difficult to trust Him, you will be able to allow yourself to accept Him as He is.  When you are able to do that your eyes will be opened to the myriad of miracles He is still performing everyday.  Don't miss them!  With great love and prayers, God bless you.

Mid-Week Message - When God Said "No"

"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.  And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7 (AMPC)

God said "no" today.  It has happened many times before, but today hit me rather hard.  This "no" followed what I had interpreted as a "yes" and because of that I was disillusioned.  My words to my husband were, "I can't trust anything anymore."  Now that a few hours have passed and I have had some time to think, I realize that I heard the "yes" because it was what I was wanting to hear and not anything that the Holy Spirit had conveyed to me. 

See, I took my attention off of the Lord.  I transferred my trust onto what I thought I heard in my heart rather than leaving it where it needed to be.  Only the Lord knows what tomorrow holds.  By His side is where I need to keep myself.  Had I done that, I would not have experienced the distress because I would have known that although this was not His provision, His perfect provision is coming.  

It is not His will that we be anxious about our lives.  He wants us to lean on Him and to trust Him for everything we need in life.  Today should have been a time of thanksgiving and acknowledgement and of seeking peace over the future.  Just as He provided manna for the children of Israel, so He will take care of our needs.  I love the verse for today, and specifically in the Classic Amplified version because it conveys a mighty picture of our hearts and minds being guarded.  We can all have that protection.  It is readily available.  All we have to do is ask God for that peace then we don't have to worry about what is yet to come.

I know I am not the only one that has found themselves in this predicament.  We all go through periods in which we wonder about tomorrow.  What will the medical report say?  How did the interview go?  When will that check come in?  And we find ourselves asking if God truly knows what we are going through.  Does He know how worried we are?  Does He care?  

As I have had to assure myself today, I will now assure you.  Indeed He does care.  He loves us more than we will ever be able to understand.  That is why He reminds us not to fret or worry.  All good things come from the Father above.  Everything belongs to Him.  Whatever situation we find ourselves in He is mighty and loving enough to guide us through.  He has answers that we cannot even dream of and at the correct time, His time, He will reveal them.  Until then, He asks that we rest and allow Him to be in charge.  

I pray that each of us is able to find that peace that transcends all understanding as we go through this week.  With great love and thanksgiving, God bless you.

Mid-Week Message - Looking Forward

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."  Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

I have a vivid memory of lying on my bed as a teenager and thinking ahead to the year 2000.  I calculated my age and realized that I would be 42 years old.  At that time I wondered if that year would even come because it seemed so far off that it was inconceivable.  

Fast forward and we find ourselves at the end of 2023!  The time has passed and it seems to have passed much more quickly than was ever expected.  Life has presented us with incredible joys and the depths of great sorrow that reminds us of the brevity of our days.  

As we prepare to step into another new year, we may find ourselves wondering how to proceed.  So many changes have taken place that we never expected to see during our lifetimes and we can't help but have some trepidation about what the future might hold.  

Matthew 6:34 (MSG) tells us, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."  No matter how hard we attempt to project what will happen in the future, we will be unsuccessful.  There is only One who knows what is ahead and His instruction to us is to trust Him.  

Life can be like hiking through a treacherous area in the darkest of night.  Even with a flashlight we may only be able to see just a couple of steps ahead.  We have no idea what we will encounter.  The safest way to make the journey is to have a guide who knows the way.  

Today's verse reminds us that God's Word gives us the direction we need.  He may only show us one step at a time but we can have faith that He has gone before us to prepare the way and as long as we stay close to Him, we will be safe.  He will never lead us where He cannot protect us.

As we rapidly approach 2024, we can have confidence that the Lord already knows everything the year will bring and knows exactly how He will accompany us through it.  No matter what it brings, He will be beside us.  Blessings await us as we hold onto His hand and we have nothing to fear.

Mid-Week Message - About Thanksgiving

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!  His faithful love endures forever."  Psalm 107:1 (NLT)

The year was 1621.  Those who had made the pilgrimage to what is now the United States of America, had a great feast that lasted three days.  It was a celebration of thanksgiving to the Lord for His provision and protection which followed a time of extreme hardship in which many had died.  None of these precious souls had envisioned the difficulties they would face before they set sail and I often wonder how those who survived were able to show such gratitude after all they endured. 

The holiday of Thanksgiving that we observe each year has become a day that is engulfed in activity that causes tensions to run high.  Rather than a day of praise and gratitude, it is spent exhausting ourselves attempting to fulfill expectations of family and guests.  After the food has been served and the kitchen has been cleaned, men gather around the television and women rush out to shop in stores that now open early to capitalize on Christmas dollars yet to be spent.  

Before we know it, midnight as come and the day intended for giving thanks has ended for another year.  Recipes made once a year are filed away and all thoughts turn to the next big day of festivities.  In all of the hustle and bustle, how much time was actually given to the Lord in appreciation for His great love and care?  

Aside from the necessary prayer at the table tomorrow, will we spend any private time with Him reflecting back on how He has sustained us this year?  Will our hearts be consumed with gratitude or will our focus be on the troubles of the moment?  Whatever our struggles are today will likely still be struggles tomorrow and will be vying for our attention.  Will we choose Him over worry and chaos? 

We are the Lord's first priority.   He is always present.  Always listening.  Always within our reach.  We may not be able to see Him physically with our eyes, but He is always active in our lives.  Every blessing that we receive comes directly from His hands.  He has promised to take care of our needs and to guide us through each step we need to take.  No matter what arises in our lives, His power is greater, His love all-encompassing and He is worthy of our praise.  

This year has been full of ups and downs, some of them have knocked me off my feet, which I am sure you have experienced as well.  However, the one thing we have always been able to count on is that we have a Father that can be depended upon to pick us up and dust us off and help us take the next step, no matter how hard that step might be.  Let's spend time with Him tomorrow letting Him know how much we love and appreciate Him.  Without Him, there would be nothing to celebrate.  

Have a blessed Thanksgiving.

Mid-Week Message - Please Don't Give Up

"Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts or hopes.  May he be given glory forever and ever through endless ages because of his master plan of salvation for the Church through Jesus Christ."   Ephesians 3:20-21  (TLB)

I have been talking with someone of late who wishes to make a big move.  This person has decided it will never happen because of all the details that would have to work out just right in order for this dream to become reality.  After trying to figure out how to make it happen for an extended period of time, this person can see no possibility and has decided that "it must be God's will that I stay where I do not want to stay."  

When I was thirty-three years old, after praying for years and asking the Lord to bring someone special into my life, I gave up.  I can remember telling a friend that I just couldn't keep baring my heart to the Lord only to feel that He was never going to answer my request.  I had been to so many weddings and caught numerous bouquets and I didn't want to continue to hope for something that "obviously" was not the Lord's will for my life.  You know what her reply was?  She said she didn't agree and that she was going to take up praying where I left off.  

Within weeks, I had fallen in love with a man I worked only about ten or fifteen feet away from.  To make a long story short, our first date was on April 27th, he proposed on May 27th and we got married on August 24th.  All in 1991.  We celebrated our thirty-second wedding anniversary this year.  It wasn't a matter of whether God was going to bring this man into my life.  It was only a timing issue.  

Believe me when I tell you that I totally understand the emotional and spiritual pain of praying for something for an extended period of time only to wonder if He even is hearing me.  But I have learned, not only through the story of finding my life partner, but many other times that I have taken my requests to the Father, that I can never out-dream Him.  Sometimes, the answer has been no.  However, when that has been the response, He has never failed to bless me with far more than I could ever have imagined.  

His love for us is immeasurable.  Our minds are incapable of conceiving all the good things He has in store for us.  There is nothing that is impossible for Him.  Our dreams and desires will never compare to His wonders.  If He would allow His only Son to die in our place in order to restore us into right fellowship with Him, then what further proof could we possibly need?

I am acutely aware of the situations that some of you are currently facing.  There are many of you experiencing health challenges that my mind cannot even begin to understand.  There are those who have been searching for jobs for months and are wondering how bills are going to be paid.  I know of a family whose daughter was missing for over twelve years and her body was just discovered earlier this year.  I can't even imagine their grief.  I wish I had the answers that you are seeking.  Although I do not, I know the One who does.  Please do not give up laying your needs at His feet.  His promises are true and He is faithful.  He hears you and catches every tear that falls from your eyes.  Whatever path you are on, He already sees the end and knows just what you need.  Keep trusting.  Keep holding His hand.  Allow those around you to help by praying with and for you. 

And, in the event that you have grown too weary to continue, please let me know.  I would be honored to represent you before our Father.  God bless.

Mid-Week Message - Hope From Isaiah 40:31

"..but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."  Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

What a wonderful verse!  So much hope!  Often quoted, it is clung to in times of difficulty.  And well it should be.  It turns our thoughts upward and reminds us that it is the Lord that will renew our strength.  We get so tired here.  Life is hard.  Some days it seems that around every corner is another hurtle that must be conquered and we wonder each time how we are going to make our way over it.  

I love that we are given the example of an eagle.  Majestic in appearance, eagles are admired for their beauty, grace and strength.  But did you ever wonder how the eagle would describe life?  As wild animals they must face the elements of nature every minute of their lives.  They must toil for each morsel of food, fight for territory, defend their nests and their young and defend themselves against predators, if and when they are encountered.  To me, this sounds like a hard life. 

There is so much more to these beautiful birds than what we see as spectators.   That the scriptures use them to give us hope is quite meaningful.  If I were to add my own paraphrase, this verse would go something like this, "..those who hope in the Creator God, will renew their strength and be able to carry on just like the eagle soars even when its day has been full of toil and woe; they will run and not grow weary because the Lord will continue to strengthen them through each and every painful step and they will walk in confidence, leaning on Him to keep them on their feet."  

What is wearing you down today?  I urge you to look up and to grab the hand of the Almighty.  Allow Him to use the examples in nature to reassure you that He is in control.  For, if He can be the wind beneath the wings of a weary eagle, then just think what He can and will do for us.  God bless you.  

Mid-Week Message - The Promise of Heaven

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain.  All these things are gone forever."  Revelation 21:4  (NLT)  

Today's verse is one many of us cling to.  In a world where we experience so much sadness, pain and grief, this is a precious promise. To be done with worry, stress, agony and grief is almost too much to even imagine.  We live in a world where these things are all around us and we deal with them almost on a daily basis.  Some of us rarely go through a twenty-four hour period without shedding tears over someone or something.

Where do you find yourself today?  What is happening in your life that is troubling your heart and mind?  I want you to know that though it feels as if you are alone in your situation, you aren't.  Not only has your issue been dealt with by countless others, but you have a loving Father who is available for you to reach out to.  

Today, millions are struggling with financial problems.  The money just doesn't seem to go as far as it needs to.  After toiling day in and day out, the paychecks seem to get smaller compared to the debts they need to cover.  As inflation rises our anxiety over how we are going to continue to provide for our families increases.  Thankfully, the Lord isn't threatened by political decisions that spur hardships with the dollar.  He has promised to supply our needs and He never fails to fulfill His promises.  

According to the United States census, one person dies every eleven seconds.  I personally do not know anyone that has been untouched by the grief of losing a loved one.  Whether sudden or expected, hearts are shattered by the passing of someone close to them.  Be it a family member, friend or a pet, having to say goodbye can be more than we feel we can live through. It is said that great grief comes from great love.  Though that does not make it any easier, we can rest in the greatest love of all.  Psalm 34:18 assures us that, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." 

The list of daily pressures is endless.  I have talked about two of them but there are so many more.  Illness, addiction, wayward children, relationships, fear....the list goes on and on.  We all know that our lives can change at any moment by a myriad of circumstances.  That is what makes the promise of Heaven so precious.  There will be no pain, no tears, no death.  No longer will we have to worry or fret, rather we will be surrounded by joy in the presence of our Savior.  

This world and its afflictions will not last forever.  Until Heaven is our reality, remember that there are no surprises for God.  Before He created you, He knew everything that you would face and He has already walked that path that you are now on.  He knows which steps to take even when we feel lost.  His light will guide us in our darkest moments.  He has promised never to leave us or forsake us and His are the only promises that you never have to doubt.  

May you feel the Lord's arm wrapped tightly around you no matter what you are dealing with today.  God bless.  

Mid-Week Message - Faithfulness in Difficult Times

"For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!"  Romans 8:18 (AMP)

My mother's father was a carpenter.  So was her step-father.  They could create some of the most beautiful pieces of furniture and cabinetry that could be imagined.  They both excelled at their craft.  And both were missing part of one finger.  My father's father was a jack-of-all-trades.  He took work when and where he could.  I don't know as much about him as I would like to.  He passed away before I was born.  All of them had something in common and that is that they all realized that life wasn't easy.  It took hard work to earn a dollar and if the economy took a downturn, and it did in a massive way, then those dollars dried up.  

Both of my parents' families struggled in life.  It was a hard road for them.  I have told the story before of how my father moved out on his own when he was nine years old.  As I was growing up I would watch him over-buy canned food.  He wasn't a hoarder, he just liked to have extra.  When I asked him why, his reply was, "I've been hungry before and I'm never going to be again."  That was very revealing about his childhood.  Because of what my parents went through, they were determined that, at the very least, their children would never know hunger.  And we didn't.  We may have gone without some other items, but food was never one of them.  

Life is difficult in one way or another for almost everyone.  I can't speak from the vantage point of the very rich because I have never had a lot of money to spare.  I'm sure they have their own hardships though. My family seemed only to have enough money to make it through what was directly in front of us.  If something big came up, Daddy would go to the credit union and borrow what was needed and paid it back as quickly as he could.  My husband has told me similar stories about his father.  They did what they had to do to take care of what had been entrusted to them but never really experienced any ease in life.  When my father retired, he was looking forward to relaxing some but life had other plans.  My mother's health began to fail and he had to take care of her.  Had he been able to choose, he would have preferred the work he did before retirement.  As toilsome as it was, it was simpler than being a caregiver.  

What is your family's story?  Depending on how old you are, it will differ, but the basic elements will probably still be there.  Hard work to earn a living.  Dealing with financial issues, emergencies, catastrophes of one kind or another, lack of work, illnesses.  These are just a few of the issues we encounter.  Somewhere in the family tree are those who have experienced the turmoil of living.  Find them.  Study them.  What helped them through?  

The Apostle Paul was used by God to write some of the most beautiful and profound scriptures in the Bible.  He was a man of deep faith and completely dedicated to following and serving the Lord.  He was a tent maker by trade so he knew what it meant to work for wages to support himself.  When we read about his life we learn how rough it was for him as a servant of the Almighty.  He was shipwrecked, beaten, imprisoned, whipped, hungry, thirsty, robbed. All during his travels for the Gospel.  How did he make it through?  He trusted his Father.  And he knew that Heaven was coming at which time the struggles would no longer exist and he could bask in the glory of the great I Am.  

The troubles we have today are temporary.  Though they feel as though they will last forever, everything has an ending.  A job will be found.  Bills will be paid.  Illnesses will either be healed on earth or healed in Heaven.  Nothing lasts forever here on earth. We can make it through whatever we face, just as those who came before us did, by focusing on the promise that God will always take care of His own.  He will provide for our needs as He said He will do.  Our job is to walk close to Him and not give up.  He will give us the strength for the next steps, as He did for Paul, if we will ask Him to do so.  

I am so glad that I know how my predecessors lived and the trials they experienced.  It is a reminder that the Lord has always walked with my family and an assurance that He will do the same with me no matter how hard or tiring my days get.  I would love to hear the story of your family and how they made it through all they experienced.  History is a gift.  This week I pray that you will keep your hand firmly in His and that you will ask Him for strength whenever you need it.  God bless you.

Mid-Week Message - Never-Ending Relationship

"For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:38-39 (AMP)

We married quickly.  Our first date was on April 27th.  He proposed on May 27th.  We married on August 24th.  Yes.  All in the same year.  If you ask us why, I will tell you that I knew he was the one on that first date.  If you ask him, he will say it was because I had a house and his apartment was almost up for renewal.  Humor aside, when it comes down to it, we just didn't see any reason to wait.  We loved each other and that was all that mattered.  We got a lot of questions and a lot of warnings that it would never last.  However, this will be the 33rd Thanksgiving that we will have spent together and we still love each other.  

Our first year was spent getting to know one another.  Some days were trying, some still are.  When he proposed to me, after I got over my utter shock and initial elation, we talked about the future and came to the agreement that we would enter into our union with the understanding that divorce was not an option.  Whatever life threw at us, good or bad, we would face it together and we would work through any problems.  We are still together so apparently that agreement stuck.  It hasn't always been the easy way, but for us it is the right way.  In 2012 I broke my leg and ended up spending over four months in a hospital bed in our living room.  He had to do everything for me.  And I do mean everything.  In 2018 he went through his illness.  I didn't have to do all the same physical things for him but he needed me to be emotionally and spiritually available and I did my absolute best to do that for him.  

Both instances have reminded us of the relationship we have with Christ Jesus.  As we promised not to leave each other, so He also promised not to leave us, only His promise is for eternity.  We have been together for 32 years.  Our Lord knew us before we were born.  He was there when we were conceived.  He saw each of our cells dividing and the first beat of our tiny hearts.  He watched as we developed each limb and hair.  He was there when we took our first breaths and through all of the bumps and scrapes of childhood.  He has walked with us through every moment of our lives, good or bad, and has promised to never leave us.  We have no fear of being separated from Him even through death, unlike an earthly relationship.  

This life, and everything in it, is temporary.  Everything except for the bond we have with our Savior.  That will continue forever.  Are you feeling alone or abandoned?  If you are a believer then you can turn to Him and He will hold you tight and reassure you that you are His and that you will never be alone.  If you do not know Him personally but would like to have that same oneness please feel free to ask me, or anyone who carries the name Christian, how to have that same relationship.  There is no need to wait and all of Heaven will rejoice over you with singing and celebration when you make that choice.  Have a blessed week and know that you are loved completely by the Creator, Almighty God. 

Mid-Week Message - He Will Not Let You Down

"The Lord is my strength and shield.  I trust him with all my heart.  He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.  I burst out in songs of thanksgiving."  Psalm 28:7  (NLT)  

When we were young, we dreamed of being older.  Didn't we all wish for the time when we would be on our own, making our own decisions in life and be out from under our parents' control?  We dreamed of being able to do the things we wanted to do when we wanted to do them.  We idealized our future careers, dreamed about meeting our life partners and planned for how we would raise our own children.  We would be different.  We would do better.  How naïve were.

We had no idea what adult life was truly like.  We didn't know how onerous the responsibilities would be.  Not being able to see the future, we didn't have any idea what troubles we might encounter.  Our fantasies didn't include financial problems, job losses, caring for elderly parents, battling disease, worrying over addicted children or dealing with our own mortality.  We certainly couldn't have foreseen political unrest or a time when this nation would turn against those who put their lives on the line every day to protect us.  

The reality is that we have no way of knowing what tomorrow will bring.  I can remember my mother telling me not to wish my life away and to enjoy being young as long as I could.  Those were wise words that I did not understand at the time.  Now, how I long to go back and let someone else be in charge so that I can live oblivious to the problems that life inevitably presents.  Wouldn't you like that as well?  

Life is not just hard, sometimes it is too hard.  Many days we awake not knowing what our next step should be.  It may be that the money is not there to pay the bills or that our job may be eliminated. Maybe a marriage is on the rocks or a child is in danger.  There are so many possibilities that can be thrown at us.  What are we to do?  

Just as those who came before us had to do, we have to find away to cope with all we are handed.  Thankfully we serve a God who has promised never to abandon us.  Though we find ourselves weak and worn, He is strong and faithful.  He says that His grace is sufficient for us and that is a grand promise because much of the time that is all we seem to have to hold onto as we lift our voices and cry for help. 

Praise God that we have Him to run to!  There is nothing that happens in our lives that catches Him by surprise.  Psalm 139:16b says, "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  This is our assurance that before He even created us, He already knew everything that we would encounter.  He has walked the road ahead of us and knows how to lead us through whatever we are facing.  Though the way seems dark, He is the light that will guide us.  

Are you crying out for help?  He hears you.  Does it seem as though the help never comes?  I promise you that He is not ignoring your pleas.  He is there.  Listen for the gentle whisper of His voice.  Sing praises of thanksgiving, not because you see the answer, but because you know that He is in charge and will provide it.  Trust Him.  Believe Him.  Follow Him.  He will not let you down.