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 - Miracle of Miracles

"...and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them."  Luke 2:7  (NIV)  

Christmas has come and it is the official time set aside to celebrate the coming of the Son of God, whose name was called Immanuel, which means "God With Us." He was the first Christmas present  and the only one that will endure forever.  No matter what possessions we gain here on earth, nothing will ever be greater than Almighty God coming in human form to live among us and ultimately die in our place so that we might have forgiveness for our sins and life eternal with Him in Heaven. 

Each year as I gaze at the empty space beneath the tree after the gifts are opened, I think that the tree looks lonely somehow.  Then I think about the manger that held our newborn King and how lonely it must have been when the stay in Bethlehem was over.  For awhile it was graced with the warmth of His tiny body.  Infant cries and gurgles filled the stable with the precious reminder that our Savior was present.  As Joseph guarded and Mary pondered, the Miracle of Miracles drew breath and began experiencing life as we experience life so that He could intercede for us before the Father for eternity.  

Thirty-three years later, another tree sat lonely atop Golgotha.  This one was stained with His blood and marked by His sweat.  Here He was crucified.  Here He took our punishment upon Himself, held in place, not by nails, but by the greatest love that will ever exist.  After His death He was carried to a tomb that belonged to another, His body wrapped in cloth once again and sealed within, to fulfill His promise to rise on the third day.  Once again He walked among us, this time after defeating death itself.  Oh, glory of glories!  

As you and your family observe this day, please spend some time remembering and honoring Jesus.  Without Him, we would have nothing to celebrate. From our home to yours come prayers that your day will be blessed with His presence.  I stand gratefully His grace.  

Mid-Week Message - Unquestioning 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 one of the miracles 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.  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 car behind me that was following me very closely.  She 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.  

Last week I answered one of those "getting to know you" surveys on Facebook.  One of the questions on this one 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.

Last week someone told me 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 this person was able to see Jesus by something I said or did, 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 - All Things New

"And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Revelation 21:5 (ESV)

Life has been trying for our family since the end of December.  My husband went through a terrible illness, had surgery, spent three weeks in the hospital, endured having to do IV antibiotic treatments at home and, to top it off, lost his job.  It is now May and we are only now beginning to get our lives back to a semblance of normalcy.  We have shed many tears and spent much time in prayer seeking God's guidance and deliverance.  

Yesterday, my beloved had a phone interview so I took our dogs out in the car so that he wouldn't have to worry about them barking during his call.  As I usually do, I went to get coffee then headed to a quiet place to park and wait until time to return home.  Interestingly, I parked in front of a tree that had a new growth of leaves coming from the middle of the trunk.  As I sat and pondered that, the verse above came to my mind.  

Now, I don't know if you believe that God talks to you or not, but I know He does to me.  So I recognized His voice and felt reassured that His answer to our dilemma is imminent.  The interview went wonderfully and, in addition, we had two showings of our house (which is for sale) scheduled for last evening.  The house is another issue we have been praying over.  Then, we had another showing today.  

When winter arrives, trees and other plants look as though they die off.  But then spring comes and new life springs forth.  All of us go through winters once in awhile.  But just like in nature, eventually, winter passes and what appears lost becomes alive again.  Just when all seems hopeless, God turns everything around and blessings come from unexpected places, just as the new growth on the tree I saw came from the middle of the trunk rather than the top.  We just have to hold on and trust that the day is coming when the Lord will reveal His plan, and He always does.  

It can be very difficult to trust when nothing seems to be happening.  I know that all too well.  However, when we wait upon the Lord, expecting to see miracles, then when life begins to improve, we know where to direct our praise.  Wherever you find yourself today, I pray that you are able to say, "Lord, I know you have a plan and that you will cause all these things to work together for good.  Help me hang onto your hand for just a little while longer."  God bless you!

Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back

My wife and I love this book and shared it with our dear faith family at Lakeline Oaks Retirement Community in Cedar Park, Texas. We purchased several copies of the book as well as audio book version for their library.

It is indeed a very touching story that will give you a glimpse at Heaven through the eyes of a little boy.

When four-year-old Colton Burpo made it through an emergency appendectomy his family was overjoyed at his miraculous survival. What they weren't expecting, though, was the story that emerged in the following months-a story as beautiful as it was extraordinary, detailing their little boy's trip to heaven and back. This true story, retold by his father but using Colton's uniquely simple words, offers a glimpse of the world that awaits us, where as Colton says, "Nobody is old and nobody wears glasses."

Hope, Faith and Miracles

I ran across this beautiful reminder of hope, faith and miracles. There are many who are facing difficulties in their lives. Continue to have hope which will take you to the next step. Each day and each moment is a step. Let the Lord guide your steps. 

Proverbs 3:5-6 New Living Translation (NLT)

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.

A Quiet Moment

This morning as I was enjoy a wonderful cup of coffee, I watched the sun breaking through our backyard and the trees. We have, as you can see, a lot of pine trees. The morning, although a little cool, was perfect for just standing on the back deck of our home to watch a miracle, a sunrise.

For some reason, I had my cell phone with me. I normally do not carry it around. This morning a little voice said told me to take my phone with me. Now, I know why. I wanted to share this moment with all of our faith family and grace partners.

We need to take a moment each day to marvel at the world that God created and thank Him for the miracles of the sun, the trees, the air and all those things He created for us. Thank you, Abba Father!