By Request - Holding Hands

You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great. You enlarged my path under me, So my feet did not slip. 

Psalm 18:35-36 NKJV

I cried out, “I am slipping!” But Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. 

Psalm 94:18-19 NLT

When my youngest granddaughter was just a toddler, on most afternoons after work, I would take her for a walk. The good news was, at that stage of her life, we walked at the same speed, so I had no problem keeping up with her. Sometimes, I pushed her in a stroller, but most days, we walked. She was a toddler who waddled while trying to keep her balance - but one who would much rather walk on her own than hold hands with anyone.

However, she used to do the sweetest thing when we were walking... If she saw a bump in the walk or was stepping from grass to the pavement - without looking - she would hold up her hand, knowing mine would be there to grasp hers and help her over the rough spots and to keep her from falling. I loved the trust that was in that simple gesture. I loved that she already knew she could trust my love for her. Without looking, she knew I was right there with her.

God our Father reminded me that He does exactly the same thing for us. Yes, there are times He carries us. However, in our daily walk with Him, sometimes we choose to walk on our own - that is until we get into trouble. At times the path is rough. Do we instinctively reach for His hand? Do we trust His love for us? Do we know without looking that He will be right there with us?

The Truth of the matter is this. If we would hold His hand when the way is smooth, then when the trials come, they would be little more than a step over with no fear of falling.

Prayer:

Father,
Forgive us for those times we think we can walk on our own. Help us to be like a child in this, too, that we would recognize the need to hold to Your unchanging hand; that we would somehow grasp and understand the depth of Your love for us every day, and especially in the tough spots. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Things to Think About

Praise the Lord!
Psalm 111:1a NLT

I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet with his godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord! All who delight in him should ponder them.
Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty. His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember his wonderful works. How gracious and merciful is our Lord!
He gives food to those who fear him; he always remembers his covenant.
He has shown his great power to his people by giving them the lands of other nations.
All he does is just and good, and all his commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for his people. He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.
What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise him forever!

Psalm 111:1b-10 NLT

Prayer:

Father,

           How amazing are Your deeds, O Lord! How gracious and merciful You are. Great is Your faithfulness to us! Help us to remain steadfast in our faith and to walk in love with those You have placed within our sphere of influence. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What's Keeping You?

Then Joshua asked them, "How long are you going to wait before taking possession of the remaining land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given to you?"
Joshua 18:3 NLT

God had given them the land, but they failed to enter and possess it by faith. To take possession means to occupy the land completely, own it, control it, which is much more than just crossing the boundary line. Possessing it is an act of obedient faith based on the promise of God given back in Joshua 1:11, loosely paraphrased here - "Get ready, cross Jordan, take possession of what God has already given you."

Life Lesson by Charles Stanley - "Israel's partial obedience was disobedience toward the Lord and ungratefulness for all He had already given them." Yes, Israel had subdued the land, but by faith, it still had to be possessed.

And let's face it, I'm sure Joshua was eager to complete his assignment, which included the division of the land among the tribes BEFORE he took possession of his own. Joshua had been patiently waiting for OVER 40 YEARS!

What keeps us from claiming the territory God wants to give us? What is holding us back from acting on His promises?

Prayer:

Father,
          We know You are with us. Help us to walk in the courage You have commanded we have, and to step forward in faith to honor You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Return to Me

I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.

But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches.

Revelation 2:2-5 NLT

Have you ever fallen in love? Do you remember what it was like at the beginning? You couldn't wait to see them. Your heart would leap when the phone rang just thinking that it might be them. Everything they did, everything they said, it was all great, nearly perfect. They consumed your thoughts and probably your conversations as you told others about them. You wanted to know everything about them. You just wanted to be where they were at all times, and probably counted the hours until you would see them again. And then you were content to just be breathing the same air... Do you remember that? 

Now, it's been a while. There's a certain comfort in being together for a long time, but there's also a complacency that can slip in if we're not careful. We get busy with other things in life. And there's laundry and housework and the nitty-gritty of life. Does any of that sound familiar? We may start to take their love for granted - that they will always be there. Are we paying attention? 

I think that is exactly what Jesus is talking about in our Scripture passage for today. 

Remember when you first got saved? You couldn't get enough of Him! Couldn't wait to get to church. Couldn't wait to read His Word. Spend time in His presence. Talk to Him. Read everything you could get your hands on that gave you more insight into being a better Christian. Now, it's been a while... 

I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for letting our priorities get out of whack. We never want to take our salvation for granted. Help us to recognize the difference between confidence and complacency when it comes to our relationship with You. Help us to love one another as Christ loved the Church and gave Himself for us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Not Ever

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?
Numbers 23:19 NLT

We were celebrating my daughter-in-love's birthday at a restaurant with a covered outdoor venue, complete with cake and a big bouquet of balloons. We were having a great time, when somehow, the balloons got loose and floated to the top of the high pavilion. My 8-year-old granddaughter called out to her father, "Daddy, the balloons!" but they were already too high, and she began to cry. 

She LOVES balloons and she had already planned to play with them when she got home and now they were out of reach. He came over to her and quietly assured her that he would get them for her, but she couldn't see how and continued crying. He got her full attention when he said her name and then told her, "I'll get them. I promise."

Well, he didn't immediately spring into action and she wasn't quite done sniffling, and as she climbed into my lap, she mumbled plaintively that she didn't know how he was going to get them. As I held her, I asked, "Did Daddy promise?" and she nodded. 

"And doesn't he always keep his promises?" She nodded again. 

"Then you will have your balloons." To which she replied, "But he's not doing anything..." 

"He will. You can trust his promise."

To make a long story short, they did get the balloons down and in her hands - in fact, he used her to get them. To the astonishment of those in attendance, he and one of his friends lifted her above their shoulders - like cheerleaders do - and she was able to fully extend and retrieve the balloons. She could do that because she had been to cheer camps and loved that move... even though she doesn't currently plan to be a cheerleader.

What a great illustration of trusting our heavenly Father at His Word. Our heart's desire - according to His will - is seemingly out of our reach. It looks impossible and it doesn't seem as though the Father is doing anything... and yet, He promised. His plan is perfect and He uses our faith in Him and the abilities He has provided to make it happen. 

Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through? Not ever!

Prayer:

Father,

          Thank You for such a beautiful teaching moment and the illustration of trusting You at Your Word. Let it grow deep into our hearts. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Friends' Favorite - Stubborn Love

I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.

Jeremiah 31:3 The Amplified Bible

Sometimes for me, I lose sight of how God can continue to love me in spite of myself; all the times I've failed Him, my sin. Do you ever struggle with that? I love the words to the chorus of the old song Kathy Troccoli recorded in the early 80s titled Stubborn Love (NOT to be confused with a song of the same title by The Lumineers). Just the chorus over and over.

It's Your stubborn love that never lets go of me

I don't understand how You can stay

Perfect love embracing the worst in me

How I long for Your stubborn love

It's not about what I do that's important. What IS important IS His love and His grace and His mercy. That is not to say my choices in how I live aren't important - they are - but without Him, I have no hope of making the right choices for those with eternal consequences.

I couldn't remember the rest of the song, so after 4 days, I finally took the time to look up the lyrics, written by a handful of people (Brown Bannister, Sloan Towner, Michael W. Smith, Gary Chapman, and Amy Grant). I have included them here because they are encouraging to anyone who has struggled along the way.

Caught again, Your faithless friend. Don't You ever tire of hearing what a fool I've been? Guess I should pray but what can I say? Oh, it hurts to know the hundred times I've caused You pain Though 'Forgive me' sounds so empty when I never change Yet You stay and say, "I love you still" Forgiving me time and time again

It's Your stubborn love that never lets go of meI don't understand how You can stay Perfect love embracing the worst in me How I long for Your stubborn love

Funny me, just couldn't see even long before I knew You, You were loving me

Sometimes I cry, You must cry too When You see the broken promises I've made to You

I keep saying that I'll trust You though I seldom do yet You stay and say, "You love me still" Knowing someday I'll be like You

It's Your stubborn love that never lets go of me. I don't understand how You can stay.

Perfect love embracing the worst in me and You never let me go, I believe I finally know, I can't live without Your stubborn love.

Prayer:

Father,
            Thank You for loving us with a stubborn love that never lets go of us. Please forgive us for all the times we've failed You or let You down. It is only in You that we become a new creation. Give us clean hands and pure hearts, Father. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M33JTRvNGMI 

Which Way?

The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.
Psalm 25:8-10 NLT

Sometimes in life, it feels like we're going nowhere fast. Sometimes, it seems all we're doing is spinning our wheels. We're in a hurry and we're trying OUR hardest to do life, but the Truth is it's never supposed to be about what we can do in our own strength. 

If we take the time to be still, to get in God's presence and wait upon Him, He promises to not only show us the way but to be with us every step of it. Which way are YOU going?

Prayer:

Father,

           Forgive us for the times we run on ahead and get off track. Thank You for showing us the proper path and for walking with us every step of the way. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

By Request - Strength to Overcome

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1 KJV

In my younger days, I could pretty much do anything I made up my mind to do. However, forty years ago when I wanted to quit smoking, I couldn't do it on my own. I smoked three packs a day - smoked them, not watched them burn. I tried to quit so many unsuccessful times. Until I submitted that addiction to the Lord, I didn't stand a chance of stopping. Even then, this is how it went.

I literally would watch the clock and say to myself, “You’ve been without a cigarette for 3 hours and 7 minutes. If you pick up a cigarette now, you’ve put yourself through 3 hours and 7 minutes of agony for nothing.”
"God, I can't do this."
“God, please get me through the next 60 seconds. I can only do this if You help me.” Literally, the next 60 seconds...

And that was the Truth, I COULD NOT, but by HIS grace and HIS mercy and HIS strength and based on HIS WORDS, I was victorious. 1st Corinthians 10:13b, And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.

And He did.

Do I think cigarettes will keep someone out of Heaven? I’m not God. Scripture tells us to work out our own salvation, and I believe that means God will work on us as individuals regarding the things that He wants out of our lives and what He wants in our lives and what He wants done in our relationship with Him…because He loves us.

That’s what we have to recognize. ALL that He does, ALL that He speaks to our hearts, ALL - Everything - is because He loves us.

I had prayed and prayed for God to just supernaturally deliver me from the nicotine addiction – to take away the desire because I’d heard so many testimonies of how He had done that for others. After all, He’s no respecter of persons, right (according to Acts 10:34)? So why didn’t He just do that for me?!? However, that’s not the way He chose to deliver me from it. Why? Well, I think it's because I'm rather headstrong and stubborn-willed, and He wanted me to realize that I could not do it on my own. I learned a very valuable lesson about relying on God because I could NOT do it in my own strength.

Hebrews 12:10b-11 NLT, reassures us; God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.

Be encouraged today. No matter WHAT it is you're going through or trying to get through - He will see you through it. God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Do it in HIS strength. That's REAL strength.

Prayer:

Father,
Thank You for the reminder that You are always there for us - to cause us to be victorious. Your Word encourages us to confess our struggles so that we may be healed. Hasten to perform Your Word in our lives, O Lord our God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen.

Have You Asked?

When Acsah married Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What’s the matter?”

She said, “Give me another gift. You have already given me land in the Negev; now please give me springs of water, too.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.
Joshua 15:18-19 NLT

Stuck in the middle of all the land grants for the children of Israel is this exchange between Caleb and his daughter. And to me, it is the Old Testament illustration of James 4:2, ye have not because ye ask not.

Caleb, an earthy father, knew how to give his daughter gifts that she needed and desired when she asked. Matthew 7:11 NLT tells us, if WE know how, then how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask Him?

Have you asked according to His will?

Prayer:

Father,

           We embrace Your Truth to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, we will let our requests be made known to You. We thank You for Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, that it will guard our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. And we pray it all in Jesus' Name. Amen

An Inkling of a Twinkling

But I am telling you this strange and wonderful secret: we shall not all die, but we shall all be given new bodies! It will all happen in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For there will be a trumpet blast from the sky, and all the Christians who have died will suddenly become alive, with new bodies that will never, never die; and then we who are still alive shall suddenly have new bodies too. For our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish but will live forever.

1 Corinthians 14:51-53 The Living Bible

Within my sphere of influence, we've lost quite a few people in the last 9½ months - and I'm not counting people who I know OF but didn't know personally. Frankly, I'm tired of death. Lately, my mindset has been that I'm tired of losing people. But today, I reminded myself of this Truth - the good news is that of the 11, I know without a doubt that I will see 10 of them again, and I'm hoping for the 11th...  

Life can change in an instant - without warning. We all know of incidents where that has happened. How many times have we heard something to the effect of, "I just talked to him yesterday..."? Look around. The signs of the times are more evidence of God's love for us. He told us what would happen, what we would see, what we would hear... There's a strong inkling that things could change in a twinkling.

Death is not permanent. Eternity is. Where will you spend yours? 

Prayer:

Father, 

          While we remain, we pray for divine appointments; opportunities that allow us to lead others to You, helping others to grow in wisdom and faith, to become stronger in relationship with You and with their fellow followers of Christ. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

At Face Value

So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath. 
    Three days after making the treaty, they learned that these people actually lived nearby!
Joshua 9:14-16a NLT

After Joshua and the Israelites defeated and destroyed Jericho and Ai, the people of Gibeon came up with a plan to make a peace treaty with them. The Hivites masterminded and executed a great deception to accomplish their goal. (You can read about it in vvs. 3-8.) 

Joshua and the men of Israel did the right thing in asking the right questions, but the problem was they didn't ask the right Person. They looked at the evidence presented and accepted it at face value, and so they were deceived. 

Psalm 100:3 MEV reminds us, Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Let us remember, we cannot afford to make plans unless we first consult with the Lord. No matter how innocuous it appears to be, no matter how sweet the deal, no matter if we've done it before, we cannot become complacent nor trust in our own understanding of the situation. Instead, let's adhere to Face-to-face value with the Lord.

Prayer:

Father, 

         Thank You for always being available. Help us to remember to ascribe to Solomon's wise advice in Proverbs 3, to trust in You, Lord, with all our heart; and to not depend on our own understanding; to seek Your will in all we do, knowing that You will show us which path to take. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

By Request - Change of Heart

 Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world...

Philippians 2:14-15 KJV

Do you ever catch yourself grumbling or complaining for no real reason? Do you get irked because somebody cuts you off in traffic or because someone needs something "right away" when you had planned that time for chilling out? 

I've found myself doing that and I don't like it. My prayer has been like the song, ♪♫ Change my heart, O God.  Make it ever true. Change my heart, O God. May I be like You. ♪♫  I don't want to be a malcontent. I want to be blameless and harmless - a light in a dark world. 

What I have realized is that God is not going to change my heart by causing others to quit cutting me off in traffic. That's the way I would like for Him to do it. But no, His ways are not my ways...

It has taken me a little while to realize that God has arranged ample opportunities - a veritable onslaught of interruptions and less-than-polite drivers - so that I may be able to practice and overcome not grumbling and/or complaining, and also, to lovingly provide more opportunities to change my heart.

Prayer:
          Thank You for Your everlasting love and for the hope that we could be like You. ♪♫ Change our hearts, O God.  Make them ever true. Change our hearts, O God. May we be like You. ♪♫ In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Being Neighborly

 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
"Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10:25-29 NLT

Hurricanes and flooding and other so-called natural disasters don't pick and choose which side of town to wipe out. Devastation has no economic or social barriers. It doesn't care who you voted for or what color your skin happens to be. In the moment, it is a great equalizer.

We all know the story of the Good Samaritan. Once again, we're living it. People we don't know pitching in to help gut homes devastated by Ida, trucking supplies to neighboring states, hauling trash to the curb. Why? Simply because they need help. The kindnesses are both humbling and overwhelming. People connecting and helping each other, giving to one another, sharing whatever they have to share. People I know who have lost - out helping others who have also lost. Those who have not lost - out helping those who have. It's amazing. It doesn't matter who you are or where you live or whether or not the latest hurricane took anything from you, neighbors are helping neighbors.

Verses 36-37, “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

Prayer:

Father,
         Oh, how I pray this love for our neighbors will transcend storms and earthquakes and tsunamis! Lord, we are witnessing Your love poured out across (and in spite of) socio-economic-politico barriers. Help us to be ever mindful to Now go and do the same. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen