FORGIVENESS

For the past several weeks I have noticed God’s hand in my life in the little things.  The most recent is getting the right appointment times confirmed for our trucks.  We have difficulty with a couple of warehouses and when the trucks run a tight schedule they invariably give us some obscure time that just won’t work……but not lately.  God has really been handling things for me and Kit and we are so very thankful.   

God cares about the little things as much as the big things in our lives.  I have prayed so many prayers for my family and God has been so faithful to hear them!  Yesterday, I got some bad news.  I wasn’t surprised but I was heartbroken.  But it seems as though my prayers have been answered again.  After praying and crying for several hours yesterday and today I received some encouraging news!  Things are better and better is a good thing!

Why is God so faithful to us?  Can we ever be good enough to earn His love?  Do we deserve His mercy?  Of course not; He loves us in spite of our selfish desires and our sinful nature.  Jesus goes to the Father for us and pleads our case to Him.  When God sees us He sees us covered in the blood of our Savior and He shows us mercy.

We are all sinners and we all make little mistakes and we all make big mistakes that we are genuinely, painfully sorry for.  If our Heavenly Father can forgive us we should be able to forgive each other.  Forgiveness relieves us of stress which leads to healing which leads to joy. 

Our happiness is contingent on our current situation but joy comes from knowing God and depending on Him for our every need.  We must trust that with God all things are possible.  When we seek Him with all of our heart He will  make right that which is wrong and mend our broken hearts.  He is a loving God and He is never far from the brokenhearted. 

Scripture

Taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who takes refuge in Him!  Psalm 34:8

When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy.  Psalm 94:19

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world."  John 16:33

Where is Christmas?

What happened to the spirit of Christmas? 

I am forced to watch commercials while I exercise because we don’t have TIVO in that room.  I hate commercials.  Especially during the Christmas season.  The ones that bother me the most are the ones that change the words to well known holiday music to try and sell me products which claim to make me thinner, prettier, younger, more active, sexier, healthier…the list goes on and on. 

Every commercial tried its best to convince me that I needed to buy their product this “holiday season”.  They are targeting Christians but leaving Christ out of their advertisements because they don’t want to offend anyone.  Well, I’M OFFENDED and I’m the Christian they are targeting.  Who else is going to buy their “holiday items”?  

Christmas has become an excuse for over consumption and over indulgence.  The marketing experts have known  this for quite some time now and take full advantage of our need for more stuff. The store displays for Christmas go up the day after Halloween, completely bypassing Thanksgiving. The only significance Christmas holds for most retailers is that it’s their busiest time of the year ($$$$).  I wonder why????

I’m afraid if we (Christians) don’t stand up and make our voices heard that in the not too distant future the meaning of Christmas will be lost completely.  Christmas is not the celebration of stuff it is the celebration of the birth of the Savior of the world.  From this day until December 26^th will you please join me in saying “Merry Christmas” to everyone you encounter?  Whether you deal with them in person or on the phone end your conversation with “MERRY CHRISTMAS”.  

Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Scripture

She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."  Matthew 1:21

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived unexpectedly in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him."  Matthew 1:1-2

Joy Unspeakable

What is the source of your joy?  I’m not talking about happiness because happiness depends on our circumstances.  If our circumstances are good then we are happy if our circumstances are bad then we are unhappy. Supernatural Christian joy is independent of our circumstances. When physical strength, personal wealth, health and friends disappear; when our circumstances fill us with fear or we are consumed by grief our joy is still ever present because our joy comes from a relationship with God; He is the source of our joy. 

One of my favorite verses in the bible is Deuteronomy 31:8;”The Lord is the One who will go before you.  He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid or discouraged”.  This verse got me through the most traumatic events of my life.  First when we lost our grandson, Caleb, to SIDS on Christmas Eve of 2006 and second when our daughter in law and two grandchildren were in a horrible auto accident that left our four year old grandson, Jason, paralyzed from the neck down.  Although I was grieving and filled with indescribable pain, my Joy never left me. 

Life is filled with events that we would rather not live through but we survive them and we become stronger than we ever would have been if they had never happened.  I wish Caleb had never died and I wish the accident never happened but………those events have brought me into a closer relationship with God.  If I had not experienced such deep anguish I would still be a happy little sinner thinking that all is right in the pit of my lukewarm Christianity. 

Without God we are mere humans ravaged by sin and unworthy of living.  The sacrifice of Jesus Christ saved me and you from death, a death that we deserve!  Because of faith in the risen Savior we have the promise of eternal life.  That alone should fill us with joy unspeakable.  

Scripture

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.           Romans 14:17

Thankful For The "Little Things"

What does Thanksgiving mean to you?  It is our Nations celebration for the bounty that God has blessed us with.  It is our personal Thanksgiving for the many blessings in our lives, our God, family and our country.  It is our thankfulness for the health of our family, the bills being paid (no matter how much is left over), a warm bed to sleep in, plenty of food, enough clothing to set up a small shop, etc….

What about the “other” blessings in our lives?  What about the blessing to talk, see, touch, feel and move our bodies whenever we want to?  What about the blessing to be able to feed ourselves, dress ourselves and comb our own hair?  These are the most basic blessings in our lives and we take them for granted. 

My grandson Jason is paralyzed from the neck down.  Although he is content and for the most part a happy little boy he doesn’t have these blessings.  Although he rarely speaks about using his body I know he thinks about it all the time.  What he wouldn’t give to just be able to get up out of his chair and walk again.  What we wouldn’t give for him to be able to use and feel his body again!!!  When I asked him what he wanted for Christmas this year he said “to use my body”.  I’m telling you my heart just broke right then and there.  If I could buy that for him I would do it in an instant no matter what the cost.

This Christmas when your family is gathered together remember Jason and say a prayer of Thanksgiving to the Lord for the blessing of the use of your body.  Remember our bodies are His temple and we should treat them with love and respect and use them to glorify the Father. 

Someday Jason will be able to use his body again.  I have faith in God and I believe my fervent prayers will be answered, in His time!  God will be glorified as Jason takes his first step and every step there after!!  Glory to God!!

Scripture

One day Jesus told His disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.  Luke 18:1

The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD will answer my prayer.  Psalm 6:9

Beautiful The Way We Are

We pour out our miseries. God just hears a melody.  Beautiful the mess we are.  The honest cries of breaking hearts are better than a hallelujah. 

Did you know that we are beautiful to God just the way we are?  We can never be smart enough, rich enough, famous enough or anything else enough to earn God’s love.  It’s not something we earn.  It is given to us freely and abundantly.  God is never far from the brokenhearted, down trodden, desperate, lonely, etc.  God will meet each of us where we are if we only call out to Him and seek Him with all our heart.

Even when we are going through the fire there is joy in the knowledge of how God uses events in our lives to bring about a better ending for us.  Do not be afraid or discouraged because God made us in His image and every trial and every tribulation brings us closer to Him and makes us even more beautiful than we already are.

Scripture

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3

O Lord, you are our Father.  We are the clay, and you are the potter.  We all are formed by your hand.  Isaiah 64:8

So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God who made you, for he will never fail you.  1 Peter 4:19

2 Chronicles

I am very upset about the current events of this world.  We have the first ever President to be anti Israel, we are fighting two wars simultaneously (three if you count the war on terror), our dollar is falling, our debt is rising and if we don’t wake up and do something about it, life as we know it in America will cease to exist.

The first thing that needs to happen is for our Country to get out of our comfort zone.  Out of the world of “population one” and see the world for what it is…lost.  The government is working diligently to diminish our rights as citizens of the United States and as children of God.  Christianity is being attacked on every front with no sign of letting up.  Things are only going to get worse unless we do something about it. 

Christians can no longer be the silent majority.  We need to make our voices heard if we want real change in the world.  We need to unite and commit to pray for our Country, our government officials, our troops and our citizens.  Pray for restoration of our Nation that can only come by the grace of God.

God has always blessed America, it’s time we thanked Him!!!!

Scripture

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.  2 Chronicles 7:14

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed .  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  James 5:16

Till Death Do Us Part

67 years, 8 months and 29 days.  This is what my Aunt Marie told the pastor when he asked “how long have you and Loran been married”?  Not that she was counting or anything.  When I stooped down to hug her neck she told me about the morning my uncle died.  She said “I went over to hug him goodnight and he held my hand.  He said in a small weak voice “I’m dying.  I love you, I have always loved you”.  I told him that I have loved him since the first time I laid eyes on him.  I layed down and slept for a few hours then I got up and washed my face.  About 30 minutes later I heard a little gurgling sound and he was gone”. 

My uncle had been pretty much bed ridden for the past several years and my Aunt catered to his every need.  When she said “in sickness and in health till death do us part” she meant it.  Like every married couple they had their share of hard times but they pulled through it.  They pulled through it because they relied on God and their shared faith in Christ. 

Death is as much a part of life as living is and it’s going to happen to each and every one of us.  My uncle knew his time was near and he was not afraid.  He was going home where he would wait for his bride to join him.   His death did not catch us off guard because of his lengthy illness but sometimes death comes quickly and unexpected.  What do you do when death knocks you to your knees and you can’t seem to pull yourself up?  When it seems like nothing makes sense anymore and the world around you is crumbling in?  What do you do then?

Turn to God!  When you are broken hearted and it seems like there is no relief in sight turn to God.  He is our comforter, our strength and our hope.  He understands our pain and He will see us through ours.  Our lives are full of what seems like impossible situations…..but this too shall pass.  As believers in the risen Christ our hope lies in the promise that death in this life is not the end but the beginning. 

Scripture

And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.  Acts 24:15

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.  1 Thessalonians 4:13

The Right Place At The Right Time

I received a phone call today from a man that worked for us years ago.  It was a relief when he thanked me for the interview I gave concerning the HISD school bond issue instead of being angry about it.  He appreciated that I was willing to stand up for what I believe in.  I told him that I appreciated his support and I was caught off guard when all of a sudden he began to cry. 

He said “I lost my boy, you know?  And I want to tell you something.”  When he finally got his composure back he said “When that happened all I could think about is what you told me after your grandson was in that accident.  You told me it only takes a blink of an eye for your entire world to change.  You were right, it does.  My life hasn’t been the same since.”  He said “I want to tell you how much your friendship means to me.  “Even though you were experiencing great pain yourself, you tried to help me through mine.  I just want to tell you how much your kindness has meant to me.” 

I can’t imagine that I could have that kind of effect on anyone, but it seems I have. God has a way of putting people in the right place at the right time.  Fast forward 2 ½ years to October 2010.  I gave a phone interview to a TV station because I was passionate about a certain issue.  This is the first time I have ever been interviewed for anything in my life.  The interview prompted a phone call from someone who needed to be reassured that everything would be alright. He is still in great pain from the loss of his son and he knew I would understand that pain.

I was kind of concerned that my interview might have ticked off a few of the wrong people.  Those concerns have been put to rest because of that precious phone call.  God comforted my friend through me and He comforted me through my friend.  God uses our words and actions to work in the lives of other people even when we are not aware of it.  Our words and actions will be remembered long after we have forgotten them.

Scripture

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  2 Corinthians 3-4

Everyone has an image of what they think God might look like.  No one knows for sure because no one has ever laid eyes upon Him.  But there are many descriptions of God throughout bible.  Did you realize that He has a mouth, voice, ears, eyes and feet?  I did….. but I really never thought about it. 

But I was stuck when I read, for what seemed like the first time, Genesis 3:21.  It reads “God made them clothing” “them” being Adam & Eve.  He didn’t create it.  He didn’t speak it.  He didn’t breathe it….He made it.  Even after Adam and Eve ate of the apple, hid from God’s sight and then when confronted about their sin, blamed someone else, He still lovingly MADE them clothing.  The Lord God made clothing out of skins for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them.  Genesis 3:21  What an amazing picture of God!! Isn’t that just like a loving father (or mother)?  No matter what our children do we still love them, we may punish them but we don’t stop loving them. 

He is light and truth.  He is kind and merciful. He is our loving Father.  He is our Creator.  When we are sad, confused, unwell or in deep despair, God is near. He’s not this far off Spirit.  He meets us where we are and ministers to our spirit that we might feel the amazing peace and comfort of His love.  I know that He loves me despite my sinful ways and despite the many times I’ve disappointment Him.  I have felt the hand of God upon me, I have felt His presence and I have heard His voice.  He is real and He is God!!

scripture

Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground."  Genesis 1:26

The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry for help.   Psalm 34:15

The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.  Psalm 33:6

The heavens were made by the word of the Lord, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth.            

For He has put everything under His feet.  1 Corinthians 15:27a

Depending on God

About a month ago I dropped my phone for the last time.  It died and I went into a panic.  “What am I going to do without a phone?”  I use my phone all day long.  Phone calls, text messages, videos and email.  It’s like we are joined at the hip.  I immediately drove to Verizon and got a new one.  That was easy.

Then last Wednesday my computer crashed at work.  I panicked again.  I do everything on my computer; invoices, pay bills, purchase inventory, schedule delivery appointments, payroll etc….   It made for a very stressful time at work as I went back and forth from my office to another office to do my work.   I took my computer to my son, Chad, to repair but I had to leave it with him.  So that means I will be stressed out at work for the next week or so.  Not so easy.

It is amazing how much we depend on our computers and cell phones.  When we don’t have them we feel lost and frustrated.  That’s exactly what it feels like for someone who doesn’t know God.  For those of us who do know Him we know that He will be there even when we break or crash.  When the stress and frustrations of this life are attacking us from every angle we have God to pick up the pieces or repair the damages.   When we put all of our hope and faith in Him we can be assured that everything is going to be alright.  God will never leave us or forsake us.  He will never break or crash.  He is solid as a rock, closer than a brother and nothing can separate us from His love.  Share this truth with someone you love today.  It may be the last opportunity you have.

Scripture

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8

Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: "The LORD knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the LORD must turn away from wickedness."  2 Timothy 2:19

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  Romans 8:39

 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.  John 14:1

As I replaced the flowers at my grandson’s grave earlier this week I began to weep.   I thought about the life that was cut so short and the pain that lives on.  Memories flood my mind and thoughts of how he might have turned out overwhelm me.  Then I think about his family that was left behind to grieve.  His dad, mom, brother and sister and the pain they feel with each passing day.  I understand their pain because of my own pain…..my own suffering. 

But sometimes it’s easy to miss the pain of others when your pain is so overwhelming.  Sometimes when your pain is so deep you just don’t notice that you are not alone in your suffering.  The people around you are suffering too.  When you have a child, spouse, brother, sister, mom or dad that is addicted to drugs or alcohol, it doesn’t’ just affect the person addicted.  It affects the entire family.  When someone dies it affects the entire family.  When someone is sick it affects the entire family.  As much as we would like to believe that we can live our life as we please……we are wrong.  Every choice we make affects another person’s life, potentially for eternity.

Our lives are not our own, we were bought with a price.  The blood of Jesus Christ paid for our sin and allows us to have fellowship with the Father.  We should take advantage of that relationship each and every day with prayer and thanksgiving.  It is only when we come to the realization that in all circumstances, good and bad, God is in control.  He tells us constantly “do not be afraid”.    Even when tragic, horrible, scary, overwhelming circumstances arise He is there!  He comforts us and fills our mind, heart and spirit with His peace. 

I know it’s hard to be thankful when it seems like your life has come undone.  When it seems like all you have to live for is strife and hardship. But you have two choices: you can become bitter or you can become better.  And since God gave us free will the choice is completely up to us.

Scripture

The Lord is the One who will go before you.  He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  Deuteronomy 31:8

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Psalm 118:1

Trials of Life

Trials and life altering tribulations occur in all of our lives, but it seems that some experience more than their share of suffering.  I know this first hand.  When I was diagnosed with a potentially life threatening disease I thought my world had just been turned upside down.  Then six months later our five month old grandson died of SIDS.  Life couldn’t get much harder!  Then six months later our daughter in law and two of our grandchildren were in a horrible accident that left our four year old grandson paralyzed from the neck down.  Yes, this had to be the most life altering experience of my life. 

We all have our own way of dealing with pain.  Some people blame themselves.  Some lash out at the people closest to them.  Some withdraw inward.  Some blame God and some fall on their knees and beg HIM for help.  I fall into the latter category.  It is difficult to say this without sounding a little crazy but if I had not experienced these events I wouldn’t know God the way I do today.  When I needed Him the most He was there!  If you have never experienced the Holy Spirit upon you it is hard to explain the peace that just comes over you.  No matter what the circumstance you know in your heart that everything is going to be alright…..no matter what the outcome.

Our grandson just turned eight and he is a blessing from God.  I know that God did not cause the accident but He did allow it to happen.  I don’t know the exact purpose for my family’s suffering but I do know that as a result I am a changed person.  God has shown me things in my life that needed to be dealt with and things that needed to be done away with.  I truly am a new creation.

God’s Word says that “if we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth.  But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”      1 John 6-7  I was saved at 8 years old and then again at 18 but never really lived a Christian life.  That is until I realized how much I needed Jesus.  Not the Jesus I prayed to when I remembered or the Jesus that I sang hymns to when I did make it to church.  I needed the Jesus of the bible.  The life giving, life saving King of Kings.  I needed the Risen Savior!  And to my joy He was waiting for me with open arms.  All I had to do was humble myself before Him.  I cried out to Him lost and brokenhearted and He rescued me.  He gave me His peace.  The peace that surpasses all understanding!  It’s true, there is nothing like the Love of Jesus!! As you think about the trials of your life and wonder if you can have this peace, the answer is yes.  Yes you can!  Jesus is waiting for you too. 

SCRIPTURE

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.  1 Peter 5:6-7

You rejoice in this, though now for a short time you have had to be distressed by various trials.  So that the genuineness of your faith more valuable than gold, which perishes though refined by fire may result in praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  1 Peter 1:6-7

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth.  I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it.  Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.  Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.   May He be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages.  Amen Ephesians 3:14-21