FEBRUARY 1 2013

Touch the Inside                                            February 1, 2013

Dear Family and Friends, 

^“You created my inmost self, knit me together in my mother's womb. For so many marvels I thank you; a wonder am I, and all your works are wonders. You knew me through and through,”   Psalm 139:13-14 NJB

            In my 52 years I have seen the mountains of Colorado and Tennessee, the deep green-blue Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. I have taken pictures of sunrises and sunsets from atop a cruise ship and from a balcony in Jamaica. I have smelled the roses in my mother’s garden and the wild honeysuckle at my grandmother’s. I have watched horses run from my window in Ireland, and gazed in awe at the depths of the Grand Canyon.

            All of these wondrous things convince and convict me of a God who is the Master Craftsman. Yet of all these marvelous creations He considers us, you and me, His crowning glory. We are His workmanship, formed with His hands, and with His very breath He brought us to life. In His image He formed us.  “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” Gen 1:27 NKJV

Why do we resist the understanding that we matter to Him?

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:6, 7b NKJV

 Why do we doubt that He loves and cares for us?

“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1Peter 5:7 NKJV

He took the time and thought and energy to craft each of us.

“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.” Luke 12:7a NKJV

 He knows us, planned our lives, and He wants us to live abundantly.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10 NKJV

I don’t say all these things for us to get puffed up in our own importance but to remind us all that who we are in Christ is what matters most. Through Christ we have the strength we need. Through the Holy Spirit living in us we have the guidance we need. Through Almighty God we have life. And that my dearest family and friends should free us to live the abundant, fruitful life that God has planned.

        ^"if My people
           who are called by My name

                   will humble themselves,
           and pray and seek My face,

           and turn from their wicked ways,

       then I will hear from heaven,
                  and I will forgive their sin

                  ......and heal their land. "   2 Chronicles 7:14  NKJV

Let us all pray and seek His guidance as we go to vote this November.
Amen! 
                                                                

Joy In The Morning

"Sing praise to the Lord, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:4-5 NKJV

There were many nights that first year after Erin's diabetes diagnosis that I wondered if I would ever get a full night's sleep again. Most of the time she and I operated from a place of exhaustion. We survived - and she graduated high school - by taking one day at a time. Those first four months were her last in high school. We had a goal: get to May. Day by day.

I must confess that God and I were not on speaking terms at that time. It was more like me yelling, crying out and asking what we had done to deserve this. Still He never left me because the Bible says we are allowed and even encouraged to bring our questions to our Maker. He can take our anger, our crying, and even in all that He can and does provide. He used the angels in my life--friends--to supply my needs for comfort, for encouragement, for stability, and for joy.

Because even in the middle of the night, when my baby girl was saying she was too tired to try anymore, this disease was too hard, and I held her hand and asked her just to hold on until the morning, I knew joy was still possible. I knew deep in my heart, past the weariness in my body and soul, that God was present and His will would be done. And that He loved me and my child more than I could ever dream or imagine. Somehow, somewhere, some when, there would be relief and joy.

Joy does come in the morning. The light of day does provide perspective for bleary bloodshot eyes. Just a thimbleful of hope can carry us into the day. That and a good cup of coffee!

"You have turned my mourning into dancing, you have stripped off my sackcloth and clothed me with joy. So my heart will sing to you unceasingly, Yahweh, my God, I shall praise you for ever." Psalm 30:11-12 NJB

What God Gives

"Why do you complain, Jacob?  Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak." Isaiah 40:27-29 NIV

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Matthew 11:28-29 NIV

Weary and in need of rest? How many of us are in this place today? It's hard to be brave when you are tired, when weariness drains your heart, mind, and body dry of all its energy. It's hard to focus. It's hard to be kind, or loving, or giving when you aren't sure you can place one foot in front of the other.  God knew we would need His strength. Jesus knew we would need his rest. Personally, I must believe what the Bible says.  God will provide the strength I need to do whatever needs doing today, this moment. Then Jesus will provide the rest I need to recover and refresh. Jesus will share my burden, whatever it might be. A burden shared is lighter and easier to bear.  And when we come upon a cool shady place on our journey, we can sit and be still in God's presence.

Hear Jesus' voice calling "Come to me" and obey. Allow him to be the Savior he longs to be, the brother he wants to be, the God he is. Accept what God gives to those He calls His own.

God Cares

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV


I love this verse. God cares for me. God cares for you. We often hear about God's love for us in Sunday sermons, but care is a different verb. It means we are under God's protection, in His charge. So not only does He have a deep affection for us, but He is protective of us. So when the anxious days come, when the trials are way beyond our abilities, and we become fearful, we must remember this verse and go to God in prayer. Our God can do way beyond our expectations. When the devil is prowling the earth looking for the weak and defenseless, we can rest in the assurance that though we may be weak, we are NOT defenseless. 


Go to God in prayer and turn our concerns over to Him. Remember His promise to be with us ALWAYS. Not sometimes, not every other weekend, but He is with us always. Pray for the strength to handle your present situation and the wisdom to act appropriately. And then thank Him. Thank Him for listening, hearing and acting on your behalf. Thank Him for His care. Thank Him for His love, His mercy and His generosity. Thank Him for acting to answer our prayer before we even finish our thoughts.


Dearest Heavenly Father, be with our family tomorrow morning as my dad goes into surgery. Give the doctors skill and wisdom to heal his back. Give the nurses compassion as they deal with dad and with us. Give us strength and peace as we wait during the surgery. Give us love and compassion for each other. And give us yourself always, and in the days ahead during dad's full recovery to health and strength. In Jesus name. Amen

Be Brave

"Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love."
1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NKJV

Our dear St Paul addressed this epistle to the problems within the Corithian church. Pointing them calmly, yet firmly, to the correct doctrine, Paul urged them to be imitators of Jesus. This reminded me that our daily challenges don't always come from the world, but sometimes they come from those we call brothers and sisters in Christ, our church community. Division is not new to church comunities, nor to those who are in positions of authority within those churches. Who do we follow? Who do we believe? Where are we spiritual fed the sweet fruit of God's truth? Why do Christians squabble among themselves when together--in unity--we could do so much good for the world?

Watch, be on guard, keep your eyes and ears open, do not become ambivalent or negligent. Hold fast to your convictions, test them against the teachings of the Bible and stand firm against any word or deed that comes against that faith. Be brave, fearless, courageous, valiant, in defending your faith and your family of believers against any that come against it. Be committed, resolute, determined and stand your ground in doing good, loving each other. And with love. Isn't that interesting? St Paul ends this admonition with do everything with love. Speak the truth in love. Act in love. Defend in love. Agape love is a demonstrative love. When dealing with family, friends, fellow Christians, lead with love. If your heart isn't guided by love, step back, pray, and then try again.

It takes a brave heart to follow Christ, to be obedient to God's word the Bible, and show love. Love makes us vulnerable and many of us avoid that state at all costs. Yet in loving we are the most like Jesus. So this week be brave in loving others and each other. Be brave in being faithful to your God. Blessings!

Fearlessness

"Do not lose your fearlessness now, then, since the reward is so great. You will need perseverance if you are to do God's will and gain what he has promised." Hebrews 10:35-36 NJB


I have looked at several different translations of this scripture since it was pointed out to me in the Bible Study I was doing by Kay Arthur.  In most others it says "confidence" instead of "fearlessness".  But since I have been seeking verses on fear, I thought it mighty sweet of God to share this one with me. So what does it mean? Still using the imagery of us being in a battle of good and evil, a spiritual battle, then this verse is telling us to hold fast, stand firm, be fearless in the face of whatever the world is throwing our way.  How are your circumstances defeating you or frightening you? We can be brave because our Lord God Almighty, our Warrior God, goes into the battle before us. He is always present, so we can draw courage from Him.


Do not lose your fearlessness "now'. I'm sure each generation thinks their decades are the worst. 2011 seems plenty full of frightening uncertainties to me. Our technology allows us access to the tragedies that occur worldwide in hours if not minutes.  We see the heartbreak of destruction from war and from weather, from Afghanistan to Japan to Alabama. It seems more imperative --this now. Today, we must be brave, hold our place in the line of warriors, and do God's will.  Protect our families, our friends, and the weak, the poor, the orphans, the widows, the unloved, the sick, and love them as He has loved us.  Unconditionally. Without restraint. Or as best we mere humans, created in the image of God, can do.


What is the reward? What has He promised? Heaven. A place with no sickness, no pain, no tears, no hatred, no wars, but plenty of joy, peace, love and laughter. I think that is worth being fearless for my God. So when the leaders of this world can't decide right from wrong, and the media appears to be simply there to scare us to death, I remind myself that God is in control. None of this is a surprise to him. And though we may pray for Him to end this spiritual battle now, He knows the time and His goal is to get as many of us to heaven as He can.  So let's do our part and hold the line against cruelty and hatred one more day.