All Post
Friends
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. You have heard it said “To have a friend, be one.” We all need friends, community. We need to feel valued, needed, loved. We need to know that we are not alone as we walk through this world. Friends can share our burdens and double our joy! There are all types of friends. Some are acquaintances, some come into our lives for a reason, season or a lifetime, few are true blue friends that are our deepest confidantes and stick with us through the good, the bad and the ugly. Today, I dedicate this message to what I refer to as my “inner circle of friends.” These are the rarest and most precious relationships. These are the people that know me, know my deepest thoughts and feelings. These are my precious diamond friends. Rare. Trustworthy. They love me in spite of me! They see past my flaws and failures and see my potential. They forgive me when I am wrong, encouraging me to be the best me that God has created. They listen. They encourage. They hold me accountable for incorrect thoughts and actions. These are my closest and dearest friends. These are the friends that you can call anytime day or night and they will “be there” for you. They will not judge or criticize. They cry with you, pray with you and have the courage to stand with you through difficult circumstances. When all others turn away, they stand firm and are close by. Take a moment and do a mental assessment of your friendships. How many friends do you have that fit the description of “inner circle friends?” Then, move forward, grow a few of your friendships into trusted friends who will walk with you through the times of life’s adversity. Become a trusted friend to someone today! John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Photo Credit by: Duy Pham @miinyuii
Simply Be
This morning Jesus spoke to me-The words “Simply Be.”“Remain in me. Remain in my love.Set your heart high above. Do not focus on this life.You will only be filled with grief and strife.You must set your sight higher.Let Me set your heart on fire. Keep your eyes on Me.Your citizenship is in heaven for eternity.Life on earth is passing away.From Me, do not stray. Do not doubt. Do not fear.One day, I will wipe away every tear.There will be no more sorrow-Only bright hope for every tomorrow. There will be everlasting joy.No more will people fight or annoy.”We will dance and worship Jesus, our LORD.We will all live in harmony; be of one accord. We will experience perfect peace.Joy! Celebration! Freedom! Sweet Release!The light and momentary trials that we go through-Will be nothing, Jesus, when we are home with You!
Oak Tree
Isaiah 1:30 You will be like an oak with fading leaves, like a garden without water. Oh God, You teach me to see- So many things about life, its storms, from my Oak tree. My tree stands alone, solid, tall. Other trees have not weathered the storms. They fall. Once this mighty oak was a seed. It was only the size of a small bead. But when it fell to the ground It was buried in the dirt; new life it found. Roots developed and began to spread. A shoot sprang up from what once seemed dead. As the years passed by- The tree grew like a blink of an eye. The droughts came- It went through long periods without rain. The roots pushed down. Digging deeper until moisture and nutrients were found. The winds blew strong- But the tree remained anchored in the ground. It grew-standing tall as a tower. Reminding that God is Mighty; filled with Power. See God in nature. Look around. He is everywhere; His love abounds! He shows up everyday. Take a moment to “Be still. Watch and pray.” When you seek Him, He will be found. His deep love will always abound!
Choices
Luke 10:27 He answered, ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your souland with all your strength and with all your mind’; and,‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Yesterday as I listened to a segment from TBN show Better Together, there were three main points that stuck out: Love God Love others Be obedient I started pondering this as I began reading 1 Peter. I felt the Lord speaking to me of all the choices that we make each day: We make the choice to get out of bed, what to eat, what to wear. Spending time with Jesus is a choice. Being still and listening to God is a choice. Doing good is a choice. Being alert is a choice. Trusting is a choice. Salvation is a choice. Being submissive is a choice. Being respectful is a choice. Being pure and reverent is a choice. Having a gentle and quiet spirit is a choice. Putting my hope in God is a choice. Not giving way to fear is a choice. Being like-minded with Jesus is a choice. Being sympathetic, compassionate, loving others, being humble is a choice. NOT repaying evil with evil or insult with insult is a choice; repaying evil with blessing is a choice. Keeping my tongue from deceitful speech, turning from evil and doing good, seeking peace and pursuing it-all choices. Responding with gentleness and respect is a choice. Choosing to NOT be fearful, a choice. Choosing to believe God and stand on His promises is a choice. Choosing to die to self, a choice… Jesus gave us the greatest commandments: Love God. Love people. Be Obedient. What choices are you making today? I remember telling my children“You get to make choices. Every choice has a consequence, good or bad. You get to make the choices but you cannot pick the consequences!Make good choices.
Fragrance
2 Corinthians 2:15-16 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? There are some fragrances that I absolutely love: the smell after a Spring rain, the scent of leaves on the ground in the Fall, roses, lilacs, eucalyptus, mint, buttered maple syrup candles, apple butter cooking on the stove, cinnamon rolls and sugar cookies baking in the oven, chocolate chip cookies, a variety of perfumes and colognes….the list is endless. Likewise, there are some scents that are repulsive: spray from a skunk, swamp water, dead decaying flesh, dirty chicken pens and animal barn stalls…. When we are following God, loving Him, doing His will, praising Him, loving people, we are a pleasing aroma to Him. I wonder what His favorite scent is? I am sure it is entitled OBEDIENCE. Does it smell like marshmallows toasting over a campfire? Maybe it smells like a brisket cooking in a smoker or maybe a Spring shower? Whatever it smells like, we know that when we are Christ followers, our scent is fragrant and pleasing. But, to those that don’t know Jesus, we STINK. We smell rotten. We smell like death. It is not easy for me to thinkThat I stink.But it hurts me soTo think that Jesus you do not know.Jesus says “Follow me.”“I will wash you clean; give you a home in heaven for Eternity.”Then, you will understand-How the stench changes to a pleasant aroma to God across the land.
Listen
In the gospel of John, Jesus speaks and says “These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 NKJV) I love God’s word and His promises. What He says He will do, we can count on. He cannot lie and will never go back on His word. He tells us in advance many things so we can be prepared. He told us that we will “have tribulation in this world.” He told us that we could have “peace and be of good cheer.” Then, why, when something adverse happens in my life do I often feel like I have been blindsided? I feel unprepared and unaware of how to handle the crisis. For twenty-two years I worked in the medical field within a hospital network. For several of those years I worked night shift. There were two of us on duty each night to handle any given trauma or crisis that arose. I saw firsthand accidents, sickness, heart attacks etc… The list was endless. When I thought I had seen or experienced about everything, something new and unexpected would occur. The one thing that I learned was always be prepared for whatever might “roll in.” We are never guaranteed the next heart beat, breath or moment. We must live and love each day like it is our last. One day, it will be. Tell your spouse, parents, children, grandkids how much you value and love them. Tomorrow it might be too late. The fact is we live in a world that is broken from sin. We have an enemy, the devil, who is out to kill, steal and destroy. We have a Savior who knows all the tribulation and trials that each of us will have to experience. He loves us and came to redeem us. He overcame this world so that we could have His peace, comfort, joy. He never leaves us or forsakes us. When He makes a promise, He keeps it. My bank account may be empty but His account will always be full. I must fix my eyes on Him. I must trust Him. When my eyes don’t see where He is leading, I must take His hand and not let go. I must allow Him to lead; surrender my will and follow. God is calling…Do you have “ears to hear?”On your knees are you fallingOr do you tremble with fear? Is what you are going throughA test? Persecution? Pain?Is He trying to draw your eye to Him; off of you?Is He whispering “Trust Me”, again? Stop. Listen. Be still. What does Jesus want you to learn?Call out to Him; only He can satisfy and fill.All else is emptiness and will burn.Nothing for Jesus is ever a waste!We must share the good news; live by His mercy and grace.He is coming with haste!Soon, very soon, we will see Him face to face!