......and He hears!

Thou, O Lord!

Solitude

"When thou hast prayed in Elijah's solitude thou shalt have Elijah's chariot of fire"

~George Matheson~

Thankful Hearts

Thankful Hearts

"Call to remembrance the former days"

Hebrews 10:32

"Because Thou hast been my help, therefore, in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice"

Psalm 63:7

When I look at "former days" of this year, my heart is filled with such thankfulness!  Before the chaos of family, friends, travel and traditions, let's all take a moment to look back over the year.

Your year may have brought loss and life changes your way, or it may have brought abundance and life changes.  

Whatever your lot, we can be assured of two things: life brings change....our Great Savior remains unchanging!

He is faithful, He is good, He blesses His children more than we deserve!

Whether in sorrow or joy, loss or abundance, we can rejoice with the psalmist who acknowledged where his help came from.

We've had a year that I never would have expected or asked for. We are shaken, but we still know this:  He's never failed us.....He's provided for our needs in ways we could never have imagined.....He's used strangers and friends to be His hands and feet in our lives.

He is faithful and we have thankful hearts today!

Tell Him you love Him today! Tell Him you are thankful! Praise Him for He is good!

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

Rest in Him!

Hookers and Kings

Hookers and Kings

"But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. "

Joshua 2:4

"By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace."

Hebrews 11:31

I love the story of Jericho's prostitute, Rahab and her place in the history of The Israelites.

She was the wrong nationality, lived in the wrong city, definitely was in the WRONG profession, but she believed, and guess what? God used her and blessed her faith, and we are still talking about her today!

She had heard about all of the miracles God had performed for the Israelites and was drawn to their God. She believed the spies of this God should have all the help they needed.

I love the lesson  this story teaches. It is that God so often uses ordinary, and in her case downright deplorable, people to do extraordinary things!

That gives me hope! I don't have to come from a fabulous family or a long line of wealthy patriots, or be a power player in business, or have a certain amount in my bank account, or have a respectable career, or even appear successful to the world for God to use me!

Rahab was considered trash by all who knew about her! But I just love how God used "trash" to help secure the Promised Land for His people.

She was willing and able.  Are you? She believed! Do you?

Come as you are.... He uses "trash" and kings... And everything in between.

Give your day to Him! He uses all who humbly come to Him and offers a life of blessing to those who do!

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

Tithe On Your Talent!

Love One Another

You Just Wait!

You just wait!

Psalm 62:5-8

5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Don't you just hate waiting??  I always hated any form of wait that came my way.  The last year has helped me come to terms with the concept, and the pain and frustration that can go hand in hand with waiting.

5 + months of either staring at my bedroom ceiling or the hospital ceiling.  Always waiting for the pain to go away, waiting

for the next cardiac event, waiting to get out of the hospital for the 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th time..was I going to live..were we going to survive financially....always waiting, always wondering!

Early on in the process I reached a fork in the road. Either submit, wait on the Lord and let the refining process begin, or wallow in it all.

All of our waiting periods are different, but they usually have a common thread.... They're difficult!!  

I found that in submitting myself to the Master's timetable, my soul was flooded with patience from Him. He has become my refuge  and strength in a way I had never known before. He has proved time and again to me that He is trustworthy and His timing is always perfect.  His mercies are new every morning to me and I found out how important it was to walk one step at a time while looking up to Him! Day by day!

I take great comfort in Deut. 33:25 ... as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

Although it's not easy, if you can learn to trust and wait, His will is revealed and peace will come!

You just wait and see!

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

Florence Nightingale

Florence Nightingale

"If I could give you information of my life, it would be to show how a woman of very ordinary ability has been led by God in strange and unaccustomed paths to do in His service what He has done in her. 

And if I could tell you all, you would see how God has done all, and I nothing. I have worked hard, very hard, that is all; and I have never refused God anything."

Peace!

Wilderness Roads

Wilderness Roads

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

    and rivers in the desert.

Isaiah 43:19

I've written several times about shelf time. Those times in life when you are basically sitting on the shelf, your car is in "park" mode, you feel like there's no plan for you, and everyone else is just cruising by.  And, of course, their lives are perfect and yours isn't!

Our perspectives are so limited during those times. For me, those times usually include a pity party or two-how about you? Then many times I've roused from my pity party determined to make something happen on my own, often with no regard for God's plan for my life.  Oh, the pain and trouble that causes as I usually make a mess of things!

This is what I've learned about shelf time:  

     There's always a reason for it!

     The quicker I submit to my loving Father and acknowledge my need for guidance and wisdom, the quicker the peace comes

     The arrival of peace doesn't always rush things along--His answer is often "wait"!

Finally, I've learned that no matter how tough the waiting, how long, how ridiculous it seems, His plan is ALWAYS the best plan, His ways are always higher than my ways!

No matter how dark, how barren your wilderness and no matter how long you have to wait it out or sit on the shelf, what a comfort to know that our Lord specializes in road building.  He can always make a way where there seems to be no way!

He WILL do a new thing in your life!

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

God tries our faith so that we may try His faithfulness

Butterflies and The King

Butterflies and the King

"But I give myself unto prayer"

Psalm 109:4

"Fervent prayer is like a cannon planted at the gates of Heaven, it makes them fly open"

~Unknown~

As I return little by little to an active life following months of inactivity, I find that there are more and more distractions in my prayer life. I continue to devote myself to prayer, but the focus part is such hard work.

We need to pray without ceasing, we need to make it a critical part of our daily walk. Yet, I'm still embarrassed at all the times my mind wanders during prayer, outside thoughts creep in, other voices call me away from communion with my Lord.

I've told my choir that it was like having an audience with a King and as he spoke, I started around the room chasing a butterfly! 

What an insult to our Lord! 

So, devotion is my focus this week...tuning out the other voices....giving myself to prayer...fervent prayer...choosing the King instead of the butterfly!

May we seek His face before we face any other today!

He makes all things beautiful in His time!

Daisies

Daisies

"In reaching for rhododendrons we trample down the daisies."

Unknown

When we are weak - He is strong!

Prayer Request-Paris

Prayer Request-Paris

Everyone take a moment to stop and pray for those injured in the terrorist attacks and the families of those who were killed!

Giving Up

Giving up!

"He came to see that giving up is inevitably receiving, when one is dealing heart to heart with God."

Taylor

"But whosoever loses his life for My sake shall find it..

Matt. 16:25

Giving up is not always a bad thing. Have you ever thought about that?

I'm reading a biography on the life of Hudson Taylor, a missionary who gave his entire life for China.  He stated "I never made a sacrifice"! What a servant of Christ-- he gave up everything, but never felt it...the eternal rewards clouded his view of the world and all of its charms.

I know that's one of the reasons I've suffered so much this year! My loving Father is trying to show me that what I've lost - a business, financial security, health - means nothing in His master plan! All that matters is that I give up and lay it all at His feet to do with my life as He wills.  He had to hit me pretty hard to get my attention-to show me that in FINALLY giving up, I've gained all that matters!

What are you holding onto so tightly today? Does it pale in the light of Eternity? You could gain the whole world and still lose your soul!

Why don't you let go and give up to him what you clench so tightly. He will be your all in all!

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

Go to The Rock!

Forever!

Unfailing Love

Unfailing Love

"Who trust in God's unchanging love. Built on the Rock that nought can move."

Neumark

Herein is love.....but that He loved us and sent His Son"

1 John 4:10

What a thought! He loves with an unmeasurable love and that will NEVER, ever change!  

I'm on the couch--trying to rest so I can go and lead rehearsal this evening--and I'm overwhelmed in my spirit by this great truth:

"Unfailing love flows from His heart and heals my soul.

In spite of who I am He loves and makes me whole."

Karlsson

Many ups and downs and 8 hospital stays later and I still have no doubt that He is with me...that He is in control....that He loves me most.

Though friends and family may fail you today, you can ever rest secure in His great love for you!!! Thanks be to God!

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

Forever!

Prayer Request-Bill Sailors

Prayer Request-Bill Sailors

Please pray for my friend Bill Sailors who began his fight yesterday against Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

He's a great man and a fine Christian--God bless and heal him!

His Promises

His Promises

"Tarry at a promise till God meets you there.  He always returns by way of His promises."

Unknown

EVER Faithful!

This Little Light

This Little Light

"The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar, it shall never go out."

Leviticus 6:13

"Keep the altar of private prayer burning. This is the very life of all piety. The sanctuary and family altars borrow their fires here; therefore, let this burn well. Secret devotion is the very essence, evidence, and barometer of vital and experimental religion"

~C.H. Spurgeon~

So many times in my Christian walk I've been so immersed in church activities, Bible studies, choir rehearsals.... So very busy for the Lord!

Yes, I heard 1 or 2 sermons per week, did group Bible study, listened to Christian radio EVERY day.  This should have been enough, right? I was such an active Christian, right?

The problem so often with me was that while in my mind I was such an active and strong Christian, I was neglecting the most important thing.

All of my "activities" mean nothing if I am not in daily private communion with my Lord!  He wants a personal relationship with you and with me. A relationship that cannot be fed by "Christian" busyness.

Our personal communion with God feeds our little light, our personal fire.  "For if this fire should be smothered..... It will dim the fire on the family altar, and lessen our influence both in the Church and in the world." ~Spurgeon~

This fire of ours feeds our family walk, our Church work, and our influence on the world, as Spurgeon says.  

The unseen Hand of our Lord fans the flame in our quiet moments with Him!

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

Cast=to toss, or throw

Why??

Why?

"They do all of their deeds to be seen by others...."

Matthew 23:5

"Each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done."

1 Cor 3:13

There seems to be such a casual attitude among Christians in service today.  We go to church because it's just what you're supposed to do.  We buy the fast food for the car behind us because we really should pay it forward.  We do our duty and fill our Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes because it's the generous thing to do.

Why?

Why do you do what you do?

Think about it! Do you ever think about it?

Let us this day bow at His feet and thank Him for being our substitute and taking our sins on Himself.....let us determine to live for Him this day and give our lives in service to our Savior and His Kingdom out of a sincere heart of gratitude.

"Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my ALL!"

Watts

When we stand before the Lord, whatever we've done just because it's what you should do, anything that's done just for recognition and glory will be just wood, hay and stubble burnt up in the fire.

Only what's done for Christ will last.  So.... To GOD be the glory!

Start off with a big "Why?" today. 

I want to live so that I don't give a rip about people knowing of the good I do, the work I do.  Only Jesus! What He thinks is all that matters! All is in vain unless His hand touches what we do!

May you seek His face before you face any other today.

Above All

Faith

Faith

"Nothing before, nothing behind:

The steps of faith fall on the seeming void, and find

the rock beneath."

~J.G. Whittier~

Victors

Victors

"When He shouted "It is finished!", it was the shout of a conqueror. He had overcome every enemy. He had met sin and death. He had met every foe that you and I will ever meet, and had come off victor. Now if I have the Spirit of Christ, if I have that same life in me, then it is I that I have a power that is greater than any power in the world, and with that same power I overcome the world."

D.L. Moody

Praise the Lord!

Whatever Happened to Sin?

Whatever Happened to Sin?

"I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

Matthew 9:13

"What the church of God needs today is to get down in the dust of humiliation and confession of sin, and go out and be separated from the world; and then see if we do not have power with God and with man."

D. L. Moody

I was reading in Matthew this morning and it struck me..."Whatever happened to sin?"

It seems that nowadays, we hear excuses for certain behaviors and we see blame passed for this and for that, but we see very little confession and even less of people taking responsibility for their own actions.

Jesus came to redeem us back to Himself and offer forgiveness.  The enemy knows that men need an awareness of their great need of a Savior and Forgiver.... Maybe that's why society has pushed it so far into the background of things.

I feel humbled before the Lord this morning as I confess my failings. What a patient and forgiving Father we serve!! I fail time and again and He remains faithful.

In this age of self-help and self-esteem building and ego trips and self-sufficiency, maybe we need a little more tasting of dust and bowing before the God of All and confessing our nothingness and His sufficiency. Remembering that in humbling and bowing low, we are forgiven and lifted up.

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

Solitary

Solitary

"Believer, be much in solitary prayer, especially in times of trial.  Family prayer, social prayer, prayer in the church, will not suffice.

Those are very precious, but the best beaten spice will smoke in your censer in your private devotions, where no ear hears but God's."

D.L. Moody

Where'd you go?

Where'd you go?

"Where art thou..."

Genesis 3:9

Have you ever noticed how quickly we snap back to attention when troubles hit our lives?  We get comfy and complacent in our Christian walk and then begin to think "I've got this!", and self-sufficiency begins to creep in and we start walking down paths of our own making.

I want to be found faithful and always seeking His presence and His control in my life!

I don't want him to have to ask the "Where are you" questions when things are going well.  I think we all have the "here I am, God...I'm in trouble" thing down pat!  But, no matter where you are today, whether it's smooth sailing and you're basking in your lack of need, or you're hiding from His presence like Adam was because you feel ashamed of your walk. Remember today that the safest place to be in the good times and bad is right next to our loving Lord.  

"Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love."

Robinson

God, whether I'm in a hospital bed, whether I'm burning the candle at both ends, or even skipping through life without a care.....keep me close by your side. I never want you to have to ask of me, "where'd you go?".

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

Trust Him

Setbacks!

Setbacks

"It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I might learn Thy statutes"

Ps. 119:71

"My times are in Your Hand"

Ps. 32:15

I'm writing this from a hospital bed this morning.  It appears that I've had a setback, it appears discouraging, it appears there's still some work on my heart to be done.

It's weird, but I'm not worried about the finances, the health, or My heart today!  I'm going to rest in His promises to me.  My times are in His hands!! He knows all about this! 

What appear to be setbacks in our lives can actually be times of sweet comfort from and communion with my Father.  I had wondered and struggled the past few weeks whether God would provide our needs, or take a break from us. Stupid of me to do, I know, but I was fighting from a bad place and our enemy SEEMED to have the high ground.

I needed this time in my hospital bed. The quiet early hospital morning spending time in the Word.  Being reminded that it's good for me to have setbacks and be "afflicted" with illness so I can learn from Him and He can remind me in the dark morning hour that He still loves me and cares for my family. He can show me that appearances are deceiving..... Setbacks can be times of moving forward in our faith and trust....times of our Mighty Father standing up and reminding us that He is in control and He is EVERYTHING we need, HE IS..... I am not!

I thought I had a setback Tuesday....you may have one today.... It may not be what it appears to be... Look up!

May you seek His face before you face any other today!

Please pray for me

 Please pray for us. I've been in ER since 1:30 with unrelenting chest pain. Will prob be going up for heart cath in just a bit and hopefully not to bypass. Haven't had pain like this since early spring. God has brought us this far.... He's not leaving us now!

Wait on Him!

Wait on Him

"..and David enquired of the Lord."

2 Sam. 5:23

David "had gained one battle by the strength of the Lord; he would not venture upon another until he had ensured the same. He enquired.... He waited til God's sign was given"

Spurgeon

"As sure as ever a Christian carves for himself, he will cut his fingers"

Unknown Puritan

Oh, how I need to remember to look before I leap, to seek Him before I move.  How much heartache, missteps, blunders, and defeat would we avoid if we let our steps be ordered by the Lord?

If you've stepped away, Look up!  Turn around!

May we seek His face before we face any other today and every day!

He Hears Us!

Cauterizing of the Conscience

Cauterizing of the Conscience 

"If you cauterize a thing, it will hurt at first, but after it heals over, you have no feeling there. Where the cauterization took place, there will develop a hard shell, a thick skin. Sin does that. It cauterizes the conscience, and soon it does not bother us that we are sinning.

This is the of the blinding agent of the unholy one we call the devil. I do believe in the devil and that he blinds the minds of those who believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ shine onto them."

A.W. Tozer

Hope in Him!

Always There!

Always There

"Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?

If I ascend to heaven, you are there!

If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!

If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me."

Psalm 139:7-10

He's always there! Take this thought into your day. If you're a child of God, there is no place to go that His presence doesn't go. There is no place where His hand is not outstretched to you and to me.

Even though we may turn away and slack off from communing with him, you can't escape Him.

Have you made your bed in Hell? Scripture goes as far as to say that even there He goes with us.

You may be completely out of fellowship with Him today. You may be somewhere you never, ever intended to end up and think you're too far gone.

Let me tell you it's never too late. Reach up and grab His hand, call out to Him....turn around!

He's always there..... Hand outstretched......still paving roads through wildernesses of our own making.

Praise His Holy Name!

May you seek His face before

You face any other today!

He will never leave us or forsake us!