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Road Barriers

Published on by Joan

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; it is not for them to direct their steps.  Jeremiah 10:23 (NIV)

I live ten minutes from my place of work. But along that ten-minute route are seven, count them, seven stop lights.  Now if I can hit it right, every single light is green and I can get to work in those allotted ten minutes. Otherwise, if one light turns red, they all seem to. Then my ride becomes twelve to fifteen minutes. That doesn’t seem like a big deal, except I’m not a morning person. I hit my snooze button until the very last minute that I know I just have to get up, so every minute counts.

It would be nice to live in a world with no stop lights. Or at least, all green ones.

I recall a story in the Bible about a traveler getting detained along his trip. In the middle of the stories of Moses leading the people, there is the story of a man named Balaam.  Balak, the king of Moab, was frightened of the Children of Israel. He saw their great number and feared the destruction of his people.  Balak asked a prophet named Balaam to come to his land for the purpose of cursing the Israelites. 

A simple read of Numbers, Chapter 22, would make it seem like God told Balaam to go, then changed His mind. But a deeper study shows that Balaam’s heart did not fully belong to the Lord.  Although the Lord had told him plainly not to go and to have nothing to do with Balak’s desire for him to curse the Children of Israel, Balaam still entertained Balak’s offer.  It would be like God saying, “If you insist on traveling that dark path, go.” God gives us free will, to choose whether we will fully obey Him or not.

Along the route, an Angel of the Lord stood in the path of Balaam riding on his donkey.  The donkey could see the Angel while Balaam could not. That was further evidence of Balaam’s unrighteousness, that he had less spiritual insight than his donkey. The donkey stopped three times at the sight of the Angel.  Each time Balaam beat the donkey to try to get him to move.  God finally opened the mouth of the donkey, allowing it to speak to Balaam.  Then Balaam’s eyes were open so that he, too, could see the Angel.

Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, “I have sinned. I did not realize you were standing in the road to oppose me. Now if you are displeased, I will go back.” The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, “Go with the men, but speak only what I tell you.” So Balaam went with Balak’s officials. Numbers 22:34-35 NIV

This story makes me pause and ponder. How often have I insisted on doing my own thing and God has attempted to place roadblocks in my path of disobedience?  Perhaps when certain plans go wrong, it’s God trying to shine a red light to get my attention to stop.

There are other similar instances in the Bible. When Paul was traveling on his missionary journeys, sometimes he made the comment that God would not allow him to enter certain areas, but instead would send him somewhere else. We need to be that spiritually discerning in our lives.  If we have that close fellowship with the Father, then when paths are lying in front of us and we need to choose, we will be able to sense which to go down. We will be able to see the red lights and green lights. I hope and pray that I will be so close to the Lord, that I will always choose the right path.  I pray all the stop lights are green.

Heavenly Father, thank You for directing our paths.  Help us to have spiritual eyesight so that we stay on the right path You have already planned for us to walk along. If we begin to wander away from You, please place a barrier in front of us to cause us to return to You. Thank You, Lord, for caring about every step we take. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Are You A David Or A Solomon?

Published on by Joan

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

A couple years ago I learned about my church’s history. They started out in a log school house in 1866 and then built a small wooden frame building. They made small additions and repairs through the years. The people started longing to build a new building in the 1930’s. Every so often the subject would come up, but they could never afford to build. 

Tragedy occurred in 1947 when the wood frame building burned. However, with the resources the church had saved, the aid of the members and the community, a new church was built and completely paid for within a few years. It housed a different generation of people, but the church’s dream of a new place of worship came to be. 

As I read of the desire of the people to build a place of worship, I started thinking about David’s desire to build a temple for the Lord. He had been a man of war. When the established kingdom was finally at rest, he wanted to build a permanent place for the Ark of the Covenant. However, God had other plans.

Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a temple for the name of the Lord God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘Whereas it was in your heart to build a temple for My name, you did well that it was in your heart. Nevertheless you shall not build the temple, but your son who will come from your body, he shall build the temple for My name.’   I Kings 8:17-19 NKJV

Instead of being disappointed at being told by God he could not build the temple, David began preparing things for his son. David stored up silver, gold, bronze, and other items that he acquired from subduing his enemies and he dedicated those things to the Lord in anticipation of Solomon one day using it in the temple.

So all the work that King Solomon had done for the house of the Lord was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and the furnishings. He put them in the treasuries of the house of the Lord.  1 Kings 7:51 (NKJV)

This gave me a new perspective on my dreams of life. There are so many things I wish I could do for God. I hope I will get to accomplish some of those things before my time on earth is over. However, just because I know there are some things I will never get to do, that doesn’t mean I need to stop working for the Lord in whatever way He allows. I can still strive to live a Godly life and hope my life will inspire others to continue to live for the Lord all their life. Perhaps God will use them to accomplish things that I never will. Maybe I’m a David, just meant to live my life and prayerfully prepare the way for my children and grandchildren to be Solomons, fulfilling God’s purposes in their lives. 

God does put desires in our heart to accomplish His will. We need to stay close enough to Him to realize which dreams are truly from Him and to work diligently toward, and which desires, although admirable, are not in His will for us.

Don’t allow unreached dreams to make you feel defeated. Purposefully serve the Lord. Go through whatever door He opens and be thankful for the door He leaves shut. Prepare future generations to serve the Lord all their lives. If you are a Solomon, if God has given you a great task to perform, pray for wisdom. And remember the ones who prepared you for that task.

Whether you are a David or a Solomon, stay faithful and the Lord will bless you in ways you could never imagine.

Heavenly Father, like David, I pray, “How great you are, Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you, and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears.” (2 Samuel 7:22 NIV) May I have the same mindset, Lord, to praise you even if my personal dreams never come to pass. May I be faithful to follow you and Your plans for my life.  Thank you, Father. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Turning Your Back

Published on by Joan

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  Ruth 1:16 NIV

The story of Ruth and Naomi has always been one of my favorite stories from the Bible.  The message of Boaz being Ruth’s kinsman redeemer is a direct portrayal of Christ being our Redeemer.  It’s a beautiful love story.  But the only way Boaz was able to be Ruth’s kinsman redeemer was because Ruth had turned her back on her homeland, her family and all that was familiar to her.  She had chosen to stay with her mother-in-law and move to a foreign country.  She had chosen to follow the God of Naomi.

I never had to make the choice to leave my family in order to follow Christ.  But some have.  Whether we’ve been blessed to have always lived in a Godly home or not, we still have to make decisions every day as to whether or not to follow Christ.  Before dismissing the idea and thinking to yourself, “Yea, yea, I’ve done that,” stop and really think about it.

Ruth completely separated herself from her home country.  More than likely she never saw her family and friends again.  Have we separated ourselves from the world?  Do we live according to the lifestyle revealed to us in God’s Word, or do we still live according to the ways of the world?  Are there people in our life that we need to stay away from in order to live the Christian life?  Is our life with God really different than the lives of those who do not profess Christ as their Lord?

Ruth chose to worship the God of Naomi, putting aside the idols and gods that were part of her life before.

What idols are we holding on to?  Do we pursue pleasure and spend time doing what we want to do more than we spend time with God?

Ruth received the love of the one who could redeem her.  Have we received the love that God is offering us?  Again, before we answer the question lightly and think, “Of course I have,” stop and think.  When we receive the love God offers us, it should be just like the bride that receives the love of her groom and commits herself to him and him only.  We are to cleave to God with all our hearts.  Have we given our love to something else more than to the Lord?  It may be easy to put God in front of the things we consider worldly.  But what about the things that God calls good?  Like our family and friends.  God is to be above all others and all things.

I’m burdened that we as believers in Christ, take our commitment too lightly.  I know I have many times.  We have so much at our fingertips and so many things to grab our attention.  Yes, we have commitments to work, to care for our families and homes.  But we should put as much effort into worshipping the One who gave us all we have, as we spend time enjoying those things.

No, we can’t spend every moment on our knees in prayer and praise.  But think about the love story.  Ruth was aware of Boaz’s presence even while she gleaned in the field.  He made sure that she was watched over as she worked.  We can be aware of God’s presence each moment of the day.  We can be attentive to His voice even as we go about our daily routines. 

Living a life with the Lord is the most beautiful love story ever!  We need to stop and really think about the relationship we have with Christ.  We ought to be willing to turn our backs away from everything in order to follow Him.  Are we living that kind of love story?

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to be my Redeemer!  Help me to really examine my heart to make sure I am putting Christ first in everything.  If there are things I need to turn my back on, please reveal it to me.  I want to be completely committed to living this life of love with You!  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Ant

Published on by Joan

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

Nothing upsets me any faster than seeing ants inside my house.  With all the recent rain we have had, it seems they have decided to come in out of the wet weather.  There is nothing to attract them except for a warm, dry place to live.

During my recent bout with them, this scripture about ants came to mind.  I have to admit I was not considering well of them at the time.  But this verse calls us to stop and think of them in a good way.  So let me try.

They are steadfast.  They are hard-working.  They work together. 

There.  Is that enough?  Well, the verse says to consider and become wise.  Which means to not just think about their characteristics, but to try to have those same characteristics. 

So I have to ask myself, am I steadfast? Here is a favorite verse of mine.

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”  Isaiah 26:3 NIV

When my Dad was first going through cancer treatment, he brought this verse to my attention.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10 NIV

We have no idea the things we may face, or how those things may end.  But if God, Himself, has promised to restore us and strengthen us, then that thought in our minds can help us to stand firm in Him.

Am I working for God?  I recall as a child when we had art, the teacher had everything prepared ahead of time.  She would come into our room and show us step by step how to make something.  The end result was something I would not have known how to do, but with her preparations and guidance, I was an artist!  It’s the same with God.  He has prepared everything for us.  We follow Him step by step and the end result is beautiful.

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 NIV

Do I help other believers? We are told in Hebrew 10:25 to not forsake assembling together with other believers.  It is through the joining together that we are encouraged and built up.

Yes, ants know what they are doing.  Though they still get me agitated.  But maybe that is also a good characteristic to have.  When we are around unbelievers, they ought to feel a little agitated.  Not because of something we are doing wrong, but because of us reflecting the characteristics of Christ. 

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.  Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.” 2 Timothy 2:24-26 NIV

It’s a good thing to feel agitation that leads to repentance.

So, as hard as it is to admit admiration for the critter, we should want to be like an ant for Christ.  To desire to be found faithfully working, steadfastly, for Him.  We need the encouragement and edification that comes from being around other believers, just as we can offer the same to them.  We should want to be so close to Christ that unbelievers are uncomfortable, yet attracted to the One living within us.  May we all consider kindly the ant.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word that gives us practical advice about how to live.  As we go about our daily lives, bring remembrances from Your Word to our mind to guide us, even if it means fighting with ants!  May we live a life that is steadfast and be busy doing the work You have prepared us for.  May we always point others to You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

The Two Sunrises

Published on by Joan

If you stopped by because you read my devotion today over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

 

Sunrise1

 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV)

 A group of ladies with Encouragement Café met recently in Myrtle Beach for our annual retreat.  The retreat is a time of discussion about writing and planning for upcoming events.  We also spend time just encouraging each other, laughing and praying together.  We are just a group of ordinary ladies who have our share of struggles with life, but we serve an extra-ordinary, awesome God who faithfully leads us through every situation.  And we love sharing our stories in hope of encouraging others.

We had two mornings of waking up at the beach.  Although I am not a morning person, I got up early to watch the sunrise, as did several others.  The first morning, there were just a few clouds on the horizon.  As the sun came closer to peeking over the waters, the sky began to glow.  The oranges and yellows began to turn the black sky to varying shades of glorious blues.  When the sun finally appeared, the brightness prevented me being able to fully gaze directly at it.  Even the shimmering reflections upon the waters brought tears to my eyes.

The second morning was cloudy.  We could still tell that the sun was coming up, but even after sunrise, we could look directly at where the sun was hanging in the sky and see only shadows around the clouds.  There were some pretty shades of pinks intermingling with the gray clouds.  But the colors were not as vivid as the bright yellows and oranges of the morning before.

Sunrise#2

 

The world today is living much like the total darkness before a sunrise.   Evil and sin covers the earth.  The eyes of many are blinded from seeing any light of hope.  They revel in the darkness and forbid any light from shining through them.

When we receive Christ as our Savior, His light overtakes the darkness within us, dispelling all sin.  Our life becomes filled with varying colors of beauty.  Each day brings an anticipation simply because of His promise that His mercy and love are new every morning.  And just like the sun shining brightly and reflecting like diamonds off the water, His Light should shine clearly through us as we reflect Christ.  I would even hope that the brilliance of the unobstructed Light within us is so vivid, tears are brought to the eyes of those longing for the same light to glow within them.

But we also need to realize that as believers, every morning may not start with the same measure of light and beauty.  Just like the morning that was cloudy, we can still have the Lord’s light shining from within us, but trials and troubles we may be experiencing are obstructing the radiance of that light.  There is still some beauty intermingled among the shadows like the pale pinks within the clouds.  On those mornings, we need to remember that behind that cloak of clouds that may have enveloped our hearts, the Son is still there.  We can trust in His presence and know the cloud of trials will eventually disperse.

Which sunrise are you experiencing?  Are things bright and beautiful right now?  If so, allow God’s light of love reflect off of you into this dark world.

Perhaps your days are cloudy.  Trust in the fact that God is still near.  You may not be able to fully feel the warmth of His presence, but stay faithful.   You may not be radiant with vivid color, but His Light is still shining and the soft pinks mingled with gray are just as beautiful when reflected with His love.

 Heavenly Father, thank you for each sunrise!  Thank you for the times when I can fully see and feel your Presence.  Help me to live a life that reflects Your love and light to others.  But in those times of cloudy days, help me to remember You are still with me.  Give me strength to stay faithful at sharing the light of Your love no matter the brightness of my day.  Thank you, Father.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Lessons From The Journey

Published on by Joan

Lessons-Journey

My husband and I went on a group motorcycle ride one Saturday.  It was sponsored by the Brother’s Keepers Motorcycle Club and all proceeds went to assist children who were burn victims to go to camp.  Registration started at 8:30.  Everyone that registered and paid their fee was given a ticket for door prizes to be given away at the end of the ride.

There were close to 40 bikes when we first left the parking lot at 10:00.  As often happens when we ride, my mind began to ponder to so many things.  It’s easy when we ride to think about things because of the lack of distractions.  There’s no radio to listen to.  I don’t have my phone out.  There’s no conversation.  Just God and me, my thoughts and His creation.

As we left the parking lot, two law enforcement officers and one representative from the fire department blocked the two north bound lanes of the highway so that we could all pull out as a group.  After we were all on the highway, the law enforcement officers then went around us to block three more signals before their escort ended.  Before riding in a couple of motorcycle runs, I often wondered why a group like that was allowed to go through intersections unimpeded while others had to wait.  Safety is the biggest issue.   Other vehicles are more aware of a large group of motorcycles traveling close together and hopefully they won’t risk pulling out in front of the group as they might would if there were gaps in between the bikes.

We got off the primary routes and onto some back country roads.  We went through several different counties and on roads I had never travelled before. I noticed people outside in their yards going about their Saturday morning tasks.  Yards were being mowed.  Fields of corn were being cut.  A load of chickens were being delivered to some chicken houses.  Sometimes people continued with their work and sometimes I would see people stop to look at the group as we went by.

We also saw some of the lingering results of the Hurricane Florence that had come through the area.  There was dirt and debris still along the edge of the roads.  Gravel was across the road in some places.  And of course, there was some not so pleasant smelling road kill we passed by.  Another part about riding in a group is that one rider will try to alert the riders behind him about debris in the road that can be hazardous for a motorcycle to ride over.  As a result, a wave of hand motions pointing at the obstacle flows through the pack, starting from the ones in the front and continues with each rider, until the last one is aware of any danger.

When we came to an intersection, the leader would stop at the stop sign and when it was clear, he would make the turn.  Two bikes would pull into the travel lane and block any oncoming traffic and allow the rest of the group to pull out.  The two riders would then pull into the rear, their service to the group appreciated.  Time and again, the riders directly behind the leader would pull over at a new road and allow safe passage for the rest.  When we started out, my husband and I were in the middle of the group.  By the time we stopped, we were very close to being directly behind the leader.

We got to the end of the ride a couple hours later.  Food was available for lunch and people just hung out for a while, talking about the ride.  Then finally the door prizes were given out.  There were different gifts awarded worth varying amounts.  Once that was done, people began saying their goodbyes and going their way.

As I previously said, so many thoughts went through my mind as we rode.  The main topic that kept coming to mind was the lesson Christ taught His disciples that to be first, one has to be last.

Scripture-first last

We had one main leader that knew the route.  He maintained that position the whole time.  As a believer, Christ is our Leader.  When we faithfully follow Him, we won’t get lost.  We won’t get left behind.  We will arrive at our ultimate destination someday.  And when we do, we will enjoy the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  We will enjoy endless fellowship with other believers and with our Lord.  We will be given our rewards that we earned because of having our names registered into the Book of Life.

I don’t know if the ones who started out right behind the leader knew that they would be expected to sacrifice their position to be of a service to others.  But I know that after being close to the leader, they willingly humbled themselves to help the rest.  When we follow the leadership of Christ, we will be led to humble ourselves before others in service.  But the wondrous thing is, it doesn’t feel like a sacrifice at all.  Each time we humble ourselves and put ourselves last, God will start raising us back up, just as we ended up being close to the front when we ended the trip.

The lesson of staying close together was also exhibited.  At one point in the ride, it became evident that part of the back of the group had dropped out of sight.  The leader pulled over to a safe location and we followed him.  We waited for just a couple minutes before it was decided someone needed to turn back from where we just came from to find those who were not with us.  A short time later, the group that had gotten left behind showed up.  We learned that a couple bikers had experienced a slight mishap and the riders behind them all stopped until they could once again get started back on their journey.  The group was safely back together and the one who had fallen was taken care of.  Were we not all part of a group, some would have fallen by the wayside and would have struggled alone.

So it is in our daily Christian walk.  Christ is the Great Shepherd.  He will leave the flock to go fetch one lost sheep.  But the body also is instructed to care for one another.  As brothers and sisters in Christ, we can encourage, edify, care for and lift each other up in prayer.  A hard life is made easier with Godly friends.

Scripture-encourage one another

I thought about all the people we passed by.  Many were going about their life doing their own things.  Some never gave the roar of motors passing a single glance.  Others would turn and look at us, a few giving friendly waves of their hands.  It made me wonder.  Am I living the type of life that just makes noise, but fail to get the message of Christ out to others?  Or am I living in a way that hopefully is getting the positive attention of those who are open to hearing the message of salvation?  I long to have folks see me that want to throw up their hand and ask to join along on my journey toward heaven.

Then concerning the wave of hand motions that start at the front of the group and travels from biker to biker until all are warned of danger.  This journey we are traveling is full of dangers and pitfalls. Life is hard.  As believers in Christ, we have words of warning to offer.  Yes, we are to share the marvelous message of Christ and share the way for people to be saved.  But we also need to warn them if they are traveling in the wrong direction and try to assist them in getting on the right path.  Even after getting saved and getting on the path to heaven, we need to share the warning that there will be obstacles in our path from time to time.  The road to Heaven is not always smooth and even, but when we continue to faithfully follow our Leader and stay close to our brothers and sisters in Christ, the road can be navigated successfully.

What about you?  Have you registered for this journey to Heaven?  Are you trying to travel this journey alone?  Are you heeding the warning signs along the way?

Christ died on a cross for the sins of each one of us.  Then He resurrected from the dead, ascended to heaven and lives to make intercession for us.  When we receive the salvation He offers, He will be our Leader on this journey of life.  He will faithfully guide us around pitfalls, warn us of the dangers to stay away from, and place us in His family of believers to travel alongside us.  It’s not always easy, but the reward that is waiting for us at our destination will be out of this world!

The Triumphal Entry

Published on by Joan

Hosanna

 

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!  Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.”      Zechariah 9:9 NKJV

I’ve often wondered about the happenings on the day we call Palm Sunday.  Jesus was nearing the end of His earthly ministry.  The longer He had taught the people, the more divided they were becoming in what to make of Him.  (John 7:11-13, 40-43) Some wanted to set Him up as an earthly King. (John 6:15)  Other religious leaders wanted to kill Him. (John 7:1)  Some even wanted to put Lazarus to death because he was a visible representation of Jesus’ power over death. (John 12:9-11)

Then came Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Jesus told His disciples to get a young colt from a certain place and they found the ass’s colt just as Jesus had said.  They then threw garments over the back of the colt and Jesus sat upon it as He rode into the city.  People cut palm branches and threw garments on the ground for the colt to walk over.  And they cried out, “Hosanna, blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (John 12:13)  This was the fulfillment of one prophecy about the Messiah.  Luke’s Gospel tells us it was a multitude that began to shout out and praise God for all the mighty things they had seen.  (Luke 19:37)

There were even some Pharisee’s in the crowd.  They told Jesus to quieten His disciples.  They did not want the people proclaiming Jesus as the one to fulfill the prophecies of the Christ.  Jesus knew that all that was happening had been foretold, therefore He would not stop the people from doing what they were doing.  Jesus answered the Pharisees saying that if He did quiet the multitude that was praising Him, then the rocks would begin to cry out.

But there were many that within a few short days would suddenly turn on Jesus and instead of shouting praise, they would be shouting, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

I’ve often wondered why people turned away from Him.  Many just simply did not believe Him.  Many may have been upset because He was not setting up the earthly kingdom they were expecting from Him.  But it was also a fulfillment of prophecy from Isaiah, that people’s hearts would be hardened and their eyes blinded to the truth. (John 12:37-41)  Still others believed but were afraid to speak up. (John 12:42-43)

As I have thought about all these things, I cannot but help to think how much things that happened so long ago are still happening now.  Some people praise God with their lips, but their hearts are far from Him.  Some are expecting something from Him and when they don’t get it, they turn their back on Him.  Some are openly cursing Him.  Some will go to church on Easter out of habit or tradition but in their heart, Jesus is still dead to them.  Some are trying everything they can to silence God’s people who are trying to openly praise Him.

But nothing the multitude did, even calling out for Jesus’ crucifixion, stopped God’s perfect plan from being fulfilled.  In fact, what they did actually was part of the plan.  Yes, they succeeded in crucifying Him.  But they didn’t stop Him from being raised from the dead.  Where was the crowd then, having a grand procession for His resurrection?

I’m looking forward to another triumphal entry.  In fact, I’m looking forward to two.  The first one will be when Christ raptures His people up into the air and we are ushered into heaven.  And the second one, the most triumphant one of all, will be when Christ comes back, not on a small colt, but on a grand white horse.  Only then, He will be holding a sword of judgement.  No “hosannas” will be coming from the lips of those living on the earth.  But shouts of victory will be heard from all the heavenly hosts.  And Christ will finally be recognized by all people for who He is – The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

I pray that this Easter will be celebrated, not out of tradition or habit, but that people will be just as excited about praising Christ now, as they were the day of His entry into Jerusalem.  Because this time, we won’t be praising Him for what we think He is going to do for us individually, but praise Him for everything He has already done!  And we can praise Him with full assurance that someday His kingdom shall be established for all eternity.

Along with our praises, may our shouts be filled with, “Even so, Lord Jesus, come!”

 

(I referenced a lot of scripture that I encourage you to look up and read. I pray that you have a very Blessed Easter as you wholly worship our Savior and King!)

 

Dilly, Dilly

Published on by Joan

Trading crown

 

 

I’ve never been a big fan of commercials.  They have a way of interrupting a good show just when something exciting is about to happen.  Of course, it’s getting harder and harder to find really good, decent shows to watch anymore.  But that’s another subject.

I was recently watching TV when a commercial came on advertising an alcoholic beverage.  I think we can all agree that, although I do not promote those commercials, they are often cleverly made.  In fact, depending on which website you look at, there are two alcoholic beverage companies that have produced commercials which are listed as the number one and the number five most expensive commercials of all time.  On the polls that do not list them as #1 and #5, they are still within the top 10.

But when this one particular commercial aired, I was absolutely stunned at the truth in the commercial.  A truth that needs to preached in every pulpit and that every believer in Christ needs to share.

It begins with a medieval king, sitting on his throne with his queen by his side.  In front of him is a wizard, surrounded by a crowd of witnesses.  He is pointing at various things and turning those things into a stack of the king’s preferred beverage.  At one point the wizard informs the king that he is capable of performing other feats.  Such as putting a curse on his enemies. Or granting the king immortal life.  The king contemplates for just a second before telling the wizard to proceed with turning the designated item into his flesh’s desire.

As I said, the moment I saw that, I was filled with awe at the truth.  And deeply saddened.  How many people are trading in the opportunity to spend an eternity with a loving, forgiving God for the temporary pleasures of this earth?  Talk about great discussion starter!

I looked up the phrase that is used in that commercial.  “Dilly” means, “something or someone regarded as remarkable, unusual, etc.”  Dictionary.com also says the origin of the word is sometime between 1930-1935., and was probably the shortening of the words delicious or delightful.

Let me introduce you to SOMEONE who is truly delightful and delicious.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)

Many people think that having a relationship with Christ means giving up everything that may bring them fun, joy and happiness in this life.  But once we give ourselves fully to the Lord, we can experience more joy than we can ever imagine.  And not only does it bring us happiness, but we are fully blessed.  Not so with the unbeliever.  Read the following passages that contrast the blessings of the believer from the fate of those who refuse to have a relationship with Christ.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;  2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.  3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither;  And whatever he does shall prosper.  4 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.  Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.”     Psalm 1:1-6 (NKJV)

“Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.  2 For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.  3 Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.  4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:1-4  (NKJV)

 And not only can we find delight in the Lord, but He can be delighted with us!

 “Those who are of a perverse heart are an abomination to the Lord, but the blameless in their ways are His delight.”  Proverbs 11:20 (NKJV)

“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,  and He delights in his way.  24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;  For the Lord upholds him with His hand.”  Psalm 37:23-24 (NKJV)

 Going back to the commercial, what did the wizard say he could offer?  He said he could curse the king’s enemies and give him immortal life.  Our delightful Savior offers that and more.  And He is far more powerful and greater than a professing wizard.  Not only are we blessed as mentioned above, but when we accept Christ as our Savior, we have the assurance of spending an eternity with Him.

 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.   18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”    John 3:16-18 (NKJV)

 And Jesus, Himself, says this in a prayer He was praying to His Father:

 “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”  John 17:3 (NKJV)

 So if you think that choosing the temporary desires of this life is worth whatever fulfillment it may bring in the moment, let me go a little further.  What if I told you that not only will we spend an eternity with God, we will rule and reign with Him?

“And from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  Revelation 1:5-6  (NKJV)

“This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him.  12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him.  If we deny Him, He also will deny us.”    2 Timothy 2:11-12 (NKJV)

 And as for our greatest enemy:

“The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”  Revelation 20:10 (NKJV)

Everyone may say that it’s a wonderful that the devil is going to get what’s coming for him.  But the sad thing is, that the devil is not the only one to be thrown into that lake of fire.

“And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:15 (NKJV)

 A lot of prayers are lifted up to God asking for this and asking for that.  I think even unbelievers pray for good things to happen for themselves.  But imagine Christ standing before you after you have asked Him for this blessing and for that desire.  What if He tells you that He can give you more?  What if He tells you that He can defeat your enemies and give you eternal life?  How would you reply to that?

Dilly, dilly indeed.

Dad’s Journey – Part 5

Published on by Joan

A Dad By Any Other Name Is Still My Super Hero!

On Wednesday, July 5th, Dad went to the cancer center for the sixth, and we hoped, the final chemo treatment.

For as long as I can remember, my Dad always wore button up shirts.  Whether they were dress shirts or work shirts, they were buttoned in the front and had pockets where he would keep a pad and an ink pen.

On his birthday in May, my daughter Christy gave him a Superman t-shirt.  It seemed to tickle him.  He wore it to the next chemo treatment.  The ladies at the cancer clinic got a kick out of calling him Superman.

Then my brother Nelson and sister-in-law Anna gave him a Tony the Tiger t-shirt.  He wore that to the next treatment and again got a good response from the nurses.  The names from the two shirts were combined and he became known as Superman Tony.

Dad's shirts

For his final treatment he wore a t-shirt my daughter Martha gave him.  In the center of the shirt, it says, “My favorite people call me.”  All around the shirt were the words: Dad, Papa, Husband, Brother, Father-In-law, Brother-In-Law, and Uncle.  When one nurse saw it, Dad told her she could call him anything on the shirt she wanted to call him, but to not ask him for money.  She asked him for a car, instead.

Before starting the last chemo treatment, they checked his blood levels.  Because his heart attack had been caused by his low blood, they wanted to make sure his levels were good before giving him a treatment.  When they saw that his blood levels were ok, they started the fluids and nausea IV.  They had to wait on the chemo so it was almost 1:00 before it was started.  He finished up around 2:30.  Martha came to the cancer center and greeted him with balloons when he came out, in celebration of his last treatment.

As with all the other treatments, he felt ok for a couple of days but began feeling weaker and weaker.  He began to run some fever on Monday, July 10.  He ran a little on Tuesday and had chills Tuesday night.  He had a scheduled appointment at Levine on Wednesday.  He was so weak he could hardly walk.  They decided to give him some fluids and an antibiotic by IV.  They checked his blood and the levels were low so they sent him to the hospital to get two units of blood.  He was finally able to go home around 8:00 PM.

He felt much better Thursday morning.  Superman Tony was back!  He was up at 5:30 ready to eat breakfast and start his day.

When I think of all of the various names my Dad has, I realize that all of those names describe the relationship that different people have with him.  To me, he’s the best Daddy in the world.  His grandchildren and great grandchildren endearingly call him Papa.  He is many things to many people.  Just as we all are to the different people in our lives.

When we have accepted Christ as our Savior, we have a unique relationship with our Heavenly Father.  He also has various names depending upon the need that is in our life at any particular moment.  When we need peace, He is our Jehovah Shalom (the Lord is Peace.)  When we feel alone, He is our El Roi (He Who Sees Me.)  When we need protection and guidance, He is Jehovah Rohi (The Lord is My Shepherd.)  When we are in the midst of a battle, He is our Jehovah Nissi (The Lord is My Banner.)  When we have needs, He is Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide.)  And many, many more.  God is our Everything in every circumstance.

Over the last several weeks since Dad’s last chemo treatment, he has been very weak.  The doctor has said it could be just from the chemo and the stress his body has been through and also from the heart attack he had.   It has been hard and discouraging not getting his strength back as quickly as he would like.

Dad went for the PET scan on Tuesday, July 25th.  It was a long 24 hours waiting to see the doctor for results.

On Wednesday, July 26th, Dad’s appointment at Levine was at 9:20.  Mom, my brother and I eagerly waited with Dad for the doctor to come.  When the doctor came in, he brought up the image of the first PET scan next to the image of the PET scan from the previous day.  The results showed the cancer was gone.  Dad is in full remission!

There is a bell that hangs on the wall in the hall of the cancer center.  When a patient is declared cancer free, they get to ring the bell.  As the nurses and family members gathered around, Dad rang the bell.  Everyone cheered and clapped.

Ring That Bell

We are praising and thanking God for all He has done.  It has been a long, hard four months.  And Dad still has a way to go in building up his strength.  But God has been with us all every step of the way.  May the bells in heaven ring to the glory of my Abba!

And to my Dad, God has most recently been Jehovah Rapha (The Lord Who Heals.)

Dad, you will always be my Super Hero.  And now you have a couple more names.  Cancer Survivor and a Healed Child of God! Amen!

New Names

 

 

 

 

I Just Want To Go Home

Published on by Joan

If you stopped by because you read my devotion June 22, 2017, over at Encouragement Cafe, WELCOME!   So glad you are here!

 

HomeSweetHome

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.  John 14:1-3 (KJV)

My home is ten minutes from my work.  Once I get to work, I change vehicles and drive 35 minutes to my current work location.  That doesn’t really sound like a lot.  And it is better than the hour I had to drive on my last work assignment.

The morning drive I don’t mind.  In fact, I enjoy it.  I listen to music and preaching on the radio.  I love looking at the morning sky.  Most days I like my job.  But the drive in the evening bothers me.  It seems to take longer getting back home than it took to get to work.

There are days when I get back to my main office that I have to run errands or go to appointments that prevent me from going straight home.  By 7:30 or 8:00, though, I feel like I have hit a wall.  I just want to go home.  I not only feel physically tired, but mentally tired as well.

There’s just something about being home where I can totally relax.  Even if I have household chores to do once I get home, I just want to be home.  I want to shut out the noise.  I want to shut out all of the talking and people.  And if I’m totally honest, I just want to be able to stop putting a smile on my face, pretending all is well.

I often feel the same way spiritually.  Sometimes I get so tired of living in this sinful world that I just want to go to my heavenly home.  I want to worship at the feet of my Savior.  I want to be able to feel the complete peace and freedom from the trials of life.

But it’s the getting there that’s tiring.  I know I’m headed for heaven, but the drive seems awfully long sometimes.  We have to live in this world, working and handling all of our responsibilities.  And the longer I travel through this life, things seem to be getting worse.

Do you know, though, that God has given us errands to run?  Appointments to keep?

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.   Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen”.  Matthew 28:18-20  (KJV)

As Christ ascended into heaven, He gave us the Great Commission.  We are to use our time in this world sharing the message of salvation.  We are to teach people, disciple people.  We are to love as Christ loved.  We are to be busy going about doing our Father’s business.  And we can have joy in our heart as we do those things, fulfilling God’s purpose in our lives on this earth.

But then one day, we will get to our limit.  The number of days ordained for us to live in this world will come to an end.  And then, as believers in Christ, we will have the joy of going home.  Once we get there, we can totally relax, being free from all worries.  And we won’t have to pretend we’re happy because for the first time, all will be well for all of eternity.

Are you ready to go home?  Christ came and died for us so that we can have a personal relationship with Him.  He will bless us in this life, even in the midst of problems.  He gives us peace and comfort even in the busyness of life.  He gives us joy when we are in His will.  And ultimately, some day, He will call us home.  I long for that day when I can just go home.

Heavenly Father, sometimes I get so tired of this life.  Yes, there are times of joy, and I thank You for that.  There are times when I know You are using me, and I humbly praise You for that.  Then there are times when I just want to go home.  I long for the day when I can spend eternity with You.  But in the meantime, help me to be faithful to You.  Help me carry out the tasks that You have given me to do.  And help me live a life so that others can see You, and along with me, want to come home to the place You have prepared for Your children. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.