Only Trust Him

We hear the world say that there are many ways to heaven or that an individual goes to heaven by being a good person... Living a "good" life.  But this couldn't be further from the truth!  If we could earn our salvation, Christ would not have died to provide it.  If there was more than one way and man could do it on his own, than Christ's sacrifice would be meaningless.  No, there is only one way to heaven, please don't miss His message.  Call on Him today.

"Yes, Jesus is the truth, the way, that leads you into rest.
Believe in Him without delay and you are fully blest."

I've Got a Mansion

When you think of heaven, what comes to mind?  Angels with harps floating on clouds?  Golden gates in a mist with an angelic St. Peter standing guard?  Some have said heaven sounds boring because all we'll be doing is singing.  But, when we read God's word, we find all these images are far from the truth... Revelations talks of colors that I've not seen here on earth.  Luke 22:30 talks of us eating and drinking at the Lord's table in His kingdom,  Rev. 22 describes a river, tree, street, and fruits for every month, and in John 13 & 14 Jesus tells His disciples that He is going to prepare a place for us.

So, heaven is not just a bunch of mist and clouds with mindless beings singing for all eternity... no, it is a tangible place where we will have a forever relationship and communion with the God of the universe... we will walk on streets, eat of the fruit, see rivers and animals in living color and we will know a peace like we've never known before.  

When I stop to think about heaven, I look around me at all the beauty... I've said, so many times, how wonderful it is to lay in bed in the morning and listen to the birds singing and chirping outside my window.  So, if earth, in it's dead and dying state, is so beautiful, can you just imagine what this beauty would be like without the curse?  In all it's perfected glory?  I'm so looking forward to heaven.  But, at the same time, I'm still enjoying my fellowship with those I love and the family God has blessed me with here on earth.  I don't want a single one of them to miss this joy and fellowship.

"That where I am, there you may also be up where the truth, the truth will set you free...
In the world you will have trouble but I give you my peace that where I am there you may also be."
- Rich Mullins - 

"I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold."
- Ira Stamphill -

I'm hoping you'll be there to hold my hand and roam those hilltops and streets of gold with me.

Bless the Lord

Psalm 145:2 says, "Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever."  Have you ever thought about the word "bless"?  How could I ever bless God... isn't it God who is in the blessing business?

Until this morning, as I was reading this verse and I stopped to wonder about that word, I had always thought to bless someone was to grant them special favor.  You know... along the same lines as mercy and grace.  But according to the dictionary, one of the definitions of bless is to give thanks.  We need to give thanks, show our gratitude, and constantly show God how much we appreciate all He has done for us.  So, bless God today and sing praises to His name.

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul 
And all that is within me 
Bless His holy name 

-Andrae Crouch-

My Anchor Holds

This weekend has had a theme running through it... I keep hearing "anchor"...  It all started on Saturday morning when the "Our Daily Bread" devotional talked about a picture of a tiny boat caught in a storm in the midst of the ocean.  The devotional ended with this saying, "When we face desperate circumstances, we tend to look to other people for guidance and comfort. They are in the same boat, however—lost in an ocean of life’s ups and downs. Only God is outside the boat, sovereign, stable, and strong enough to calm the storms." 

Then there was a little verse about an anchor... not only reminding me that God is strong enough to calm the storms but He is my anchor in the midst of the storm and will keep me secure until the storm is over.  

So, if you know me at all, you know this brought several songs to mind, one of which was Ray Boltz' "The Anchor Holds".  The chorus says:

"The anchor holds, though the ship is battered.
The anchor holds, though the sails are torn."

Then, yesterday morning, the soloist in church started singing, "There's an anchor for my soul..." It was beautiful.

Now, this may seem a change in subject but, trust me, God brings it all around...

This weekend was so wonderful, I don't want it to end.  Yesterday was Mother's Day... traditionally, for me, a migraine day.  See, I've struggled with migraines for the past 27 years... some years are better than others and, for this reason I haven't had a major migraine (lasting more than 8 hours) for a few years now.  But my migraines are stress related so whenever there is a day that revolves around me, it becomes a point of stress and usually ends with a migraine.  I'm so happy to say that this was not the case this weekend.  

The weekend started with my wonderful husband taking me to Six Flags.  He bought be season passes so that he and I could go to the concerts there this summer.  And, when you get season passes, there is  always a coupon book that goes along with the passes but you have to go to the park to pick it up and make everything official.  So, here's the wonderful part... he took me to the park before it opened and stayed as long as I wanted to stay.  You ask, why is that so amazing???  My husband does not ride any amusement park rides... not one!  He spent the day watching me enjoy the rides and letting me have fun while he sat off to the side.  And he didn't say no... if I wanted to ride something that meant standing in line for an hour, he would either stand in line with me for a while or sit under a tree and wait... no objections, no complaints.

The kids (now all grown adults) put together a beautiful picture for me... a collection of handprints... theirs, their spouses, and all 8 grandchildren.  And our son composed the handprints, along with a wonderful/original poem, into a beautiful picture.  And, the even better part?  Since he did it himself, he will be able to add handprints throughout the years (because we know there will still be more grandchildren).  :)

Then, as if that didn't bring enough "mommy tears", our youngest daughter dedicated her blog to me and wrote the most wonderful words and then the words were seconded by our oldest daughter.  I feel so honored and this is what brings me back to the anchor for my soul.  For you see, these wonderful people in my life "get it"... they understand what is important... God and relationships... moments captured in time.  I'm so happy that we all share the same anchor and that our time together will never truly have an ending.

Does your anchor hold?  If you're not sure, ask Jesus to show you the way.

How Deep the Father's Love for Me

How deep the Father's love for us... how rich/vast beyond all measure...

I feel so blessed.  Every morning, when I wake up (to my husband's kiss), I hear the birds outside chirping and singing.  This morning, the nature sounds even included the voices of squirrels or other little creatures.  I felt like I was in a fairy tale with all the woodland creatures coming to my window sill.  Can they make a dress for me and make my bed too?  Oh, that's only in dreams?  ok... I'll just enjoy the melody of nature then.

The other day, when I walked outside, we had a baby bunny on our porch (eating our welcome mat) and there was another bunny and two squirrels in the neighbor's yeard.  I guess it was breakfast time.

It made me stop and think of how loved I am... not only by my husband but by my wonderful Lord and Savior, the creator of the universe.  When I stop to think... God is SO big that He is indescribable.... the earth is but a spec compared to the sun and other stars in our universe but yet God holds them all in His hand!  And if the earth is but a spec, how minuscule I am upon that spec!  Yet, God, in all His mercy, loves me and cares about every detail of my life.  He provides for me, protects me, and blesses me.

Yes, how deep the Father's love...

"Why should I gain from His reward?  I cannot give an answer.  But this I know with all my heart, His wounds have paid my ransom."

Jesus Led Me All the Way

This morning's devotion was about Moses and the Israelites.  I never noticed this before, but scripture says that God did not choose to lead the Israelites on the path that was easy... Exodus 13:17 says,
"Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.”"

This brings to mind two different melodies, the first, a newer song by Steven Curtis Chapman (note, by newer, I'm talking relatively):  "Burn the Ships" - for those who have not heard it, it tells the story of Cortez and then relates it back to a new Christian... here are the words:

In the spring of 1519 a Spanish fleet set sail
Cortez told his sailors this mission must not fail
On the eastern shore of Mexico they landed with great dreams
But the hardships of the new world make them restless and weak
Quietly they whispered, "Let's sail back to the life we knew"
But the one who led them there was saying

CHORUS
Burn the ships, we're here to stay
There's no way we could go back
Now that we've come this far by faith
Burn the ships, we've passed the point of no return
Our life is here
So let the ships burn

In the spring of new beginnings a searching heart set sail
Looking for a new life and a love that would not fail
On the shores of grace and mercy we landed with great joy
But an enemy was waiting to steal, kill, and destroy
Quietly he whispers, "Go back to the life you know"
But the one who led us here is saying

(Chorus)

BRIDGE
Nobody said it would be easy
But the one who brought us here
Is never gonna leave us alone


Isn't that a good point to remember?  The One who is leading us will never leave us!

The other song that came to mind this morning is "All the Way My Savior Leads Me" and here are a portion of it's lyrics:

All the way my Savior leads me; 
What have I to ask beside?
Can I doubt His tender mercy,
Who thro's life has been my guide?
Heav'nly peace, divinest comfort, 
Here by faith in him to dwell!
For I know whate'er befall me,
Jesus doeth all things well.

 This old hymn goes on to remind us that Jesus Cheers us, gives us grace in every trial, feeds us with His Word and quinches my thirst with gushing springs of Joy.  By the fullness of His love, God provides perfect rest.  The song ends saying, "This my song thro' endless ages:  Jesus led me all the way."  That is my prayer today.... I know God is leading, but am I following or are there "ships" in my life that I must burn so that they cannot distract me from the blessings God has in store?

Living for Jesus

I've been reading some incredible things this week and God's really been speaking to my heart even as it pertains to my view of my family.  

You see, I take great joy and pride in my family. I do realize that I am not responsible for the talents of my children and grandchildren, I did nothing that allowed them to breathe even one minute longer than they should, but I still am proud of the individuals God has created and feel honored to have them in my life.  

But, do I let that joy and pride in my family stand between me and my worship and devotion to God and His service?  Yes... I can't deny it... and for that, I'm not proud. My mother's heart would rather rock a baby than listen to a sermon... I'd rather sing and play games with my family than share the love of God with my neighbor... I'd rather watch my son play softball than sit in Bible study.  This is all wrong.  My first priority needs to be God.  NOTHING should take that priority away.

In Luke, there is someone who is called to follow Christ but wants to go "tie up loose ends at home"... have we ever wanted that?  Ever said, "just let me finish this one last thing"?  Well, what was Christ's response?  "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."  Wow! No time to tie up loose ends, finish one more task, just "follow me"... and that is still what Christ requires... a heart full of devotion to Him.

We need to be focused and our focus needs to be on God and nothing else.

"Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please him in all that I do,
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me."

-----

"Lord, I want to be sold out for You. I want to
love You with my whole heart, soul, mind, and
strength. Give me the power to be who You want me
to be, and to walk in Your ways." - anonymous

No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. —Luke 9:62

The Noise in my Head

Has the noise in your head ever been so loud you can't think?... can't sleep?... feel like you're going mad?  Well, that has been my problem lately.  I've been living with ringing in my ears for at least 8 years now.  I can't remember the exact date that it started but I do remember the event.  I went to a concert with my daughter and as part of the pre-show entertainment, they had motorcycles ina cage going round and round.... we just happened to be in the last row of chairs right beside the cage.  I remember because I had forgotten to take my ear plugs and the noises were so loud that I remember my ears were ringing even after I got home and I don't remember them silencing since.

Sure, some days it's better than others but last night it was like an orchestra of high frequency wavelengths that were tuning up for a concert mingled in with crickets.  At least that's the best way I can describe it.  It's ironic that I have this noise constantly because I used to turn off the computer on the next desk because it was making too much noise during the day (it's ok, no one was using it at the time).

So, the next time you can't get a song out of your head, be thankful that it's just a melody with words that keep repeating rather than this constant, "nails on the chalkboard" ringing sound that could be keeping you up all night.