Blog Break

 MWB will Resume 06-10-2024
Stay in The Word!
Miles of Smiles, Beverly

Make It Personal

In business class I learned personal or confidential letters should be clearly marked "Personal and Confidential." Of course, if a piece of mail isn't addressed to you, you should assume, it is ... personal or confidential! From the beginning, God intended a personal relationship with mankind. It's unimaginable The Creator of the universe would want to be in relationship with us yet He does. To His disciples, Jesus said, "Abide in Me, and I in you" (John 15:4, ESV). Can you think of anything closer, more intimate or personal than ... He-in-me and me-in-Him? Jesus went on to make known just how serious He is about a personal relationship: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. (John 15:13-15, ESV). That "greater love" was made most personal when Jesus did indeed "lay down" His life for you and I. How grateful are you for that personal declaration? Yes, God's love - Jesus' sacrifice - The Holy Spirit's indwelling are altogether as personal as it gets. Make it real in your life ... make it personal.

Avoid the Crisis

Do you know who you are? Perhaps you recall a period of time in your life or someone you know when they were trying to "find themselves." When that happens mid-life, we refer to it as a "crisis." I suggest it's a crisis in everyone's life when they fail to recognize the treasured place that exists for all who know Jesus as Savior. The Apostle John referred to himself as the "disciple whom Jesus loved." Of course, Jesus loved all His disciples - as He loves all His children - but John had discovered something life-changing: he knew the only one that truly mattered - Jesus, and an inseparable love Jesus had for him. "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39, ESV). John didn't say I'm pretty sure nor I hope so; no, he was certain of who he was because of Jesus. A crisis will come to us - a  circumstance, a situation, a relationship - but there is a Person and a Place where no crisis will survive. Trust Jesus ... avoid the crisis.

Best Goodwill

Edgar J. Helms, a Methodist minister, collected used clothes [and household goods] from the wealthier areas of Boston. He then trained and hired the poor to work, mending and repairing the items which were then sold or given to them. How many of us have cleaned out our own closets and cabinets, donating gently used items to Helm's Goodwill Industries! Perhaps one of Satan's most subtle yet effective strategies is his suggestion we're not "good enough." He loves to nag us about those besetting sins - those strongholds or habits constantly harassing, troubling and waylaying us. Over and over, again and again, we fail and fall, finding ourselves yet again at Jesus' feet petitioning His mercy and forgiveness. All the while, Satan hovers in the background with his see-I-was-right and I-told-you-so blather. Okay, this we know: "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags." (Isaiah 64:6). Nonetheless, "there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1) and "if we confess our sins, [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). Better than used goods refurbished and put to use once again are those who have genuinely trusted their sinfulness to the redemptive work of Jesus Who has turned our mourning into gladness: "Anyone who is in Christ ... is a new creation ... the old has passed away ... the new has come" (1 Corinthians 5:17). The stumbling caused by Satan and sin knows its end in the Merciful Redemptive Power of God through Jesus Christ.That is goodwill at its best!

Rightly Motivated

People are motivated by many things - literally, the list is endless. Motivation is not a bad thing although we are wise to give it seriously consideration. Jesus spoke of right motivation: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15, ESV). How's that for simple, clear, concise motivation! I've been accused of being a rule-follower; for sure, I've always preferred the joy of obedience over the unpleasant consequences of disobedience. Although God has given me His standards (measures of holiness), He has never insisted I obey them. However, because I know He loves me, I want to love Him back and be in close relationship with Him. Therein is the greatest motivation to obey: my love for God. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV). There is an immeasurable degree of peace, rest and freedom in doing so! I'm not offended by being counted among the "rule keepers" - those who choose to follow God's commands, to walk boldly and confidently in His Spirit, to enjoy rest in the grace He has secured for me through the cross. Rightly motivated by love for Jesus, I obey - it's my ... greatest joy.

Only Way To Pray

Are you easily convinced? I often describe Mister Bill as a "hard sale" because he is a serious skeptic. In contrast, I'm too gullible! God tells us in 1 Thessalonians to "pray without ceasing" (5:17) - a continual offering-up of communication with Him, much like the automation of breathing ... in and out, in and out, in and out. Oswald Chambers writes "prayer is not an exercise, it is the life of the saint" (My Utmost for His Highest). If prayer isn't merely an exercise but [rather] a vital part of the Believer's life, how convinced are we that God answers prayer? Do we pray convinced God answers or do we gauge the effectiveness of our prayers by the expected outcome? God says "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:8-11, NASB). If we pray unconvinced, without confidence that God answers from His perfect nature of goodness, then we know little of God Himself. Chambers notes "Jesus never mentioned unanswered prayer" - only that we must pray unceasingly. As Jesus prayed with "unlimited certainty," so must we pray unceasingly and confidently knowing The All-Wise and All-Good Father hears and answers from the perfection and riches of His Nature. It's the only ... way to pray.

Live The Life

Retirees often say they're "living the life," - Mister Bill and I identify with that! The trade-off of morning alarms and work traffic for leisure days, family and travel has been a new and good way to ... live life. To the Colossian Christians, Paul urged a living of the New Life that was theirs in Christ Jesus: "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:1-2, ESV). What a sad sight so many Believers walk around reflecting gloom and doom in their faces! Aren't we aware our old life died when we met Jesus Paul writes, we are now "hidden with Christ in God" (V.3). We sure need to tell our faces about this! Do we not realize everything changed when we got this New Life at salvation? God says we are to "set your minds," - seriously discipline yourselves to be continuously focused in the study, meditation, memorization and application of His Word. Determined and dedicated, we are to know both The Word and The Word of Life; it's the only way to ... live the life!

Blended in Him

My Mom made the best chocolate syrup! That warm syrup took homemade ice cream to a whole new level! Personally, I preferred not to stir-in the chocolate; I was content to let it just puddle around the edges of the ice cream; others, however, liked to blend the syrup and ice cream giving it the look of chocolate ice cream. Can you imagine what our lives would look like if our will was one with God's? F. W. Faber wrote, "There are no disappointments to those whose wills are buried in the will of God." For most Believers, our own agendas are so intense we forget there is a higher call on our lives. In His prayer to The Father, Jesus said, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10, ESV). Oh, how we withhold the beauty and joy of God's kingdom when we insist on our own way. A living-out of His purpose and will, however, will look a lot like that rich blend of syrup and cream - no distinct beginning nor ending of Christ in us. There should be a perfect spiritual blend -- His Will taken over our own. O Father, give us a vision of Who You are and what You long to do in us then supply all the grace we need to live it out ... blended in Him.

The Healer

There are words that may trigger an email or social media filter: one such word [which I will not type-out] rhymes with but not to be confused with "balm." We all know the effects of a soothing and cooling salve or ointment for tired, sore and aching muscles. Israel rebelled against God thus the nation was both a physical and spiritual mess; Jeremiah shared the nation's pain as he wrote, "Is there no balm in Gilead? is there no physician there? Why has not the health ... of my people been restored?" (Jeremiah 8:22, NASB). The region of Gilead was known for its balsam ointment yet the suffering of God's people continued in a place otherwise known for healing. While we may use ointments to bring relief, they do not heal; foolishly, we follow-after and embrace things set before us that deliver only temporal joy to the soul! God declared to His people, "I am the LORD, your healer" (Exodus 15:26, ESV), and the healing He brings is beyond compare through Jesus Christ, the Great Physician. "He Himself [Jesus] bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed." (1 Peter 2:24, ESV). Such healing makes the heart whole; it's a deep soul-healing unlike the temporal soothing found in topical applications. Furthermore, over and over through the course of life's sufferings, Jesus "heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3, ESV). There really is a balm - there is a healer, and He is on-duty and attending at all times. Why not turn your heart to ... the Healer.

Real and Alive

Gravity is a real thing. Another fact is gravity doesn't care one iota whether you believe it's real or not; it just goes on being gravity and doing what gravity does. On the island of Patmos, Jesus spoke to Apostle John in a vision, and John wrote: "When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. And He placed His right hand on me and said, 'Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last [absolute Deity, the Son of God], and the Ever-living One [living in and beyond all time and space]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of [absolute control and victory over] death and of Hades (the realm of the dead).'" (Revelation 1:17-18, AMP). One might reason, "I don't believe that - it's only an imagination, a dream - it's not real." That same logic can be applied to gravity: "I just don't believe gravity is real," however, once put to the test, guess what? Gravity wins! It is proven to be true. God is not intimidated by the skeptic neither is His Word dependent upon belief in Its validity or truthfulness. Scholars have estimated there are 8,000 promises in God's Word, and what is the guarantee that these promises are real and true? "All the promises of God find their Yes in [Jesus]. That is why it is through [Jesus] that we utter our Amen to God for His glory. (2 Corinthians 1:20, ESV). When John wrote what Jesus revealed to Him, it was no mere vision nor man's imagination. It was a seal upon the Truth of who God is and who Jesus is - First and Last, Deity, Son of God, Ever-living One, Victor over death, Alive. Surer than the gravity, Jesus is real and alive ... it's best we believe it!

Abide in Him

This is the season for pop-up storms! Listen as you will to your most reliable meteorologist but just remember: that's why they call them ... pop-up storms. Life here is filled with "pop-up" storms - situations, circumstances, people that pop-up and pop-in unexpectedly, unannounced, unpredictably and almost always inconveniently. When they pop-in disturbing our otherwise peaceful and organized tidy-little-life, we feel the need to reach deeply into ourselves for strength to accommodate and endure the interruption. Jesus tells His followers: "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:4-5, NASB). There is neither staying-power nor enduring joy apart from staying attached to The Source of both power and joy - Jesus Christ. I fear too often we live as if we must tank-up on Jesus for what's coming; truth is, we never know what's coming and a steady abiding in Him is best for all of life. For sure I do unplug things as I anticipate those pop-up storms; as a born-again Child of God, we must never unplug but remain (abide) in Him. Sunshine or rain, Jesus is The Answer ... abide in Him.

What's Happening!

One morning I asked a young fella, "what's going on today?" In sweet little-boy fashion, he shrugged his shoulders and said, "Mrs Beverly, I don't know what's happening today." I chuckled at his response, which was as truthful as it gets because none of us really know with certainty what the day holds. One certain thing I know, however, is God commands me to meet each moment of the day with His Holiness. His command is plain: "You shall be holy, for I am holy." (1 Peter 1:16, ESV). If asked "what does holiness look like," I expect answers would vary - most pointing to lists of honorable abstentions and praiseworthy acts. Noteworthy for sure but that's not holiness! There is a self-test: "Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV). There's the answer: holiness is "Christ in you" - Jesus' characteristics of love, peace, joy, kindness, patience, gentleness, self-control - all dwelling in and ruling in me. I will not wake up one morning and declare myself holy; oh no! it comes by spending time in The Presence of The Most Holy One. Truth is, none of us know "what's happening" on any given day but we can know what's expected: a humbled and a holy heart. That's the only sure way to know ...what's happening!

Not So Tricky

Trust is a tricky thing – to be studied and considered intently. Sometimes I hear people say “trust your heart” – no! no! no! God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). There are, of course, trustworthy people in our lives. Nonetheless, Scripture says Jesus “did not commit Himself unto them ..;. for He knew what was in man.” (John 2:24-25). Can we all not still feel the searing burn of a broken trust? See, trust is indeed a tricky thing! Trust placed in God is never misplaced: it is completely unshakeable and altogether sure. Trusting in Him and not man – that includes ourselves – is the only sure way to trust. We do well when we “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) and “In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:6). Only then is trust ... not so tricky!

A Healthy Heart

Surgical procedures sound scary, and they can be! They are, however, necessary sometimes to correct and/or rectify a problem. God says His Word is "living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12, ESV). That sounds much like a surgical procedure to me! We hear and read such touching words about the human heart but here's the most reliable truth: "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?" (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV). The reality of the human heart is that none of us know the depth of our heart's spiritual sickness, and we all need heart surgery! The good news is that there is help for our sin-sick condition: Jesus said, "Sanctify them in the truth; Your Word is truth" (John 17:17). There's no diagnostic nor ore-operative appointment necessary; The Great Physical and His Holy Tool are ever ready and able to expose the heart's problem and set it on the right course of righteousness. Physical surgeries that are put-off often delay healing and can even lead to terrible consequences; the same is true when we neglect God's Word and Its power to cleanse and heal. Let God do His mighty work in you today - maintain ... a healthy heart.

Prepare Yourself

Pre-planning is a common word used in the school system: it's what teachers do before classes begins each year. They much prefer, however, the sound of ... post-planning! It's pretty strange [to me] how many people give little thought to eternity; they seem to be content with thoughts on the current moment - hence, the old adage, "out of sight, out of mind," Thus says The Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth: "And just as it is appointed and destined for all men to die once and after this [comes certain] judgment" (Hebrews 9:27, AMP). There's never a question that physical death comes for us all - it's part of life here. The certainty of life beyond physical death, however, seems to be ever in-question by many since so many have chosen to ignore that the soul never dies! "And the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God Who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7, ESV). God desires for every spirit (soul) into which He has breathed life to return to Him, its Creator. The life we live here, most importantly the choice we make to love and live for Christ Jesus, determines where the soul will spend eternity. Mister Bill and I just finished some pre-planning for what will certainly come to our physical bodies but the greatest "pre-planning" we've done is that we have chosen Christ here, to honor Him with the time we've been given. "This world is not my home - I'm just a'passin' through - My treasure is laid up somewhere beyond the blue." Have you thought-ahead, made yourself ready, prepared for the day that will come? If not, I pray you will do that ... prepare yourself.

Keep Drinking

If you've ever watched the habits of a hummingbird, you know they are ... heavy drinkers. Not in the sense of the world's word [as heavily into the consumption of hard drink] but those birds must drink in order in do what hummingbirds do so well - expend energy. Jesus intentionally placed Himself at a Samaritan well at which He knew a woman would come for daily water. She, like all of us, was thirstier than she knew! Jesus' offer of water went like this: "whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst" (John 4:14a, NASB). Each of us know what physical thirst which when once satisfied must be satisfied yet again. Whether we are willing to admit admit it or not, we are "heavy drinkers" of what the world offers in the latest and greatest things of this life, things that lead us to happiness and contentment. As soon as we get our fill, we begin to thirst once again. You see, our souls need a drink of Him Who is all-satisfying! Jesus says, "I will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14b, NASB). That hummingbird comes to the feeder countless times a day - an ongoing and continuous drinking. We [too] are created by God to be drinkers of The Fountain of Living Water: "Drinking at the springs of Living Water - Happy now am I, my soul they satisfy - Drinking at the springs of Living Water - A wonderful and bountiful supply." Jesus Christ - the soul's greatest and deepest thirst: drink deeply - drink regularly ... keep drinking!

Enjoy the Stretch

How many times have you sat-through something then could really only describe it as an endurance? Out of cheer courtesy, I won't name those I've ... endured! For follower of Jesus, perseverance is more than endurance. Jesus said of the faithful Saints at Philadelphia "you have kept the word of My endurance [My command to persevere]" (Revelation 3:10). Through trials of testing, these Believers had not simply endured for endurance's sake; they had persevered with purpose, growing spiritually. Oswald Chambers describes it as a "stretching" ... "A saint's life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain" us. The stretching and straining are usually uncomfortable and endurance is what we pray for, however, our prayers should be more in-line with what God expects to produce in us. The Greek word "persevere" means "to be devote or constant to one." God has something to say about being constant and devoted to Him through times of stretching: "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2-4, ESV). This should change the Believer's attitude toward the circumstances of his or her life. Are you being stretched? See the purpose and ... enjoy the stretch.

He's Listening

Everyone likes to be heard. What a precious gift it is to be a good listener, and God is the perfect listener. He invites both the troubled and the rejoicing soul to speak to Him. There is none other who listens so attentively with unhindered and tender understanding. God feels our words! We may be able to talk with friend here on earth who know us well; those who listen to our hearts with their hearts but there are no human ears [or hearts] that hear with the perfection of The Father. Matthew Henry describes God, our very Best Friend: "It is ease to a burdened spirit, to open its case to a faithful and compassionate friend." In 19:16, King Hezekiah prayed, "LORD, bow down thine ear and hear" - isn't that a sweet picture of a good listener, a leans-in toward the one speaking! Such a tender posture, leaving no risk of missing a word, a sigh, a breath, a pause, a cry ... wanting to miss nothing. Our Heavenly Father is the perfect listener; He is a holy Audience of One Who loves His children. Furthermore, He loves to hear from us: talk to Him ... He's listening.

Why Not Us!

It's pretty common we do our homework when we're looking for a healthcare specialist or a qualified building contractor. The psalmist wrote this about God in Psalm 147:3-4: "He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them." How impressive the writer affirms God's power to heal and bind man's brokenness with the fact He counts and names the stars! It is estimated there are 200 billion trillion stars in the universe - only God could come up with that many names! If The God of the universe can know-count-name an infinite number of stars, can He not be trusted as altogether sufficient with the little things of our lives? The logical answer is ... absolutely yes! G. MacDonald notes that the stars seem to say: "We are safe up here ... we shine, fearless and confident ... God has hung us in the awful hollow of space ... we cannot fall out of His safety." If the stars have such confidence in The Creator, who are God's children to concern ourselves about anything? Psalm 19:1 says "the heavens are telling of the glory of God" - why aren't we? Indeed, why not us!

Check Your Heart

One of my morning joys is watching birds outside my kitchen window. Mister Bill watches too, mostly hoping to shoo-away pigeons, crows and squirrels that great;u appreciate the corn he scatters along the ground for the deer and rabbits. A common bird to this area is the Mockingbird, widely know for its mimicking the songs of other birds. To be described as one who mocks is not flattery; God says, "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap" (Galatians 6:7). I dare say any of us would set-out to willfully and opening impose ourselves as a mocker of God although that is exactly what we do when we live out of an impure hearts; that is, a heart that is divided between truth and lie. The Old Testament king of Judah, Jehoshaphat, did a good thing by destroying the groves [of immorality] but he failed to rid the land of the high places where sacrifices were made to idols. Jehoshaphat was a compromiser! His heart was divided before God. I wonder how many times a day I choose and make decisions from a heart that is divided between what is right and honorable and that which ultimately mocks God. Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8). Serious as followers of Jesus will examine themselves, checking their hearts, to see if it is a mocker of The Most High God and His Truth. It is the pure and undivided heart that pleases The Father.Check your heart.

Family Resemblance

Perhaps you've heard "X marks the spot." I watched Mister Bill mark underground water lines because he doesn't care to dig in search of them again - I get that! Just like my sisters and I share familial features of our parents and grandparents, Believers should bear a strong family resemblance to Jesus. The psalmist wrote, "The Lord has set apart the godly for Himself" (4:3, ESV). Our faith marks us! The features that set us apart are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:21-22). As followers of Jesus, we live with full awareness that we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10). Occasionally, I'll see someone who reminds me of someone else,  something familiar - a facial feature, a mannerism, a hairstyle, a voice. Do you wonder how much of who you are reminds others of Jesus? Oh, that each one of us live with a ... family resemblance!

Find Us Faithful

 A look into history can be interesting - family personalities can actually make us laugh! Knowing our roots and the faithfulness of those who walked before us can also be rich. Jon Mohr wrote a song with these lyrics: "We're pilgrims on the journey of the narrow road - And those who've gone before us line the way - Cheering on the faithful. Encouraging the weary. - Their lives a stirring testament to God's sustaining grace." Many years ago, Dad and I walked through an old cemetery where many of his ancestors were buried; he reminisced of them, giving me insight into treasures of our family history. That afternoon stroll is a priceless moment to me - not just because I shared it with my Dad, but how [it seems] each life influenced his in one positive way or another. Mohr's lyrics continue: "May all who come behind us find us faithful - May the fire of our devotion light their way - May the footprints that we leave lead them to believe - And the lives we live inspire them to obey - May all who come behind us find us faithful." Paul wrote in Ephesians "I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called" (4:1, ESV). How worth our time to consider how worthy is our walk! Are our lives marked by a notable faith for those who are watching, those who one day we will leave behind? Indeed, may those who come behind us ... find us faithful.

Heart-Smile

My small collection of birds bring me joy - they really do make my heart smile.  My Granny loved birds, and so did my Mom.  Jesus spoke fondly of his feathered creatures several times during His earthly ministry.  “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns …” (Matthew 6:26a).  He spoke specifically of the sparrow, the smallest of birds:  “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.” (Matthew 10:29).  In both passages, He wants us to know as He loves and cares for the birds, even more He loves and cares for us:  “… and yet Your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26b), and “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31).  How deeply The Father loves and cares for each one of His children - what a reason for a ... heart-smile.