Never Miss A Call

A spotty or unreliable cell signal is problematic. For example, often when Mister Bill is hunting, he’s “off the grid.”  Sadly, there are times in our spiritual lives when we [too] miss God’s voice. Be assured: the missed word from Him has nothing to do with the one speaking!  The lack of signal can be traced to a struggling relationship with or broken fellowship with Christ.  Jesus said, “Abide in Me, and I in you.” (John 15:4). The Greek word “abide” refers to a continual tarrying and with purpose. If I'm expecting a call, my phone is constantly with me; my intention is not to miss the call. This is how we are to abide in Christ – being diligent and attentive to His voice, faithfully keeping ourselves in spiritual range so when God speaks, we hear Him. The psalmist said, “But for me it is good to be near God.” (Psalm 73:28). There are days my phone is silent and that’s okay; it’s never a good thing, however, to be miss God’s voice. Remain in Him – never miss a call.

Harms of Sin

The description "mostly harmless" may apply to a bee sting - that is, unless you're allergic to bee stings; or to peanut butter - that is, unless you have a peanut allergy. The phrase "mostly harmless," however, never applies to sin. Sadly, we aren't alarmed by the infrequent dabbling in spiritually destructive behavior; we're even encouraged to do so when there seems to be no immediate consequence. I wonder how long Eve had passed by the tree, noticing that its fruit was indeed a delightful sight. Oh, how vulnerable we become when we linger at and loiter near to the "harmlessness" of sin. The shepherd boy, David, knew well the words of Goliath weren't harmless; Joseph recognized sin was a dangerous thing ... both young men knew the there was nothing "mostly harmless" about sin: sin was an offense against God Himself! How do you and I defend against sin? "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." (Psalm 119:11, KJV). Dare we continue to ignore The Word and ignore Its effectiveness! Sin is not "mostly harmless" - Take up the Sword of Truth - It's our Defense against the ... harms of sin.

Our Certainty

Why are we surprised when the weather map across the country shows frigid temperatures? It's January – it's supposed to be cold! The most intelligent have been unable to satisfactorily answer James' question: "What is your  life?" (James 4:14). We celebration our years – we call them birthdays – but Scripture tells us [rather] to "number our days" (Psalm 90:12). What then is the right perspective for James' probing question? One step into the frigid cold and our breath is visible. James stated a profound truth about this life: "It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away." (James 4:14).  Life is difficult and life is also uncertain.  Its uncertainties are certain – never doubt this! While life is uncertain, there is One Who is Certain – unchanging, eternal, faithful.  Peter encourages us to trust our souls to the "faithful Creator" (1 Peter 4:19), Who does "not change" (Malachi 1:6), with Whom there is "no variation or shadow due to change" (James 1:17).  What then is your life?  It is brief, fleeting, passing but certainly sustained day-by-day by One Who is the "first and last, the beginning and the end" (Revelation 22:13). This answer is sufficient because He is Sufficient – He is our Certainty!​

Fidget Not

Long before it became a popular toy, people have had fidgets! By definition, a "fidget" is a small repetitive movement usually caused by restlessness. Fidgeting in church was a sure way to get a seat next Mama! Jesus said, "Do not worry about your life." (Matthew 6:25). Because of who Jesus was - Prince of Peace - I'm confident He spoke these words with the assurance for every hearing ear ... it is possible to rest and not worry. Perhaps at the top of our wish lists is that we not be overly concerned with finances, health, relationships, uncertain futures, etc. Ultimately, we have no prior knowledge or nor control over those things but if we did, there would be no need to "trust in the LORD with all your heart" - rather, we would eagerly lean on (trust in) our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5, ESV). Everyone I know trusts in some "thing" or some "one," and those who refuse to trust in the Lord will find themselves in needless worry. I love these words of God in Psalm 37:1, "fret not yourself ... trust in the LORD." Do you find yourself worrying - fidgeting about your life? Take a welcomed seat next to The Savior, the Sovereign One over all thing including all things life ... fidget not.

 

A Fidgeting in school or church was one way to secure a seat right next to Mama!

He Restores

Oh, how Mister Bill and I love this small pre-50's farmhouse but the plumbing is a curious thing to me! When the washer is emptying its water, the kitchen drain spits and sputters and gurgles. Yes, very curious. Hard matters and difficult situations can drain us. Perhaps nothing more distinctly reminds us of our mortality, our frailty and our desperate need for The One Most Strong, Most Mighty and Most Sovereign. God promises, "I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord." (Jeremiah 30:17). We are often blindsided by things and they take our breath away; we find ourselves gasping for help and hope. Those who know The Father and Jesus, The Good Shepherd, hold fast to "He restores my soul" (Psalm 23:3). How precious is His ointment of peace to the tired and weary soul. Are you in need of rest and restoration? Go to The One Whose promise of healing is certain and sure. As someone counseled me - breathe, pray and wait ... He restores.

Daily Duty

In the rush of daily duties, do you consider the work of your hands? The work of our hands: washing dishes, sending emails or text messages, stirring a pot of soup, tending to a sick child or elderly parents ... so many daily duties involve our hands. Hear the words of the LORD, "And if you offer yourself to [assist] the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness and your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, and satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places, and give strength to your bones; and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail." (Isaiah 58:10-11, AMP). Beautiful promises to the beautiful works of our hands. Have you ever seriously considered the blessings we withhold from others [and from ourselves] when we fail to "work heartily, as for the Lord" (Colossians 3:23, ESV)? I suggest it is from the smallest of kindnesses and the least perceived acts of love that come our greatest blessings and deepest most genuine obedience to God. English writer, C. G. Rossetti, prayed: "In little daily duties to which Thou callest us, bow down our wills to simple obedience, patience under pain or provocation, strict truthfulness of word and manner, humility, kindness; in great acts of duty or perfection, if Thou shouldest call us to them, uplift us to self-sacrifice, heroic courage, laying down of life for Thy truth's sake, or for a brother." Humble surrender and obedience to God is our greatest ... daily duty.

Let Consistency Begin

Do you struggle with consistency? Because the motivational degree of each person differs, there's no magic number to that keeping-on-keeping-on of something. It's long been believed that is takes 21 days to form a new habit, however, more recent studies show it's more like 66 days. Bottom line, the road to consistency is a rough one! "Bless and favored by God are those who keep His testimonies, and who [consistently] seek Him and long for Him with all their heart." (Psalm 119:2, AMP). The discouragement that results when we fail to regularly exercise or eat healthy or curb spending habits, etc. is the same discouragement many experience when we fail to live-up to the standards God has set before those who love Him. There's a difference in the spiritual endeavor, however, and the psalmist points to it: it is the consistent seeking of a devoted heart. The motivation consists of heart, mind, soul and strength - the whole heart. In Matthew 6, Jesus said, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV). The treasures of the heart are gained in the consistency of pursuing Godliness - keeping His commands, putting His teachings into practice, continually longing after Him, etc. That kind of lifestyle is a work of God's grace (strength), never mere human will power! It is His power to do His will over mine ... let consistency begin!

Persevere

As I write this, snow has fallen and blanketed the landscape. Mister Bill ventured out to retrieve something left outside and ... he left tracks! The psalmist wrote, "How blessed and favored by God are those whose way is blameless [those with personal integrity, the upright, the guileless], who walk in the law [and who are guided by the precepts and revealed will] of the LORD." (Psalm 119:1, AMP). Have you ever tried to walk gracefully on stepping stones? It can be tricky because the stones may not be evenly spaced nor do they match your manner of walking or stepping. The steps God has left for His children to follow may be challenging and we may struggle to keep in-step, but there is reward for those who endeavor to persevere: God's blessedness and favor. Let me testify that the happiness is not a destination; it is the heavenly joys gained in the journey! You may argue "it's so hard" or "it's impossible" ... I say, "it is hard but it is not impossible." God's "divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us to His own glory and excellence." (2 Peter 1:3, ESV). Jesus' tracks of righteous living not only inspire us to walk in the same manner but He strengthens and empowers us to do so with success. Oh child of God, know His Truth and in His grace (power), walk boldly and exert yourself ... persevere.

How's Your Heart?

Looks matter to me. I like things to match; for example, I don't want an electronic device of one color with its respectively cable a different color. Mister Bill could care less - well, even that annoys to me!  Spiritually speaking, looks matter little. When choosing Israel's first king, God told the prophet Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature ... the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”(1 Samuel 16:7, ESV). This should be a familiar truth to the children of God, however, it is perhaps one of the most neglected. Neglected like my kitchen windows through which I enjoy watching birds; over a period of time, however, the window panes have become dinghy and dirty hindering clarity of vision. Many years later David would be given a stunning view of his heart; after adultery and murder, he was confronted with his sin, which led to this prayer: "Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, nd in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom. Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. ... Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me." (Psalm 51:6-7, 10, NASB). We are well learned in what is good and acceptable behavior but the impurity of our hearts are never hidden from The One Who knows us better than we know ourselves. That's why He has commanded us to store up His words in our hearts that we might not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11). Only He Who sees the heart can give the heart its proper cleansing. How's your heart?

Intense Love

There are foods that boast of intense flavor! The more bitter-hot-sour the more my boys loved it. I learned to never-ever, under any circumstances ever agree to “taste” anything they handed me. Although my countenance made for some little-boy laughter, my taste buds were rarely amused! One dictionary uses the phrase “intense affection” to describe love. Those little-boy intense flavors usually turned my mouth inside-out, and left me wondering about the imagination of whoever created them. Oh, the things in life we pursue with intensity – if only we sought after The Father with the same degree as the psalmist declares, “My soul followeth hard after Thee.“ (Psalm 63:8).   A. W. Tozer wrote, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.” Can you imagine a deeper, more powerful love than “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)? I cannot! Let us lay aside all that binds-hinders-distracts, and take up with great intensity the pursuit of God. Follow hard after God and know … no greater love!

His Good

What if we were allowed to design our own lives, a buffet of options from which to choose circumstances and material possessions ... could we really be trusted to do that wisely? I can only speak for myself, of course, but I am neither wise enough nor trustworthy enough! David wrote in Psalm 103:2 & 5 (KJV), "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits ... Who satisfies my mouth with good things, so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's." That word "good" is the tumper because our idea of "good" is very different from God's! The Hebrew word means "pleasant to the higher nature, appropriate." We have this foolish notion that God is more concerned with our earthly happiness than our spiritual healthiness ... wrong! "Jesus opened His mouth, and taught them, saying, 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'" (Matthew 5:2-3, KJV). The richest of spiritual lives are those who are the most spiritually impoverished, poor, literal paupers before God. "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you." (James 4:10, ESV). God knows what is best for me and for you, and He is most wise and altogether able to supply every need according to His purpose and plan for today, tomorrow and every day until He returns. My good, your good is His greatest delight; let's open our hearts and gratefully receive ... His good.

Holy Habits

Habits - we all have them. Not all habits are bad, however, when we say we "have a habit," it typically brings to mind ... bad habits. By definition, a habit refers to the frequent repetition or continuance of the same act (Webster's Dictionary, 1828). I suggest many of our habits are done with little thought. There are some habits to which we should be attentive and apply great deliberation - quiet time with God, for example. This is one habit none of us will be naturally driven to do! Psalm 27:8 (ESV) says, "You have said, 'Seek my face.' My heart says to you, 'Your face, Lord, do I seek.'" This is an example of God telling us what should be a habit for each of His children: stop whatever is occupying your time and seek Me! Note the response: yes, Lord, I will do just that - I will seek You. Is this a habit for you? Make a list of your habits - Look it over carefully. If time with God isn't on your list of habits, begin today and make it a ... holy habit.

Consider the Source

Behind my childhood home was the "appliance" that had no bearing on our electric bill nor did it ever break down: the clothes line. I was actually very familiar with how it worked, too! Perhaps you can remember the joy of crawling into bed and the feel of clean, line-dried sheets ... nothing like it. As I recall those days, I also remember right next to the clothes line was a pig wallow (more accurately pronounced "waller). Oh, how those pigs loved to roll-around (waller) in that mud hole; and, the stench was horrible. There was no escaping the odor as long as the clothes line and the wallow shared space. There's a spiritual lesson for us, something well worth our consideration ... that is, if we desire holiness. After David's most famously recorded sin, God confronted him and David acknowledged his sin; his prayer is profound, "Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin ... Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalm 51:2,7, NASB). Noah Webster defines "wallow" as living in filth "as a man wallowing in his native impurity" (Webster's Dictionary, 1828). Our natural impurity is a terrible place in which our hearts should wallow! The stench of it is never contained: it overflows into our attitudes, our speech, our behavior. We must pray like David, "create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me" (V.10). Honestly, I don't recall those line-dried sheets having an unpleasant odor; that is not the way of the heart, however. Pay attention and carefully tend the heart because from it flows all that is life lives (Proverbs 4:23). The heart is the source of who we are ... consider the source.

Your Days

It's been said that each new day is like an unpainted canvas or a blank piece of paper; the day yet unpainted or unwritten. As sweet and inspiring as that may be, God says: "I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jeremiah 29:11, NASB). How well thought-out are the plans we have or make for each day? For sure, we hope and pray for a calamity-free day but we - with our very best planning and efforts - cannot guarantee it. Jeremiah's words from God were to the Israelites who were in Babylonian captivity; most likely, they felt they had no say-so nor control over their days. Although we foolishly imagine we do, truth is - ultimately, neither do we! The older-me has come to understand each day is a magnificent gift of God, and each day is determined by God "according to the purpose of Him Who works all things according to the counsel of His will" (Ephesians 1:11, ESV). Here's the question for you and for me: how well do I trust The One Who is really in-charge of the universe, the world, my life ... all things? Let me testify with complete confidence, He is the only one I can truly trust with my days. He is not surprised when calamity comes; He is still at-work and bringing about His plans through it to shape me by His standards of prosperity and success. That is something I can never do, but He can and does. Why not trust Him with ... your days.

Gather My Heart

We can't time-travel, of course, but if we could, there is a gathering recorded in Scripture I would like to be part of. "Then all the people gathered together as one man at the open square in front of the Water Gate; and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel ... So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding ... then he read from it ... from early morning until midday ... and all the people listened carefully ... Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people ... and when he opened it, all the people stood up ... Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God ... And all the people answered, 'Amen, Amen!' while lifting up their hands; and they knelt down and worshiped the LORD with their faces toward the ground." (from Nehemiah 8, AMP). How wonderful that gathering must have been - to hear the Word of God read, and how it moved the hearts of God's people. I'm deeply convicted of the neglect of my heart to read for myself God's Word, to carefully listen with understanding, to meditate morning into evening, to bless the LORD, to answer Him "so be it LORD" in my life, to lift my hands in praise and adoration, to bow head and heart to The Holy One Who loves me so. What a pleasing assembly and fragrant aroma to The LORD this must have been. We can't travel to the days of Ezra and Nehemiah but such love for Christ can and must be in the hearts of His people today. In the same way, O Father, unto You ... gather my heart.

His Power - His Plan

Every expectation of my day is rightly faced with this: we will see. Every ounce of effort spent in planning and anticipating what is to come is best rooted in ... what will be will be. How foolish Nebuchadnezzar was to imagine he could keep the exiled Jews in captivity beyond what God had planned! Jeremiah reminded God's exiled people that it wasn't Nebuchadnezzar but Almighty God that determined their future. God said to His people, "For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you ... plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11, AMP). You know, of course, we all have our own Nebuchadnezzar moments - those times when we [too] imagine we're in control of the days of our lives. Oh, take care lest any of us suffer the humiliation at such arrogance; when King Nebuchadnezzar claimed undue sovereignty, God said to him, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you ..." (Daniel 4:31, ESV). Even common sense and logic should be enough to convince us to trust He Who is Sovereign with our lives; it is, however, by faith we yield our will to The One Who numbers the hairs of our head and length of our days. To Him we humble ourselves and in Him we place all our trust. He knows all things and is able to complete all things according to His purpose. It's always ... His power - His plan.

The Book

Perhaps you remember the librarian - media specialist, she's now called - from your school days. Because I love books, it must have been glorious to spend each day in a room full of them! Emma Thompson said, "Books ... turn up in your life when you most need them." Is there ever a moment in our lives when we don't need The Book of all books - the Bible? Absolutely not! It's God says this about His Word: Matthew 4:4 "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." ... Matthew 24:35 "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away." ... Isaiah 40:8 "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." ... Proverbs 30:5 "Every word of God proves true." ... Psalm 119:160 "The sum of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous rules endures forever." If we could possess only one book, it must be God's Word. From cradle to the grave, "The B-I-B-L-E, yes, that's the Book for me - I stand alone on the Word of God - The B-I-B-L-E."  God's Holy Word ... for me and for you, it is forevermore ... the Book.

The Good of All

Sometimes good things come to us quite unexpectedly: didn't ask for it, didn't expect it, wasn't even on our radar! Next, our minds are spinning about what to do with this new blessing. These words from Every Moment Holy challenge and inspire me: "We pause amidst the labors of this day to remember the best reason for our laboring. We labor, O Lord, as stewards of your creation, and as stewards of the gifts you have apportioned to each of us for the good of all." Perhaps many Believers fall into the snare of apportioning "for the good of me" that which has been divinely apportioned "for the good of all." Jesus said, "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”(Luke 6:38). What shame when we hold so tightly that which is [in truth] not ours, only given to us so that we may in turn distribute in "good measure" for the "good of others." The prayer continues, "Bless then the works of our hands and minds and hearts, O God, that they might bear fruit for Your greater purposes." Consider that which you are holding so tightly and withholding for God's great purpose ... give for the good of all.

Have a Conversation

Those who knew my Dad will agree that he was a conversationalist: he loved to talk, and he had a knack for starting a conversation with people who otherwise refused to talk! Don't you imagine Jesus was a conversationalist? Think about it: He sat down at a well and simply asked for a drink of water (which, by the way, led to the longest conversation of His life) - He noticed a man up a sycamore tree, stopped and talked him down from the tree - He cooked breakfast on a beach, luring His friends from their boats and into conversation. Yes, He knew how to start a conversation because He knew (and knows) the deep needs of the human heart. Matthew writes, "Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them." (28:16). These men didn't just happen upon the mountain - Jesus told them to go there because He had something to say to them. He said, "Go ... and make disciples" (V.18). Believers (followers of Jesus) are to duplicate themselves; that is, we are to make more Believers, more followers of Jesus. Sounds like He's telling us to have some conversations ... talk with family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, nieces or nephews, grandchildren, the cashier at the market, the guy who sprays for bugs or cuts your grass ... literally, anyone who needs the good news of salvation. None of us know how God will work through a simple conversation with someone, so ... have a conversation.

Live Intentionally

One morning recently, Mister Bill and I left the house intending to have a late breakfast at a local restaurant. After three stops where we were dissuaded by full parking lots and long lines, we ended up having an early lunch instead. Lunch was delicious but lunch was not our intention! I fear this is too often the case in our spiritual lives: we intend many good things but we are distracted and end up off-track! Paul poses this question: "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize?" (1 Corinthians 9:24, NASB). It's a simple truth - the one who runs unhindered and intentionally focus wins. "Run in such a way that you may win ... not without aim" (V.24, 26). This is a new year and undoubtedly the days ahead will be full of "good intentions." What a great time to consider our intentions: am I running with the prize in mind? am I running to win? am I running with the aim of being more like Christ? If you're breathing, you're running. Run the race well ... live intentionally.