His Power - His Plans

What child doesn't love to blow bubbles! It's a harmless and cheap way to guarantee giggles galore. Oh, the wonder of bubbles as they slowly drift however the current leads but they always result in ... a'burstin'. There are times in life when our dreams and aspirations go ... the way of  bubbles. The enemy loves to cash-in on these times. Oh, be gone Satan because "they who wait for The Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31 ESV). When loss of zeal and enthusiasm seem imminent, we take heart in knowing "it is The Lord Who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8). What comfort to know those who trust fully in The Lord are not carried about as bubbles in the wind; we abound in Hope by the power of The Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Lord, remind me, renew me day-by-day that I hope neither in my own power nor plans but I rest perfectly and completely in You and Yours ... His Power - His Plans.

Not Forsaken

Perhaps you've experienced "abandonment" when it's time to clean-up after a party or when there's no one to help with a flat tire. From the cross, Jesus cried out to The Father, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). It has been suggested by some that Jesus wasn't literally forsaken, He only felt forsaken. The Scripture is clear on what Jesus said: the Greek word "egkataleipō" is best translated "totally abandoned, deserted." In those moments of His suffering, Jesus (the sinless one) became our sin; He was forsaken so that you and I would never be forsaken. Life is hard - situations, circumstances and relationships can bring-on feelings of hopelessness and despair, leaving us with the same feelings Jesus uttered in those dark moments on the cross. Even then, Jesus was willing to suffer abandonment - it was part of God's plan for me and for you so that need never suffer in such a way. When all seems lost and hopeless, know with with the full confidence of Jesus, you we are not alone. We are ... not forsaken.

What I Need

Have you ever tried to buy a gift for someone who seems to have everything they need ... and want? It's a real dilemma! Over the years I've received a handful of gifts - greatly appreciated but neither needed nor wanted. We become anxious about many things, and one such thing is what we "think" we need. I am not too far removed from a season of life when I regularly confused what I wanted with what I actually needed! In His earliest teachings, Jesus speaks to our battle with anxiety immediately after telling us we cannot be devoted to both God and "stuff" ... "Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?" (Matthew 6:25-26 AMP). When Mister Bill and I moved several years ago, we had the task of going through forty-five years worth of stuff; during those [roughly] twenty trips to the landfill, it became a spiritual exercise in understanding the difference between ... want and need. God is the perfect Father: He knows exactly what we need and He is altogether willing and able to provide that need. It really comes down to just how much we really trust Him. Jesus sums it up for us in Verses 33-34: "But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right - the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." There's peace and contentment in giving God my wants and trusting Him with my needs. He knows ... what I need.

Fear the Lord

One of my Girls (by marriage) is an avid professional baker. She is locally known for her decorative cupcakes, sourdough breads, cakes and cookies. One thing that makes her items so popular is the quality of their ingredients! "The [reverent] fear of the LORD is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; a good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the LORD; His praise endures forever." (Psalm 111:10 AMP). Like the foundational ingredient in a recipe, the "fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom." I suspect when asked "do you fear the LORD?" the quick response for most of us would be "yes, of course." Good answer, but how well is our answer reflected in our obedience to The Lord's commands? The fear of the Lord describes an obedient response, a heart humbled before Him with awe and wonder! I fear too often my own "fear of the Lord" is absent of awe and wonder of the Most High God. I'm reminded of making peanut butter cookies years ago and carelessly left out the sugar; of course, they were terrible! The psalmist says God's praise endures forever ... that's because He is to be feared - held in awe mingled with admiration inspired by the wonder of who He is. The more we do His will (obey Him), the more we learn and understand how awesome and wonderful He is. Like the delicacies of my Girl's kitchen, key ingredients are essential, they matter most ... fear the Lord!

Declare It!

This older-me recalls an old-fashioned exclamation used by my grandparents' generation; they would say "I declare" or "I do declare" to express surprise or disbelief. My Nanny would often slap her knee when she ... declared! God is known to "declare" - to make Himself known: "Splendid and majestic is His work, and His righteousness endures forever. He has made His wonderful acts to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful and full of loving compassion. ... He has declared and made known to His people the power of His works." (Psalm 111:3-4, 6 AMP). Many people think God is unknown in parts of the earth, however, His Word tells us: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1 ESV) ... "For His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:20 ESV). Evidence of God's Presense - Divine Design - are everywhere throughout God's creation! Those who have responded to God's gracious gift of Jesus, however, are commanded to openly declare His Goodness: "Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!" (Psalm 96:3 ESV) ... "Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare His praise in the coast lands." (Isaiah 42:12 ESV). Now is the day and the time to give God the glory for all His good works and eternal goodness. Yes, we must ... declare it!

He Is Trustworthy

The 1971 Alka-Seltzer commercial made famous these words "try it, you'll like it" when a waitress suggested a particular entree to a customer. He tried it and ended up with Alka-Seltzer for his dessert. I admit there are foods I've refuse to even taste; ultimately, I cannot say with confidence whether I like them or not. The psalmist writes of God, "The works of His hands are truth and [absolute] justice; all His precepts are sure (established, reliable, trustworthy)." (Psalm 111:7 AMP). The establishment, reliability and trustworthiness of God are not dependent upon me or you: "Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all those who delight in them" (V.2). His very eternal (unchanging, unwavering) nature is sure and steadfast ... that is, whether we believe it or not! I can refuse to believe gravity is what it is and does what it does, but gravity itself remains unchanged by what I think; I can refuse to acknowledge gravey and it will not end well for me. The wisest way we can act toward God is to respectfully and reverently "try it, you'll like it" ... trust Him and He will prove Himself to be all that He is and do all that He says He will do. "Put Me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need." (Malachi 3:10 ESV). What hinders you today from trusting God with all your fears of uncertainty? God can be trusted because ... He is trustworthy.

Bloom

We have an orchid, and it is thriving! I take absolutely no credit for how it has repeatedly bloomed - right now, it has three blooms! Mister Bill has potted and re-potted it, misted it regularly, maintained the right sunlight and room temperature; by its blooms, I conclude the orchid loves the attention! Ecclesiastes 3:13 (NASB) says, "I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and to do good in one's lifetime; moreover, that every man who eats and drinks sees good in all his labor - it is the gift of God." We are created to be fruitful - joyfully engaged in imitating the goodness of The Father! The Book of Ecclesiastes begins by making us consider the vain things we too often pursue with no return on the energy, time and resources invested. I heard an old preacher call it "plowing water" ... senseless. In the beginning God created all things with the capacity to multiply themselves, to bear fruit ... trees, shrubs, birds, beasts, humans ... not to live independently of Him but to the praise of His glory. Ecclesiastes ends this way: "The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person." (13:13 NASB). I've heard it said we are to "bloom where we're planted" - I like that because it speaks of a fruitful life in all circumstances of life; a life that is revealing the God-given nature within those who love The Lord. Here's some good counsel ... bloom.

Blog Break

 MWB will resume Thursday 03-12-2026
Stay in The Word!
Miles of Smiles, Beverly  

Garden of the Heart

Some people love to dig in the dirt; they are also the ones who enjoy beautiful flowers as a result. I'm very thankful for those who commit to the digging and everything else needs to produce the beautiful blooms. I, however, do not care to the dirt and sweat required. Paul writes, "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!" (1 Corinthians 13:5 ESV). The process of examination and testing can be terribly messy and uncomfortable. Past generations modeled for us "spring cleaning" - a time of deeper cleaning than usual: furniture is moved, area rugs are taken outside, curtains are laundered, etc. The tedious and hard work is meant to produce a fine cleaning where we live the rest of the year. "Do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?" The Holy One of Heaven - perfect and righteous and just in all His ways - makes His home in the hearts of His children. How shameful when we present to Him a place filled with unconfessed sin and sinful habits. First Thessalonians 5:21 instructs followers of Jesus Christ to "hold fast what is good" so the God of peace Himself sanctify our whole spirit and soul and body and keep us blameless until Christ returns. A spiritually clean and blameless heart demands a daily cleaning - once a year doesn't do it. Like a well-tended and flourishing flower bed, the beauty of Christ is put on display in the ... garden of the heart.

How Lovely!

Being with a particular someone is a treasured part of life; actually, just being near that particular someone can be precious! The writer of Psalm 84 writes, "How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD" (Psalm 84:1-2a, NASB). Geographic locations can distance family and friends; God and man are distanced, however, by different means. The Jewish people eagerly made pilgrimage to Jerusalem each year where the temple was located - the place that represented God's Presence, His dwelling place. How marvelous we no longer need seek God's Presence in a particular place; we draw near His Presence by means of the redemptive and finished work of Jesus Christ, God's Son! "How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion!" (V.5, NASB). An undivided heart, one that adores and sings of its Redeemer and He Who dwells therein. Oh, yes, Lord ... how lovely is Your dwelling place!

Hear Him

How well do you listen? Since Mister Bill is hearing impaired, repeating myself is part of an ordinary day. I admit it is frustrating, however, I try to be patient because his not-hearing isn't by choice ... at least most of the time. How well do you hear God? The Prophet Elijah stood with deliberation, listening for God: "And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper." (1 Kings 19:11-12 ESV). Isn't it just like us to expect phenomenal things like wind, earthquake and fire to hear from God? It is often, however, in a faint whisper. At this point in my life, my hearing is still pretty good but even without actually hearing Mister Bill, I usually know what he will say or has said. Why is that? Because I've lived with him for more than fifty years; we've spent time together; we've grown to know one another; we're intimately acquainted with one another's thoughts and ways. Let me suggest if you are not hearing the faint whisper of God in your life, it most likely is because you are not regularly reading His Word, enjoying fellowship with Him in prayer and worship. Those who make a habit of spending time with The Father hear His voice. Yes, He can speak in the winds-earthquakes-fires of life but those times may simply be His way of getting your attention - making His Presence known. Those who are in relationship with Jesus (The Son) will know God (The Father); they hear Him continually in a myriad of times, circumstances, situations and ways. Draw near to Him ... hear Him. 

Love His Word

Family reunions were a big part of my childhood - the annual gathering of brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins ... and oh, of course, the food! After the initial greetings - many of which was sheer endurance - us cousins ran off to see what we could get into. The Book of Nehemiah tells of a long-awaited family gathering: after seventy years of Babylonian captivity, once back in their homeland "all the people gathered together as one man at the open square ... 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, in the presence of the men and women, those who could understand; and all the people listened carefully to the Book of the Law." (From Nehemiah 8:1-3 AMP). From early morning to mid-day, the people listened to the reading of God's words. Recent studies tell us the average adult sustained attention span is 15-20 minutes before needing a break; however, on topics of high-interest, the attention span is significantly increased. The psalmist wrote, "Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119:97 ESV). Herein lies a fundamental problem: we lack a deep longing for what God has to say, and why is that so? That lack-of-love for God's words is rooted in a genuine lack-of-love for God Himself. Jesus said the heart remains true to its greatest treasure: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matthew 6:21 ESV). What a strong reminder to those who love The Lord with all their heart, soul and might (Deuteronomy 6:5) - that God's words are a treasure to read, listen to and embrace. Those words are the very breath of God; yes, they are life-giving. The simple profound truth is if we truly love God, we ... love His Word.

He Goes Before Us

Something my Dad made a habit of was to speak kindly of people. I must admit, at times when he spoke well of one who had offended him, I could only stare and be amazed. That is an honorable characteristic that I am still working on! Of the many things we know about God, one that I see often in my life (and others) is how God always goes before us! I could not begin to number the times I have faced uncertainty, stepped out in a walk of faith only to discover God was way out in front of me! Perhaps one of the best illustrations of this is in the life of Joseph. The victim of some cruel brothers, he suffered slavery and years of imprisonment in Egypt yet in-the-end God worked evil for good. Appointed governor over Egypt, God used Joseph to save his family and countrymen during a terrible famine. These were some of the last recorded words of Joseph to his brothers: "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome that many people would be kept alive." (Genesis 50:20 AMP). What spiritual understanding this man Joseph had of God's sovereignty and providence! When we wake each morning, we have no idea what lies before us - the opportunities to simply trust God in each hour. The tendency is to orchestrate our lives in such a way that we often "think" we take it right out of the hands of The One Who goes before us. The way is indeed rough and rugged at times but when we trust God - as He goes before us - we need not overwork ourselves in worry and doubt. Oh my, how Joseph must have wondered what God was doing as he sat in that cold dark prison but he did not faint nor grow weary; he trust in The One Who is worthy of our trust. Let us never forget ... He goes before us!