rest in winter looking toward spring

As I watched the snow fall out the window, I began to look forward to spring. Right now, the yard looks dead and brown. There are no plants growing.  It looks lifeless. Spring is a time of new growth and flowers. While enjoy the beauty of snow covered fields and plants, I know it is cold, and all the plants are dormant.  I begin to look forward to planting and seeing growth.
My mother was a plant person. She loved gardening, especially flowers. Her back yard was full of flowers. Roses lined the back  and the house. Daffodils, calla lilies and hyacinths were in the flower beds.  One of my favorite pictures of my mom is of her standing with a shovel in her hand and smile on her face. I like to get out in the yard and plant flowers just because it makes me feel close to mom.
Plants take cultivation, nurturing, and care. There is a time of patience and waiting to see what they will become.  I have planted some things hoping for quick return only to have to wait months before I see that little bud begin to grow. It is a great reward for the work and patience.
I guess spiritually, we can be like this as well.  We go through times or seasons when things get cold, maybe even feel lifeless.  We may feel like we are stuck, not heard or struggling just to make it through. We may feel like we are stuck in a spiritual winter. But we can look forward to our spring.
When we keep going, keep our faith in God and trust Him, he brings us through those times into a time of new growth and new expectations. We may feel like we are lying dormant waiting for something to happen.  God may be causing us to rest and prepare us for the next phase in our spiritual walk. Trees and plants go dormant during those cold months but there is still life waiting to burst forth in spring. The plants are resting and taking in nutrients that will supply them for a new season of growth. Spiritually, we sometimes need that time of rest or dormancy to rejuvenate, soak in His love and spirit for a new season in our lives. 
There is a time when Elijah ran into the wilderness from Jezebel and collapsed in despair. He cried out for God to take his life. God sent an angel to comfort him. II Kings 19:7 And the angel of the Lord came back the second time, and touched him, and said, “Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you.”
God understood the journey had become tiresome and Elijah was at his wits end. He understood that Elijah needed rest and comfort. God provided that time of rest and restoration. He went forty days just on that food from the angel. He then had a great revelation from God in a cave. God was faithful to Elijah. He restored him even when things looked bleak and lifeless, God was actually at work for Elijah.
So, when we are faced with those times of despair and feeling lifeless spiritually, take a moment to realize that God may be working on you to provide for you a time of rest and restoration. He may be preparing to give you a great revelation or move you into a time of new growth for His kingdom. We can say like Paul ⁸ We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 2 Corinthians 4:8. or as David said, For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.  Psalms 30:5.
God is always on our side and He is always faithful to provide for us, love us and care for us. There is never a time He is not near.

making the choice

Deuteronomy 30:19-20.nasb I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the Lord your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the L ord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them."
God has given us a choice, a choice to live for him and be blessed or deny him and be cursed. To choose life, he gives us three things we need to do in verse 20.
1. Love the Lord your God
2. Obey His voice
3. Hold fast to Him
We need to love him. We love him because He first loved us. He loves us so much that He sent his son to take our place and die for our sins. He loves us and cares for us. We are to love Him in return. We need to respond to His love and demonstrate our love for Him.

We need to obey His voice. First, we need to be able to know and recognize His voice. He says, "My sheep know my voice. " Second, we need to listen for His voice.  We need to wait and hear Him. If we don't take time to listen, we will never hear Him when He speaks. Third, we need to obey His voice when we hear him speak. That is sometimes hard to do, but necessary for obedience  to God.

Holding fast to God is holding on no katter what circumstances tell us. We may go through times of feeling like God isn't there or isn't hearing us. We may feel like giving up. We may even go through wonderful days of blessing.  Through it all, we need to trust God and His plans. We need to keep our faith in Him in spite of the ways life may take us.

God gives us the choice to choose true life or to choose death. I choose life. I choose to love Him, obey His voice, and hold on to Him. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Take some time today to read the whole chapter of Deuteronomy 30. You may find the blessings of living for God speaking loudly to your soul.

landmarks

This morning I awoke with some images I had dreamed. I had dreamed about a treasure hunter looking for treasure. The treasure hunter knew where to look and entered a large stone place. The first room had a large wall that had some writing and while I could not read it, I knew immediately it was what he was looking for. The writings told him this was the place. The treasure hunter, however, ignored the writings and kept going. He went further into the place and searched and searched. He became more desperate and more frustrated with each room coming up empty. I kept hoping he would go back to the wall with the writing. Finally, he began to walk back and actually read the writing. He realized he had the answers he was seeking. He found the place with the treasure he was seeking. It had been in the first room all along and he had chosen not to believe it was that easy, that the treasure was right there.

As I thought about this, I heard God remind me of the old landmarks. I heard him remind me that the landmarks of those before us are important to remember. We have been taught landmarks by those before us. God spoke of landmarks in His word.

Proverbs 22: 28
Do not remove the ancient landmark Which your fathers have set.

Jeremiah 31:21
"Set up signposts, Make landmarks; Set your heart toward the highway, The way in which you went. Turn back, O virgin of Israel, Turn back to these your cities.

Deuteronomy 19:14 “You shall not remove your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have set, in your inheritance which you will inherit in the land that the Lord your God is giving you to possess.

Many of us have had parents, grandparents and church leaders who have set before us some landmarks. The Word of God contains landmarks. Landmarks are set for a purpose to be a permanent reminder of where the boundaries begin and end. We all have seen fences. I remember growing up, that when we went out to play, Mom would tell us to not go out of the gate. If we did, we knew we were in trouble. I have set boundaries for my own children.

God has set landmarks, or boundaries for His children. He has set them there, for our protection, our safety, to lead us and guide us. The landmarks are there to keep us in His care and provide us the treasure of His love and relationship.

Many people have looked past those landmarks. Many have tried to find the treasures that would take the place of God’s love and safety. Many people are searching for things that can only truly be found in God. They have forgotten the landmarks or were maybe never taught the landmarks. Too many people are looking for peace, love and joy in places outside of God. There are some who have attempted to move the landmarks and change them to fit the lifestyle they want to live. They have attempted to say that God’s landmarks are false, not for today, old-fashioned and unimportant. There are those who have declared new landmarks.

God is calling His people to remember the landmarks in His Word. He is calling us to put the landmarks back in place. He is calling us to set up the signposts and set our hearts back in line with His Word. His word makes it clear in Deuteronomy 27:17 that those who move the landmarks and remove them will be cursed. They will strive for food, clothes, blessings, and peace yet find unfulfillment and cursing. God set up landmarks for us to know Him and relate to Him and He does not look kindly on those who ignore and remove the landmarks.

I can imagine anyone who owns a home or land can understand that you would not want your neighbor moving into the property you own. You would not want your walls or fences moved to change the boundaries of your home or property. God has set landmarks and boundaries to lay and mark His claim on His people. He lays claim to our souls. He lays claim for himself and He is not happy to have someone else try to claim His blood-bought children. He bought us with a price and He has every right to claim what is His. Have we ignored the boundaries God has placed in our lives? Lord, bring us back to the landmarks, back to our first love. Lord, bring your people back to the place you intended for your people. What are the landmarks? Read the bible. It is full of landmarks. God will show you when you allow Him to have full reign of your life.

Start with prayer. Prayer is landmark that cannot be removed. Prayer is essential for knowing God and hearing His voice.

Keep the landmarks before you and teach them to your children. God will honor those who know His landmarks and obey His word.  Go back to the landmarks found God's Word

have no fear God is near

'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’  Isaiah 41:10

This verse is everywhere lately.  I read this verse several times recently. I even copied it into my prayer journal.  It says some very important things to me.  I have seen this verse several times since then.  I have seen it in books, on facebook, in bible studies, spoke these very words in a Christmas monologue for the Christmas service, and heard others use this verse in very adverse circumstances.  This verse is becoming very important to me.  Why?  This verse is a promise to me.
God knows me very well.  He knows I am an anxious person and I tend to fret and worry. He knows I hate not knowing what will happen and I get concerned about things I have no control over. He knows I get myself worked up.  He knows I am weak and need help.  God knows I cannot do anything without Him.  He knows that I know this as well.  He knows I realize how truly weak and unable I often feel.  I cannot be strong without Him.
God had Isaiah write down this verse so He could tell me and others like me just how much he can do.  He sent this word through the ages just to tell me I do not need to be anxious and worry.  I do not need to be strong on my own. I do not need to try to handle everything because He is going to be strong for me. He is going to be my help. He is going to uphold me by His righteous right hand.  I do not need to fear at all.  God Almighty is holding on to me and holding me up.  He has His hand on me.  Have you ever tried to hold someone up?  It takes a hands on approach.  It takes closeness and attention.  You have to pay attention to that person and wrap your hands and arms around them. That is God, he is paying attention to me and has wrapped my in His arms.  He is holding on.  He doesn’t let go.  He sees what is coming and he knows the obstacles. He knows what will happen and what we need.  God sent this verse for me apparently because I need to know He has me in His hands.  He knows 2016 may hold some tough times. He is already preparing me for what is ahead. He is reminding me that even though I may not be able to handle my frustrations, hurts, disappointments and trials, I can put my trust in Him. I can trust Him to strengthen me, help me and hold me. His righteous right hand is always there. Help me, Lord, to put aside fear and worry and replace it with trust in You.

we have a choice to make

Last week, I was asked a question, “Why would an all-loving God send anyone to hell?’  Then, a couple of days later, my son also asked me why God sends people to hell. I had  to give an answer.  How do you explain this to a 9 year old?  So I started with who God is, at least in the best way I can explain it.

It really comes down to understanding a few things about God and His nature.
God is love. We know that. In the bible it says “The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 1 John 4:8.  God is also just and righteous.
Psalm 7:11 God is a righteous judge, And a God who has indignation every day.
Psalm 71:19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens, You who have done great things; O God, who is like You?
Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; How blessed are all those who long for Him.

God is not just a big ball of love.  He is a multi-faceted God. He is gracious, merciful, just, righteous, creative, all-knowing, all-powerful, expansive, peaceful, wrathful, and the list can go on. If you read the Bible at all, you will be able to find many descriptions of him: Prince of Peace, Alpha and Omega, Salvation, Righteousness, Father, Holy, etc.
This tells me that God is not just defined as love.

Because God is righteous, sin cannot enter or stand before Him. Many stories in the Old Testament are there to demonstrate that sin was unacceptable to a Holy God. Revelations 21:27 states  “and nothing unclean, and no one who practices abomination and lying, shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
1 John 3:10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.

The fact that sin and unrighteousness is contrary to God is the very reason He sent Jesus to be the redeemer of our souls. Jesus came so we can be cleansed of our sin and be able to know God.
1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sin separates us and takes us from God. God created us to be loved and love Him in return. He created humans as pure and clean. There was no sin in the very beginning. God would come and commune and talk with Adam and Eve in the garden.  Once sin entered the picture, that bond was broken. That communion was broken. Jesus gives us a way to enter back into the communion rGod intended in the first place. God intended us to be able to relate to Him, commune with Him and be with Him. He did not want sin here, but he gave humans a free will and a free choice to choose Him.

I explained to my son that God is not willing for anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). I explained that God does not want anyone to go to hell. That is not what he intended. However, because of sin we are condemned to Hell since sin cannot enter into heaven.  Sin cannot stand or enter into the holy presence of God. Unrighteousness cannot stand before a Righteous God. God gave us a choice to choose because of His love for us. He wants us to choose Him. He sent His Son Jesus in the ultimate sacrifice of love to redeem us from our sins. He wants us to choose Him.  I told me son that basically, we make a choice for heaven or hell.  We choose for ourselves.  God set forth to save us but he does not force us.  He gave us a way of escape and a way to return to Him and enjoy His presence for eternity, but when we refuse Christ, we actually choose to send our souls to eternal damnation in hell. We choose hell when we reject Christ.
My son in his 9 year old wisdom said, “Oh, so people do it to themselves, that must make God sad.”
Yes, it does.  I know God is going to judge every soul.  Every human soul will stand before God and He will look for that one important thing, Did we accept Jesus and His sacrifice?  Did we understand that His love called us back to Him and offered a way to walk in the true purpose for which we were intended?  Those who did not choose Jesus have ultimately tied His hands.  He must judge and condemn.  There is no way of escape at that point.  He isn’t going to change His rules or change the law. His Word is set and His law is eternal.  We make a choice on this earth that determines our eternal destination. My 9 year old gets it. So many adults on this earth try to deny it, reason it out, explain it away and even change it.  The truth is still there and there is no escaping eternity.  I think that is why Joshua said “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.
Choose you today whom you will serve for it will determine your choice of eternity in heaven or hell.

my strength is not enough

Where does my strength come from?  Where does your strength come from?  I know without a doubt that my strength comes from God. His strength is perfect. I have no strength without Him. I cannot breathe, live or move without Him. My strength is not enough.
First of all, I am only a creation. He is my creator.  I have no life without Him taking the time to create me. I know I only exist because He saw fit to allow me to live.
Second of all, each day is a day I get to choose to live with Him or to choose to live without Him.
I choose to live with Him.  I choose to live in the reality that God is real. I cannot do anything without Him anyway.  This life is hard to live sometimes. Life in this world is not made to always be easy.  Most of us struggle, work, have chores, disappointments, heartaches etc. We also have joys, love, excitement, and fun. The hard parts and the good parts are all so much better when we make sure God is the focus, when we rely on Him.

When I have to face those hard things in life, it is still hard, but I can rely on God Almighty to carry me through.
Psalms 18:32 It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
Exodus 15:13 You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To Your holy habitation.

When we seek God, He is faithful and He is there. He strengthens us and will uphold us. He will bring us through every situation.
I Chronicles 16:11 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek His face always.

He is looking to strengthen those who need him. He is not wanting us to fail. He is not willing for us to perish. He is wanting to help us, lead us, cover us and save us.  He wants to be our strength.
2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His....

Sometimes I try so hard to be strong on my own.  I always fail and feel so weak.  I cannot stand on my own strength.  I am but a human.  As a mom, I want to be strong.  As a wife, I want to be strong. As a woman, I want to be strong.  I cannot be.  I fail.
When I call on God for strength, I am amazed at how much I can do, endure, and survive. I realize I needed Him all along.  When I sat with my son as he went through surgery, he was afraid. He wanted strength from me. I had none.  I cried for strength from God, and He gave me strength to pass along to my son.  When his sutures tore open and he was in pain I could not take away, I cried for strength for both of us.  God came through with strength, comfort and wisdom.
I know God carries me through those times.
Psalms 18:1 I love you, O Lord, my strength.

God is my shield and strength. He is my help. I know I can find strength when I lean on Him.  I cannot make it through this life without God's strength. I need Him.  I am also learning that I need to trust in His strength.  I can trust His strength to carry me, and cover me.  I am learning that I can trust God to love me through my circumstances. I can trust Him through the tough times and to help me enjoy and hang on to the good times. He reminds me and shows me how good He is and brings His blessings to my life.
Isaiah 41:10
‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

I am so thankful I can find strength in God. I am so thankful I know Him and He knows me. I am thankful for His promises to uphold me and keep me. I am grateful that he relieves my anxieties and reminds me that he is my help.  I can come to him anytime, anywhere and He is faithful to be there.
I am so glad I do not have to rely on my own strength to face life.  I am so glad God is always there.
I have strength only because God gives me strength.  I can be strong because He is holding me.
I can go on, when it seems I shouldn't only because of Him.

Here is a link to a wonderful song by Steven Curtis Chapman
His Strength is Perfect
Click Here for Link

just a vapor

This is the beginning of a new year. It is amazing that we are now in 2016. Time keeps moving whether we want it to or not.  This past week, we traveled to visit some dear friends. On the way, we were detained for about three hours due to a terrible accident that had occurred ahead of us.  My husband quickly pointed out that if we had not left the house late, we may have been involved in that accident ahead.  We were thankful we were not involved. I was also saddened to know someone had lost their life just a couple of miles ahead. I always struggle emotionally when I see or hear about car accidents. That is how I lost my mother. I know that terror of receiving a call and hearing the heart wrenching news.  I empathize with those families because of my experience. While we were visiting our friends, we visited Kennesaw Battlefield. It was interesting to walk through the museum and see pictures and names of those who had fought for what they believed in. They young men who died in battle and the leaders during the civil war left behind a legacy for the United States. I began to think about those young men and how we were learning about them, their names and their deaths over two hundred years later. That is amazing to me.  We were able to show our children this place and what it meant to our country. We were also able to show them how these young men had sacrificed their lives. These young men that were too young, in my opinion, to die. I guess as I write this, I am thinking about how life is short and comes and goes quickly.  I realize I am aging much more quickly than I ever imagined.  I look at my children and realize that they are growing quickly.  My beautiful daughter is now taller than me and is becoming a young lady.  Her interests are changing quickly.  My little boy is no longer my little baby. He is a strong, healthy, busy boy.  I am realizing my time with them in my home is becoming short.
In James 4:14 it says, "whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."
Life is but a vapor. It comes and goes quickly.  But what do you do with it.  I was reading an article today about a man who realized his time spent had been wasted with drinking and took a break from drinking. He wrote the article about how the two years spent without drinking had changed his life.  He talked about how he wanted to leave behind something important when he died, not just great conversations with friends. He wanted to create something that would live on after him. He had begun writing and creating what he hopes will be a legacy to leave past his time on earth.

One thing, I am realizing is that life is short. It comes and goes quicker than I ever imagined. I remember thinking that I would be "SO OLD" when it was the year 2000.  Here it is already 2016. I hope I leave behind something that lives on past me.  I want to leave behind something that counts. I read the following blog about how we should and can really pray that the things in our life should count.
http://bronlea.com/2013/08/06/one-little-word-that-radically-changed-my-prayers/

The author talks about asking God to "Make it count."  So many times, we get so caught up in our problems, our concerns and our issues, that we forget to just ask God to do His will and make it count for His glory.  I want the healing and the blessings. I ask for what I want, but what I really need to ask, is that His will be done and that He use whatever it is to bring glory to His name. I want it to count.  I want my life to count for something.  I want my life to count as a light of Christ's love to this world and to me.  I want it to count and be spoken of as a life that spoke of the goodness of God. I am praying that this year God will be more evident in my thoughts and actions.  I pray that I am completely surrendered to His will.  I pray that His will be done in my life and that He makes it count for His kingdom.  I don't want to build my kingdom.  I don't want to just build for my own comfort and desires. I want to make a difference for the Kingdom of God. I want to be the answer to a prayer, I want to be used to meet a need for someone else. I want to be the one who encourages another or helps when no one sees hope. Not for my glory, but because God sees that I am willing to be his hands, his feet, his voice. I want to be ready and willing to be His when He needs me. I don't want to pass from this life just doing whatever, I want to pass from this life having left a legacy of love and life from the Savior.  Time is short, I have but this one life to live.  I have a purpose to live for God and for His glory.  May God place His purpose on my life and use me according to the plans He has made.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
His plans are perfect for us.  We need to trust His love for us and that he will not harm. He gives hope and a future; a future not just on this earth, but for eternity.  Lord, help me to trust you with my future, my life, and with all the plans, not just for eternity, but for the everyday.  Help me come to you first and find you before I go out into the day.  Help me, Lord, to trust you to make my path straight. Help me submit all my ways to you.

Proverbs 3:6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.