A Father's Heart

A Stable? Really? Yet it felt right . . .

The smell of animal is strong - constant rustling of hooves and sounds of cattle and goats fill the spaces between May's soft moaning. The torch flickers in the cool breeze, casting shadows along the wooden boards of the stalls. The cave walls radiate some heat from the day and the warmth for the animals give comfort.

The sky is lit up by so many stars tonight. I notice each night lately has been a bit more bright - tonight I can see easily around me.

"Joseph!"

"I'm here, Mary."

I walk over quickly to where my beloved is laying, propped up by sweet smelling hay and grasses - covered with some blankets we brought from home.

"Joseph - it hurts so" Mary whispered. "I'm know, Mary, I won't leave you."

I look up, "Lord, help us - show me what to do! Deliver Mary quickly and keep precious Jesus - Your Son, safe!"

Peace filled both our hearts - a smile on Mary's lips revealed promises kept and God's immediate help here.

She struggle still with the pain, trying to relax, holding tightly to my hand. I brushed the hair from her face and wiped the tears from her cheeks, "It will be over soon" I said softly.

Mary pointed to a bundle close by and I rose to get it. Inside I found fresh clothes for her, clean strips of cloth for the baby and soft blankets to wrap Him in. She had everything prepared.

I changed the straw beneath her and propped Mary up more so she could more easily bear down. Oh how I wish I could give her my strength!

Mary looked at me suddenly - "Joseph - the baby- now" she pants.

I move to her side and gently hold the baby's emerging head in my hand. Soft,wet curls spilled onto my palm.

I feel a hand on my shouder - giving me strength and confidence, helping me.

Slowly the baby's head is delivered, then one shoulder after the other. He looks at me! Is that a "thank you" I see, a glimpse of eternity and glory? I feel the hand on my shoulder give a gently squeeze. I dry him quickly, wrap him in a blanket and place him in Mary's arms.

Tears of joy drip onto my shirt as I sit there watching Mary tenderly look this wonderful baby over - counting finger and toes - running her hand along his back, his arms, his legs. He squirms and protests loudly!. Hungry? Cold?  Mary gently wraps him in the strips of cloth and guides him to her breast. I lean over and cover them both carefully with my cloak.

Mary looks at me and we smile through our tears. Lifting our gaze upwards we praise God for His strength, safety, provision and Emmanuel - God, with us!

Frightening glimpses through the fog!

We live in a world filled with sickness, death, evil and trouble. 

We are in this world.

We don’t think “bad” things will happen to us.

We live in a complacent fog. 

We catch glimpses of the true battle clashing around us when occasionally the fog lifts and we see the results of evil. 

We see godlessness, the raw wickedness of the heart and mind of man controlled by Satan.

In the shifting vapors we see the suffering that occurs daily in many parts of the world – areas where God is forsaken and evil rules blatantly and openly.

I find it appalling that “horror” shows depicting bloody killings, torture and darkness are welcomed into our theaters and homes through Internet and TV.  As we sit numbly watching “entertainment” these very atrocities are taking place in far off and not so far off countries against men and women, little boys and girls, many of whom are brothers and sisters in Christ. They are beaten, imprisoned, tortured, and killed. Children witnessing unspeakable acts not reported in the States.

God, in His mercy, allows us to be safe and secure – but for how much longer? Our country has turned her back on Him and worships the god of self and materialism. 

The war is in full swing around us – a spiritual battle full of hatred directed toward us and our children.

Man’s laws allow us to live, work and play in relative safety and security. BUT man’s heart is desperately wicked. Satan knows his time is short and is stepping up the attack. We are in the way – may our eyes be opened to see through the fog! We must read and know the Play Book and its’ Author! We must stay on our knees before our God!

Will we be touched by evil? YES

Will it defeat us? NO

Our hope is Christ, the victory is already won by Christ at the cross and empty tomb, our peace and security is in Christ.

May the God of hope, fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit         (Romans 15:13)

 

It is through our hope in God, our trust in Christ, our joy and peace given to us by our Father during the battle, enduring the suffering, in the midst of disappointment, tearful in grief, stunned by tragedy and picking up the pieces of shattered dreams that others see Christ.  

They see and are drawn to:

the Prince of Peace

Our Emmanuel!!!!

When angels dance and sing!

I just read a story of lost and found.

In a countryside filled with green pastures and sloping hills a shepherd stands straight and tall. Leaning on his staff, he looks out over HIS precious herd making sure the little ones are close to their Mamas, the older sheep are well and walking without difficulty, the herd as a whole is happy and content, feeding off the bountiful grass he has led them to. As a matter of habit he begins to count the sheep, smiling at the antics of the lambs jumping and chasing each other. Then he stops smiling and frowns. He slowly and carefully counts again. 

One is missing!

He sounds the alarm to his friends and neighbors and the search begins.

He scans the area. He moves swiftly and carefully along outcroppings and drop-offs. He calls the missing  sheep by name. He does not stop for food or rest. He quickly walks around the area, calling, listening, looking. Then he hears, of in the distance, a lonely bleat, a cry for help. Running, the shepherd arrives to find a frightened, dusty little lamb and gathers it gently in his arms, carefully wiping off the dust from the lamb’s face and holding it close as he softly probes with his loving fingers for cuts and bruises. The shepherd moves slowly back to the herd, murmuring loving words quietly to the little one. He places the lamb down by it’s mother and smiles as it hungrily feeds.

His friends and neighbors gather around the shepherd, celebrating and rejoicing with him. The lost lamb is back in the fold with the herd. The precious lost has been found.

Wow!

Jesus then went on to say, “there is more rejoicing in Heaven” when one of His creation comes to Him and accepts Him as the Savior.

 We made the angels dance and sing when we wrapped our arms around our Lord and asked Him to live in our hearts at the foot of the cross! The trumpets blasted, the music swelled and the angels sang songs of praise and joy when we became part of our Lord’s family.

 And the incredible reality is,  He is still smiling! And I believe the celebration is still going on and will continue till we join it and our loved ones to dance with Jesus and sing His praises with the angels! 

We are HIS!

Emmanuel, God is with us - Part 2

 EMMANUEL 

GOD is WITH US

Are we truly grasping this reality? Can our minds wrap around the FACT He is beside us and in us . . . always? Our wonderful God who loves us infinitely with outspread  arms ready to wrap them around us, who sings over us at night while we are sleeping, who calls us precious and never takes His eyes off of us or stops listening for our voices. The God who knows our name, who provides for us, protects us, dances with us in joy and comforts us  in sorrow . . .

 HE IS WITH US!

Let’s look at this from a different perspective:

As we drive to our work, run errands, shop –

 God is with us

As we brush our teeth, do the dishes, make the bed, fix the car, do the yard work –

 God is with us

As we care for our children, our aging parents, our sick loved ones –

 God is with us

As we walk the dog, clean the litter box, change a diaper –

God is with us

As we go give a hug, hold a hand, wipe a tear –

 God is with us

As we watch TV, look at a movie, listen to music, read a book, play a game –

God is with us

As we think a thought, speak a word, reach with our hand, react to others – 

God is with us

As we face our fears, bear our grief, feel overwhelmed, feel alone – 

God is with us

When others fail us and we are betrayed, hurt and in pain -
God is with us 

When we don't know which way to turn, there's no way out -
God is with us
 

Does this change:

What I look at?
   God is with me

What I listen to?
 God is with me

Where I choose to go?
 God is with me

How I react?
 God is with me

How I speak and what I say? 
 God is with me 

How I do my “jobs”?
 God is with me

How I rest in Him?  
 God is with me

GOD is WITH ME

EMMANUEL

Emmanuel, where You are is holy ground,

and You are HERE!

Emmanuel, God with us! Part 1

What a special time of year!

A time when God, the Father, fulfilled multiple scriptures in sending the Perfect Lamb to walk among us and be our Redeemer and Savior.

The Lord provides so many promises in His Word regarding “God with us”, here are just a few:  

• And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age - (Matthew 28:20)

• . . . He (the Father) will give you another Counselor - to be with you forever -  He lives with you and in you - (John 14:16)

• (Because I live - v 19) you will realize that I am in the Father and you are in Me and I am in you! (John 14:20)

• Be strong and courageous . . . for the Lord, you God, goes with you; He will never leave you or forsake you – (Deuteronomy 31:6)  

•  Were I to count them (the thoughts the Lord has concerning me), they would out number the grains of sand, when I awake – I am still with You (Psalm 139:18)
• Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you (Joshua 1:9)

• Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you (Hebrews 13:5) 

•  Since you are precious and honored in My sight – and because I love you, do not be afraid for  I am with you – (Isa 43:4-5)

•  You hem me in, behind and before, You have laid Your hand upon me (Psalm 139:5) 
  
• . . . though he stumble, he will not fall for the Lord upholds him with His hand (Psalm 37:24)
  
• . . . when you pass through the waters I will be with you . . . (Isaiah 43:2)
  
  

  EMMANUEL

  
  

  GOD IS WITH US

  
  

   Where you are is holy ground

  and you are HERE!   

  
  
  

  

  
  
  

Clean out our INBOX!

I am sitting here looking at my Inbox and shaking my head.

How did 11 pages of stuff accumulate so quickly? 
 
Why did I leave these e-mails sitting here taking up space, serving no purpose except to make it so hard to find those special ones I want to read and remember.

Ephesians 2: 1-10 compares and contrasts a life before Christ and a life in Christ.

Verse 2 is particularly intriguing; “You HE made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world."

There is a continual tug of war occurring around us -  subtle, deceptive and relentless. Our standards and beliefs are constantly bombarded with compromise and erosion. We are told what is good and bad. We are instructed as to what to wear, eat, listen to, watch, read, and even think. We are inundated with ideas and changing values, Satan inspired philosophies and constantly evolving morality.

Reminds me of waves that I used to watch rolling in on the beaches of Florida. In some areas the rolling waters quietly removed layers of sand while in others , the swells deposited blankets of sand to reform the entire beach.

If we are not watchful, if we are not diligent, our thinking will, as in verse 2, follow the "course of this world'. Layers of opinions and eroding ideas will bury God's principles and twist His truth in our minds.

Our faith, our values based on His Word are given in order to protect us as we walk through the waves of ungodly bias crashing in on us and shield our minds from the disintegration of our culture’s philosophies.

Solution?

Delete the junk and trash and clean out our mind’s Inbox by holding to the truth (1 Thes 3:21-22)

Daily reading, studying, memorizing and meditating on God's Word (Romans 12:2)

Diligently, excitedly and purposefully seek to know Him (Exodus 33:12b-13)

Depend on the Holy Spirit to teach us and Christ to fight for us! (1 Corinthians 2:10-11, 1 Samuel 17:47)

Grief - another journey

Several weeks ago we attended a memorial service of a dear friend’s Dad.

 It was wonderful to see the love and appreciation shared for a man of integrity who provided faithfully for his family. His love language, “Acts of service”!

Now the hard journey begins for a daughter left behind as she gathers up the precious  memories and places them in a treasured spot in her heart.

No more picking up the phone to call with news. No more hearing that sweet voice again. No more quiet  moments just being in the same room – where few words were needed – the love was there in little things, a smile, a touch, a look.

The promise of reunion, very real, but for now the colors are muted and greys surround my friend’s heart. The world continues, not any different than yesterday and will be the same tomorrow, yet to my friend’s eyes all has slowed and stopped.

In time, carried by her faithful God, supported by her wonderful husband and children and her loving friends , healing will occur and  a new normal will begin. She will hear the birds singing again. She will marvel at a beautiful sunset. She will laugh again. 

In sweet memories of times past she will see her daddy as he once was – strong – independent and whole. She will remember without pain.

But for now the numbness protects her soul. Gentle reminders of the Lord’s love heals her heart. The adjustments come gradually. The pain  slowly subsides. The heartache, a tender gift of expectation of a meeting yet to be – a quiet time with no words needed.

I love you, Ann!

Grey foggy days or blue skies?

Am overwhelmed this morning with sadness.

I am in awe of the blessing to sit at my Father’s feet and share my heart with Him. 

So I begin to list off all the things that trouble me. All the disappointments of special concerns that seem to be stagnant and unmoving. How I long for these heart burdens to be changed to answers. The ache is deep. The weight is hard to bear.
My eyes glance down and see these words in my open Bible, I gasp and smile:

Be joyful always

Pray continually

Give thanks in all circumstances

- for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus

Don’t hinder the Holy Spirit’s work in you life

Listen to prophesies with respect

Test everything with God’s Word

Avoid every kind of evil

I Thess 5: 16-22

Father, may Your joy be evident in my daily going and coming as I give You my cares. 

I give You my sadness, my fears, my disappointments, my longings. Carry them for me. You see all. You control all. Your perspective is perfect. May I rest in Your love and trust in Your heart!

The burden is lifted! He carefully carries it now!

Your Joy is filling my heart – You hold me close!

Jesus Calling today took my breath away in light of the paragraphs above!

Do we see grey, foggy days,

plodding along the rocky path

bowed low with worries, cares and sadness,

grumbling and complaining in our circumstances,

allowing fears and self centered thoughts to rob us of energy, of life itself?

or

Do we live in the blue skies of God’s abundant Presence,

casting our cares, worries and fears into His capable hands,

trusting in His loving heart for our every moment,

delighting in His surprises as we move through our day,

giving thanks for His goodness,

revitalized with His peace and love?

Thankfulness–continued!

My Jesus

Knows my frailties and weaknesses and loves me still

Does NOT change

Is in CONTROL, in all things, holding all things together

Bends over the edge of Heaven to hear my whispers

Walks with me through the fire

Carries me in the flood

Quiets the earthquakes

Holds me in His arms

Guides me with infinite love, gentleness and unwavering patience

Dances with me in the joys of life

Holds me close when the tears flow

Casts out my fear and fills my hearts with His love

Carries my burdens, worries and cares

Replaces all these with His peace

 Surrounds me – He is my rear guard

 Goes before me and His loving hand is on my head

Hears my voice and knows my name

LOVES ME STILL

Today, I am Thankful!

My Jesus:

Redeemed me with His blood, I am FORGIVEN

Stands with arms open wide in love, grace and mercy

Will never leave me, I am never alone

Knows me intimately and completely and loves me still

Knows my thoughts and hears my words and loves me still

Loves me with an infinite love

Knows my name, it is written on His hand and in His heart

Thinks about me all the time, I can’t count the thoughts

Is preparing our beautiful, indescribable Home right now

Meets all my needs our of His limitless riches

Is my SHIELD

Is my REFUGE and STRENGTH

delights in me, loves me – and it’s not because of what I do or don’t do

presents us to God, covered in His RIGHTEOUSNESS, always

LOVES ME

But they thought they knew better–part 2

This phrase still rings in my head . . . “But they thought they knew better”

Adam and Eve listened to Satan and decided they knew more about what they should do than God.  No magical fruit – a trust and obey issue. It was their thinking, their desires, their attitude, their thinking they knew better, their disobedience that caused sin to become a part of the human race. 

Satan, in his fall from grace “thought he knew better”!

Imagine, he was created as:

A model of perfection

full of wisdom and perfect in beauty,

was in the Garden of Eden with God,

every precious stone set in gold, adorned him,

He was anointed and ordained as a guardian,

was blameless in all his ways till . . .

HE THOUGHT HE KNEW BETTER!

His heart became proud and knew he was beautiful,

He was filled with violence and sinned

He said, “I will ascent to heaven,

I will raise my throne above the stars of God

I will sit on  my throne on the sacred mount of the assembly

I WILL MAKE MYSELF LIKE THE MOST HIGH”– Ezekiel 28

and you know the rest!

In contrast –Christ, the Son of the Most High – HE KNOWS BEST and yet:

Being in the very NATURE of God

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped

but made Himself nothing,

taking  the very nature of a servant, became a human

and became obedient to death  -  even the cross

SO

God has highly exalted Him to the highest place on the sacred mount!

and gave Him a name above every name, that at the name of JESUS every knee will bow

in Heaven and on Earth and in Hell

and every tongue WILL confess that Jesus Christ is LORD

to the glory of God the Father! – Philippians 2:5-11

In the process of learning who our God is, we see how ludicrous the thought – 

“But I think I know better!”

And even more precious is the fact – when we sin and blow it, He holds out His loving arms full of forgiveness, grace and mercy, to pull us close and grow us to be more like HIM!

But they thought they knew better . . .

Just read in a devotional these words “But they thought they knew better” 

The story? Adam and Eve – God gave them freedom throughout the Garden of Eden. All the luscious fruit and veggies were for them to enjoy, EXCEPT one. A conversation with Satan, a doubt planted and suddenly “they thought they knew better” than God.

You know the rest of the story . . .

Me???? I don’t think I know better than God! . . . 

or do I?

How often have I argued with God. Expressed my opinion about  events that effect my life. Ranted and raved about circumstances that made me uncomfortable, threatened “my world” and caused me not to have . . . Stormed the gates of Heaven with my wants and desires, not taking time to consider God’s perfect plan. Demanding what I want, when I want it and how soon it needs to be delivered. Sat down, devastated at the bill, the doctor’s report, the pink slip, the phone call, “unanswered” prayer . . .and wondered how a loving God could do this to me!

BUT I thought I knew better . . .

“Cease striving” and KNOW I AM GOD!    Psalm 42:10

Windows 8 and God!

Windows 8!

How exciting! I have read about it, seen the promos, looked forward to when I can download it onto my computer. I have talked about it to others, believe it to be good and helpful and an advancement over Windows 7. 

BUT, until I use it, learn its secrets, work with it and experience all it can offer – I do not know it. I can talk about its attributes, I can imagine all that I think it can do, BUT, all this means nothing until I take time to read, learn and use it.

Are we that way with our relationship with our God? Do we merely scratch the surface of our Christianity? Do we skip reading His Message to us and depend on what others tell us? Do we live our lives only on hearsay and not studying for ourselves?

What if our relationships with our friends were based on just input from others? How deep would our love be for those special to us, our spouse, if we only made contact occasionally and through other people instead of spending precious time digging deep into their hearts, learning their characters, appreciating the specialness of who they are, loving their smile and relaxing in their embrace?

Join me in getting our Bibles from off the table! Dust it off – let’s ask the Holy Spirit to awaken our souls to the riches of God in His incredible Love Letter to us and let’s dive deep into a wondrous world of grace, mercy, truth and love!

A WORD OF WARNING!

Commitment to this JOURNEY is life changing.
 You will never be the same!

a new set of rules!

As a patient in the hospital, you live according to a new set of rules. 

Time is marked by visits from family and friends, medication administration, IV machines beeping and humming, Doctor’s visits and vital signs.

 Yet in this mechanized world there is a heartbeat of Heaven. I heard it during my stay. I felt God’s care and love through each staff member, loving friend and my precious family as they spoke to me, touched me gently, informed me of tests and procedures, comforted me and listened.

Another nugget of truth during this time:

During our difficult times,

Our unpleasant experiences,

He stands beside us

He is in –

A touch during pain

A hand to hold during a scary procedure

A kind word

A helping hand

A giving spirit

A phone call with encouraging words

A smile

An ear and time to listen

All through the Bible we read of God using others to fulfill His purpose and will. How wonderful it is to know that we can not only be touched by God through others but can be used of God to reach out to do His bidding and show in a real and tangible way His love and tenderness in times of need.

Anxious about the future?

“Anxiety is the result of envisioning the future without ME!”

Jesus Calling – October 17th
So appropriate for today. The daily devotional goes on to say the best defense against worry is communication with Jesus. In considering events in the future – don’t allow your mind to dwell there (we become anxious), remember Christ’s promise that He will be there with You!

Luke 12:22-31 encapsulates God’s care and provision for us. His love is infinite and He will meet our needs.

We see our needs as comfort, ease, health, lack of want. We seek our security in things, in bank accounts and relationships. He gently pries our fingers off these things and places our hands in His. He redirects our focus back to Himself. He shows us in Luke to not run after clothes, food, riches, security of things, but to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto us.

His work is to “clear out the debris and clutter, making room for the Holy Spirit to take full possession of our hearts” (Jesus calling today)

Our job is to allow Him to reveal those things we cling to for our security and safety and let go. Things, people, money, investments, government cannot provide the type of Security – eternal provision, that Christ can.

HE KNOWS WHAT WE NEED. He delights in giving us the desires of our hearts. He promises us life abundant. He stands ready to bless us till our “cup runs over”

 BUT FIRST HE MUST TRAIN US TO DEPEND ON HIMSELF ALONE

Truly it is time to take our faith in Christ seriously.

 We see the devastation brought on by Sandy and the loss of everything to many. Can we say with confidence “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord?” He is dealing gently with us – we still have our homes, our bank accounts and our loved ones. Can we release our hold on these  things and the future, putting them trustingly into our loving Father’s hands? In doing this, can we say to our Lord, “Your will, not mine”, “You lead, I will follow”, “You will meet my greatest need – a vibrant, life changing, trusting relationship with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords – all else is your bountiful blessings to me. “

This day did not go as planned!

Written Day 6 in the hospital. OCT 23, 2012

Friday, Bruce and I were up early, getting ready for the day’s procedure – and endoscopy and colonoscopy. I had plenty of time to sit and read the Bible and read the devotional for today. “Be real in God’s Presence” so that we can be real with those around us. Our primary focus is to be communing with the Lord, worshiping Him, glorifying Him. Then we can share His Joy and His Love with others.

Bible Verses:

Exodus 33:14 –

The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest!”

Phil 4:8-9 (my eyes rested on verses 4 on down.)

To rejoice in the Lord always

Let your gentleness be evident to all

The Lord is NEAR

 Do not be anxious for anything

But in everything by prayer and petition

With thanksgiving

Present you requests to God

 And the PEACE of God

Will GUARD you HEARTS and MINDS

IN CHRIST JESUS

(the correct focus of our thoughts in v 8-9)

We did not know just how important these words were at the time of our reading them that morning. But the Lord used these words to comfort and give His peace and rest just a few short hours later.

All went according to plan. As usual, one minute I was wheeled into the procedure area and the next I was trying to open my eyes in recovery. Only this time something was wrong. It hurt to breath, I felt like our dog Wendy was sitting on my chest and I felt nauseous. An EKG was done and cleared our fears of heart issues and the pain subsided so I was discharged home with Bruce so sweetly caring for me.

On the way home the symptoms began slowly and by the time we got home and I climbed onto the bed the pain returned with a vengeance. Breathing became extremely difficult and pain radiated up both sides of my jaw, out my back as well as feeling like my chest would explode. Fortunately, and by God’s grace (another answer to His provision) I was still under some of the effects of the anesthesia from that morning.

On the way back to the ER “My Presence will go with you and I will give you rest”, “I will never leave your forsake you”, “I am with you always” pulsed in my head with each beat of my heart.

I wondered if I might see my Lord and King. It was not a frightening thought!

Excellent care was given in the ER and after it was again established my heart was not the issue they worked diligently to find the cause of the pain. Pneumomediastinum was the diagnosis after several CT scans and x-rays, an air leak into my chest cavity causing irritation and pleurisy to the chest wall and surrounding tissues. Apparently, a tear in scar tissue from past surgeries was the culprit. Praise God, (again His hand and touch of protection) there was not fluid just air!

You don’t want to go there!

So I sit here Tuesday morning with the NG tube removed, IV still doing its’ thing with the electrolytes and antibiotics infusing, caressing a container full of ice water (first drop of liquid on my tongue since Thursday) and hand on the phone to call in my first breakfast since last Wednesday. Clear liquids – ambrosia from Heaven!!!!

Another nugget learned from all of this! I share it joyfully with you . . .

GOD IS WITH ME IN ALL THINGS!

He sees all circumstances before they occur

And His arms are always around me!

His Word is my lifeline

His promises are my anchor to His heart!