Run to Him!

“Life happens” I hear often when things go awry. 

Tragedies, illness, heartbreak, disappointments slam into our day, blindsiding us and leaving us wounded and bleeding. 

This is where we have a choice – to react or act. We can scurry around trying to fix things, right the wrong, find the solution, wring our hands in despair and become totally and completely exhausted and emotionally spent.

Or we can run!

Run to our Creator.

Run to our Sufficiency. 

Run to our Answer. 

Run to our Healer.

Ugly, painful, hurtful times will occur. Jesus, our Lover, Comforter and Protector stands by the throne of grace and mercy with arms outstretched . . .He runs to us as we run to Him! He wipes the tears from our eyes, whispers love and comforting words and fills our hearts with His peace.

Isaiah 26:3  You will keep Him in perfect peace, him that is steadfast, because he trust in you!

EMBRACE the "IS"

The Lord IS with me
He IS providing, this moment, what I need
He IS supplying safety, comfort, food, rest and beauty around me
He IS healing, strengthening, transforming my soul today
He IS leading me in the way I should go to glorify HIM

He IS my shield and protector today
He IS the answer to today’s fear – it is gone
He IS with me – in me and all around me
He IS aware of what I can’t see and already provides what is needed – because He loves me

He IS declaring me precious, loved, special – HIS!
He IS with me – past, present and future
He IS finished with my special place where I will be with Hi forever – the Lover of my soul!!!

Psalm 23

What would I do?

“I just finished training in Jepara and Pati with Sidik. It went well. Praise the Lord. We met with Dukri to prepare training in Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan. Dukri shared that his team member, Suparno was killed by terrorists in Jepara recently. Dukri was asked to identify the body by the police. Pray for Suparno's wife and kids. The police got Suparno's lap top and the terrorists got his cell phone. This is why our ministries in Pantura on high alert! Thanks for praying our ministry.”

Dodi Sasongko – East/West Ministries

Just received this from one of our missionaries our church class supports.
Places I have never heard of. People with strange names -  brothers and sisters in my Eternal family. 

Words

 killed . . . terrorists . . . high alert . . . body

all foreign to me yet these dear ones are intimately acquainted with them! NOW!

Pray! Indonesia and so many other countries are under the blanket of Islam. Loving Jesus, as we are free to do in this country means death to these dear ones! 

Think! What would I do  . . .

And then there is an example closer to home . . .Dan Snaddon, my precious Dad - a prisoner of war for over three years, constantly in jeopardy while sharing the Good News of Christ in the prison camp; persecution, beatings – answered prayer and God’s incredible protection!

What would I do?

In thinking of the last few sermons, living in the last days before our Savior comes to take us Home . . .

WHAT WILL I DO?

John 15:20
Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also.

1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. (NIV)

 

Dan Snaddon - May 26, 1915- May 16,2009

take up the torch!

This past weekend I was reminded of the incredible and terrible sacrifice of so many to allow you and me to walk, talk and worship in freedom.

We are asked to take up the torch!

Veterans and active service men and women were asked to stand in church on Sunday to be honored and thanked for their part in our freedom.I proudly watched my husband stand straight and tall as an veteran of Vietnam, serving in the American Army as Captain.  I thought back on the many experiences shared by Daddy and Mom. Details of courage, compassion and self-sacrifice during their time enlisted in the British army and Dad's years of imprisonment under the Japanese on Singapore.

We are asked to take up the torch!

Those of us not involved can't enter in to the horrific, the sad and frightening times our dear ones experienced. We can't fully understand what our brave young men and women are experiencing now as wars continue and they bravely stand against the enemy. We do know of the waiting, the longing to see them again and the praying for safety and courage.

We are asked to take up the torch!

Jesus asks us to stand faithful and unafraid behind Him as the Battle of the Ages thunders around us. Our armor on,  our eyes focused on our Leader who has already won the war, His torch lifted high! He has finished the fight and won our eternal freedom. He has suffered untold agonies and emerged whole and strong - the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We are assured glorious victory and total defeat of the enemy because of our unfailing, completely trustworthy Heavenly Commander!

We are asked to take up the torch!

I have a confession . . .

I have a confession to make.

I've been avoiding my prayer time . . . not the SOS prayers that so frequently pop up quickly Heavenward with the many daily worries and burdens. They are automatic and truly heartfelt. What would we do without that lifeline?

No, I am speaking about the "down on my knees" praying for my loved ones and friends kind of prayers. I find myself repeating requests, saying the same things over and over, boring myself (and I am sure the Lord) with the same old stuff.

Then the dreaded LIST!

It keeps getting longer and longer. Details I forget scrawled hurriedly in the margins. Overwhelming and, yes, tedious. I am so sorry, Lord! So what is my solution? Just don't do it. Ignore the LIST. The duties and responsibilities have won. Lord, any suggestions?

A surprise phone call changed my whole perspective.

My precious Auntie, during our conversation, said something like this. "Sometimes I just don't know what to pray for when I look at my list. But the Lord knows so I just lift up the name of that person or thing to Him."

WOW, oh, WOW!
Freedom from the pressing guilt! Ha, Satan, the Lord answered and you have to run!

So I am now lifting up the LIST of names and circumstances to HIM! Praying as the needs come to mind and leaving it all in my God's capable hands! Again, it is not about me but all about HIM!!!

Thank you, dear Auntie!!!!

Burned Toast or Petunias?

Yesterday, I wanted a really crisp English Muffin with my egg. I hit the handle of the toaster a second time and went about my business. A few seconds later the smoke/heat detector blared it’s anger and I was frantically grabbing for something to fan the silly thing to stop it’s noise!

Good news – I had a crispy, crunchy, scrumptious English Muffin (what’s some black stuff among friends!)

Bad news – the whole house smelled like burned toast for hours! Not pleasant!

We have three baskets full of beautiful petunias by our front door. Massive collections of pink and purple blooms that sit there day after day in the sun, cold or hot, wind and rain. Regardless of the weather, in the early morning or evening we walk into the most wondrous fragrance – causing us to stop, inhale deeply and smile!

After the fire?

After the problems?

After the unexpected, the upset plans, the disappointments?

After all our circumstances, is our fragrance

Burned Toast

or

Beautiful Petunias?

Take time away to “meditate” on God’s majesty

Psalm 145:1-7

I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.

 Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.

 Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.

One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.

 On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.

 They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.

 They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

Take time today, away from the “busy-ness” and noise of this world we live in to sit at the feet of Jesus and medicate on the “glorious splendor of our God’s majesty and His wondrous works”.

Let’s fill the air with our praise to our God and King!!!!