October 7

 Good morning! This morning I have sleep on my mind, not because I want to sleep but because I am not at peace to sleep. I have God's chosen people on my heart. I woke thinking of how they were living their lives on a little sliver of land that they were given first by the Lord and then later politically by the Nations in control of the area. 

     The Jews have lived and died and fought for their land and they have been attacked on every side by so many enemies that want to take their little sliver of land! It is amazing that such a small country stays as a focus of so many of its enemies. It's as if the enemy of the Lord chooses to give no area for the Lord's chosen people to live in peace. It is a much bigger battle than you or I will be able to fathom, it is a spiritual battle. 

     On October 7, 2023, the people were living their lives not as you and I do, they have had missiles dropped on them for years but they have lived with it. This day they had actual terrorist invade their land and start shooting and murdering their citizens. People were shot in their homes, children killed in front of their parents, the elderly murdered where they sat, and women taken from their families and violently violated before dying at the hands of the terrorists. The acts of the terrorists is beyond our comprehension. 

     Now the world has been twisted into thinking that the people of Israel should not try to protect itself? How ludicrous is that!? The victims of the attacks are supposed to accept that this is life if they are Jewish? The Jews now are facing attacks around the world simply because they are Jewish, this is unbelievable. I never would have thought that there would be such bias and bigotry displayed in the US where our ancestors were involved in the war this attitude was displayed in under the leadership of the Nazi regime. 

     Please pray for the peace of the Jewish people and Nation. Support God's chosen people or find yourself on the wrong side of the battle. The Lord will not abandon His people. They are the apple of His eye.

For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye. Zechariah/2:8

 Good Morning!

This morning I was comparing 2 things in my world I have been watching people working with dough for baking. They do look pretty easy, but they do take a little time, and parts of the processes do take different amounts of time. I realized that it is a lot like how the Lord develops us! 

     Of course, each person's processes take different amounts of time as we are developed into who we are called to be. Are we biscuits, rolls, croissants, or tortillas? Some people seem to easily walk through their kneading and rising, while others have to be "worked" quite a while to come out right!

     When we try to compare ourselves or our lives to others, we need to realize that we have different callings and we cannot be developed the same way as a different person, unless we are willing to not grow into the person the Lord has called us to be!

     I do have a scripture thought to go with this. When the Lord brought His people out of Egypt He had led them by a path they were not spiritually mature enough to handle yet. He believed if they saw battle it would cause them fear and they would return to Egypt.

Now when Pharaoh had let the people go, God did not lead them by the way of the land of the Philistines, even though it was near; for God said, “The people might change their minds when they see war, and return to Egypt.” Hence God led the people around by the way of the wilderness to the Red Sea, and the sons of Israel went up in martial array from the land of Egypt.  Exodus 13:17-18 NASB

     So, when you feel overworked or under-rested, remember it is part of the process! If we submit to the Lord's timing we will come out right! Don't try to choose your own baking time or the oven temperature. He knows what He is doing, trust in Him!

 

The Bucket List

People like to create a Bucket List of things they want to do in their lifetime. I have done that before too. I wanted to see all 50 states and also go to all of the National Parks. But as hindrances arrive in life I have started to question if a Bucket List is really important? I am coming to believe that it is not. In the end, what does it matter if you have been to a physical location or not. You might take pictures, buy a T-shirt and that's about it. What does that contribute to the world or your life? 

     Those are just the things that I wanted to do, I'm sure everyone has their own desires. Some of them may seem unreasonable to me, but maybe seeing all of the National Parks would be unreasonable to others.

     What is coming into focus for me is that all of this is temporary. Yes, I've known that for a long time, but if we really understand this is temporary then why even make a Bucket List? We are actually aiming for Heaven! What could be more exciting than that!? So my Bucket List has transmogrified to focusing on the Eternal side of life! What a great adventure awaits us! Way better than anything on Earth that we can put on a "List"!

I have been realizing lately that a person can be changed by their circumstances. I'm not saying they can't be changed back to their original self, but they can be deeply affected by their situation.

     I have gone through quarantine with the rest of the world when we went through the covid scare, but I still pretty much live under quarantine. There was a diagnosis that I received that required a drastic treatment. Evidently, my treatment has compromised my immunity system and I will be under treatment for an unknown amount of time. I pray always for the Lord to let me know when this treatment can be stopped.

     So far this treatment is ongoing and has been for over 3 years. I'm not able to be around groups of people. The last time I tried it, I ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. In our world that really limits a person's activities! With my diagnosis one of the biggest enemies is pneumonia and I've already been through it twice so I'm not excited to encounter it again!

     Anyway, with the medication I take I'm not really able to drive very far and my balance and energy levels are way off. I know this isn't permanent, because the Lord's word in Matthew 16:18 tells me that His believers, that's me for one, should not be affected. I'm not saying go and ingest something just to test it, I'm saying that because I'm required to do this, I'm protected.

     The point of this is that this week I was able to drive across town to have my blood work done. After taking care of that I thought I should go somewhere just for fun. However everywhere I considered I realized would be out of my abilities. If I went to a store I would probably buy something and not be able to carry it, if I went to the library I would find a book or two and not be able to carry it either. I used to be able to do those things easily, but now my world has changed and those are no longer options. I'm not really complaining because I have mostly adjusted to my new world and I truly appreciate the blessings in it. I was just surprised at the change I noticed in myself. 

     I think what I'm saying is to enjoy each stage of your life and appreciate your abilities! You may find yourself a different person with new challenges that you never expected, at least I have, but the Lord is with you always and His mercy is new every day! Thank You, Lord, for Your Mercy and Grace!

Nurses

I recently spent some "quality" time with several nurses at our local hospital. I talked with them about their recent experiences during covid. They are horror stories and I really can't imagine how our nurses have endured. I'm sharing this to help you recognize the heroes in our midst. 

     The nurses shared how they had patients with no underlying issues that they fully expected to recover with no problem but then they didn't. They would be otherwise healthy people but then in a day or so they shockingly passed away. They did not have enough rooms for the people flooding the hospitals and had people laying in the emergency room, for days, waiting for a room. The people were not allowed to have anyone with them because of quarantine. The hospitals were searching for other hospitals with rooms for these patients. They were sending them from right here in Oklahoma as far as New Mexico and St Louis! These were people from their own small communities. Some of them they had gone to school with and some were family friends. 

     The nurses were facing "war" like conditions with little time off and little rest, they were understaffed and working heroically to try to care for the people! After working full shifts and being on constant call they could be called back in to work more hours with no "down time", can you imagine the emotional toll much less the physical toll this would take on these brave people!?

Pray for our nurses, many could not handle anymore and left this field and many are still emotionally shocked and raw from the trauma they endured. Our nurses are a treasure and need our support and prayers.

Disciple or Acquaintance

 I have been considering lately that some people don't really know the Lord on a personal level. That should be a concern to all of us. We need to develop disciples of the Lord, not just acquaintances. 

     Just think, the Lord called Abraham "friend", isn't that more the relationship you would like to have with God the Father? If yes, then what are you doing to develop it?

and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called a friend of God. James 2:23

 

Psalm 28:7

 Psalm 28:7

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
Therefore my heart triumphs,
And with my song I shall thank Him.

In Spirit and Deed

     Many people are under the idea that when they give their lives to the Lord that He will make everything smooth. I don't like to burst that bubble, but from my walk after giving my life to the Lord, I've seen many times when things weren't too smooth for me and others.

     In scripture, you can read about many experiences that didn't turn out the way we would have thought they should. Read Stephen's story just as an example. He was a Godly man serving others and obeying the word of the Lord, he was stoned to death. His life brought glory to the Lord, but not as we would have imagined it. 

     In our lives, we should not look for things to be "smooth" but instead, focus on what will bring glory to the Lord. I know, we would not look forward to being a martyr, we may even shrink back from it, but strengthen your heart and your spirit that even when you face hardships you will still glorify the Lord in word and deed.

Acts 6:8-60 ~ The story of Stephen

Testify

 Have you been in church and had the speaker ask if anyone has a witness or testimony to share of what God is doing in their lives?      

So many times nobody shares anything! Is it really possible that the Lord is not doing something in their world? Or is it more likely that they are not recognizing what He is doing? I remember deciding one Sunday that I would never let the Lord go without a testimony. I have realized that even if we think that there are not great humongous miracles happening in our lives the Lord is still blessing us in multiple ways. 

The Sunday that I made this commitment to not see a time go by without the Lord having someone stand for Him and share a testimony, I shared the joy that I receive from Lightening Bugs! I really doubt that the Lord had to make a bug that would Light up the darkness and make us smile, but He did! And it even happens when the weather is comfortable for us to sit out and watch the little creatures do their light shows!

Is there not something in your life that you recognize as a special gift from the Lord? Birds? Flowers? Clouds? Trees? A spring rain? The beauty of everything covered with snow in the winter? Surely if you stop and think about it you can come up with something to speak of as a testimony or witness to God's goodness. Think about it and speak out! Testify to God's goodness!

I know a lot of God's people talk about His love. It is a very popular subject and well received! But the message that I most often am prompted to share is about His Holiness. Holiness is an under considered thing in God's Kingdom. God is Holy and we're called to be Holy. 

     Yes, there are times we mess up and we need to repent and try again, but there are quite a few people out there that don't really realize that "Holiness" is what we are called to as part of God's Kingdom. 

     I hear praise songs often that are more focused on "woe, woe, woe is me!" than on anything that leads you to recognize God's glory and holiness. I think of the hymn, "It Is Well With My Soul" and compare it to hymns these days and they come up pretty short. The hymn writer wrote these words after a terrible tragedy in his life~ 

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

     

He didn't focus on his hardships, he focused on God's goodness. I believe when we are growing in the holiness that we are called to then this is the same attitude that we will reflect to the world. Maybe that's why God has called us to be Holy as He is? Maybe it's His love that has called us to be Holy?

but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior, because it is written: 'You shall be Holy, for I am Holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16

Pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14

Psalm 28:7-9

 

In Spirit and In Truth

    I was awakened one day in church when I heard a man close to me saying his prayer. He was praising God with his whole heart, he was praising God's attributes. It was then that I realized that I didn't really know where to begin to praise God in spirit and in truth.  

    God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”   John 4:24

    I want to share with you a way I found that enabled me to learn God's attributes. I started reading through Psalms, they are full of the character of God! As I read Psalms I kept a notepad close to hand and wrote down each of God's attributes as I read them in His own words.

This is an example~ Psalm 3:3-5 But You, Lord, are a shield around me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. I was crying out to the Lord with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.

From this scripture I can see that the Lord is a shield around me, He is my glory, He lifts my head, He answers me, and He sustains me. 

These are all great attributes to praise the Lord for. I don't ever want to realize again that I don't know the Lord's character in a personal way that allows me to truly worship Him in spirit and in truth.

5I lay

Psalm 27:1

 The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom should I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom should I dread? Psalm 27:1

Psalm 27: 14

 Wait for the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord. 

Psalm 27: 14 

 

Revival

You cry out for "Revival", you clamor for "Revival", what is it about Revival that you are crying for? Please search your heart and meditate on this question. 

     I have wondered if people desire it for an experience that they haven't been involved in before or like children get excited and desire Christmas? Isn't revival about God's glory and power being poured out? It's not just a party. It's about changing a community, it's about bringing people to the Lord. It's about His children repenting and coming to Him in a new way, about being sold out to Him 24/7, it's about being a servant, even as He has shown us through Jesus. 

     Are you ready for that? If you are, then what is holding you back from doing that now?

Changes

Lately, I've been going through some physical challenges that have changed my world. After another visit to the doctor, I realized that I need to accept that my world is continuing to change!  

As I was considering this yesterday I came to understand that my world has always been changing and I don't know why I didn't notice it so much until now! 

As a young girl, I climbed trees, rode horses, and did cartwheels, backbends, and many other things that were fun for me. I was a terror when it came to playing tetherball and at recess I rushed out to play baseball!

All of those things have fallen to the side as life has moved on, I don't know when the last time was that I did a cartwheel? I think I let go of those things without regret because there were other new, exciting things coming into my life. 

Now I'm being forced to let go of things that I'm not really quite ready to let go of because of new physical limitations. When I was thinking about this yesterday and feeling sorry for myself I suddenly considered that I have been letting go of things all through life, even as I'm sure you have too! Why am I fighting it so much now?  I need to look around my world and see what the new things are that I can grab hold of and move into! 

No more feeling sorry for myself! The Lord must have other things He is opening to me~ I need to be open to what those things are, not worrying about what I'm letting go of!

Okay, Lord!  Please forgive my petty grumbling.  I'm ready, let's go! I'm sorry I fought this in the beginning, I was being selfish and childish. I'm ready to move where and when You want me to!

What A Mighty God We Serve!

     Today's Christians try to talk to people about God's love as a reason for them to come to know Him. I was reading this morning and realized that this approach is not the one the Lord recommended.

     Here the Lord's word tells us to share about His glory, His power, His mighty acts, the glory of the majesty of His kingdom! 

      When people hear about the amazing God we serve it should be what causes them to seek Him with their whole hearts!