Make a Shout Out!

highdive

Make a Shout Out!

We were at a swim competition with our 8 year old granddaughter, Ally. While the young swimmers were warming up, our son in-law was talking with another parent.

Suddenly, he stopped mid-word and took off running! Davy, all the way across the pool, over the noise, the music and many voices had heard the sound of his daughter’s voice as she screamed, “Daaaaaaady!”

He ran, pushing people aside, jumped over the ‘do not cross this line’ rope and snatched his frightened child up in his arms. He comforted her fears and encouraged her to make the dive into the deep water in the pool she had never swam in before.

As she walked out onto the board, her Dad kept talking to her, reminding her of other dives she had successfully made. With each trembling step out onto the diving platform, he told her she was ok, he was right there, she could do this.

Ally stood poised on the end of the board, her Dad whispering, “You can do it, I KNOW you can.” She sprang up, arched forward and made a perfect dive; barely a splash was made as she glided effortlessly into the blue water. Once that first dive into the BIG unfamiliar pool was made, she swam on to victory.

God loves His children with the same passion that we love our children. He hears when we cry out to Him and He responds immediately! (Isaiah 65:24) Being a wise Father, God does not snatch us out of circumstances and remove us from the situation. He stands with us, giving us strength and direction.

Life has troubles (John 16:33). Each life event works in harmony with every other event, to make us strong and capable. (Romans 8:28) No matter what ‘life’ brings to us, God has made a way to emerge victorious, through the guidance of His Holy Spirit and His Word. (Ephesians 6:10-17)

There is no struggle, no sin, no temptation, no hurt, no frustration—NOTHING—that can keep God’s love from us (Romans 8:35-37) When we call out to God and stand strong instead of running, we are victorious over the trials of life and the wiles of the evil one.

Through the direction and encouragement of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, we know the basis of every attack of the enemy and how to stand firm (Psalms 18:1-3). When we call out to our heavenly Father in our moment of need; He not only hears, He comes to us to be near and talk us through to victory.

Pslams 18: 6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.

Psalms 18: 9-10  He parted the heavens and came down;  dark clouds were under his feet. He mounted the cherubim and flew; he soared on the wings of the wind.

Prayer:  Father, help me to remember that you are always with me, you hear my every need.  You are sovereign; even when things are rough, you stand with me.  Amen.

Scripture References:

 Isaiah 65:24 It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Romans 8:28  And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Ephesians 6:10-17 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. 14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Romans 8:35-37  Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written, “For your sake we are being put to death all day long; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.

Psalms 18:1-3 I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Love, Engraved by Hand

One of my memory devices is to write on my hands. Of course, I don’t use my “handy reminders” for random thoughts. I just write important stuff on my hands. I do this because my hands are most often in front of my eyes; I can’t forget what is right in front of me.

Jesus also has an important reminder on his hands; but not written in ink. He has a mark for me ENGRAVED on the palms of His hands.  The marks are not to remind Him of ‘me,’ but a reminder TO me of what was done at Calvary.

When I serve God with all my heart, many trials and temptations come my way. Satan tries to make me feel like I’m not important; a total failure! (John 10:10). One of satan’s lies is that God doesn’t REALLY care, if He did, why would I be going through “this?”

At those moments when satan says my God doesn’t care, I remind myself that my God is the only god that wants a relationship with me. My God paid the price for my sin so I could know Him personally (Romans 6:23).

The gods of men and the world demand that I live harshly and follow strict rules (Colossians 2:20-23).  My God invites me into a relationship where my desires are changed by His presence in my life (II Corinthians 5:17-19).

My God sends His Holy Spirit so that my eyes are opened with new awareness to sin and then—shows me a way to step aside so that I don’t fall into the trap set by satan (John 16:8-11,  I Corinthians 10:13).

The Spirit gives me both awareness and boldness to confront the issues in my life that would harm me (II Timothy 1:7). When those moments of confusion come and I’m frightened and question my worth, Jesus shows me the marks engraved on His hands.

Isaiah 49:16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving your life at Calvary so my sins are forgiven. Thank you for loving me and wanting to be close to me. I love you and want to live my life for you. Amen.

 Scripture references:

John 10:10  10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Romans 6:23  23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a]Christ Jesus our Lord.

Colossians 2:20-23  20 Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 22 These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23 Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.

II Corinthians 5:17-19 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:[a] The old has gone, the new is here! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

John 16:8-11 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father,where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

I Corinthians 10:13   13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

II Timothy 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power,love and self-discipline.

 

 

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WHACK It With A Stick!

 

While looking for a recipe to cook a venison roast, I found a recipe for fried frog legs.  It began, “Make sure the frog has stopped kicking and is dead.  If necessary, whack it on the head with a heavy stick.”  Alllrighty then! 

As Christians, we wrestle with temptation and sin every day.  Only through the blood of Jesus can we get victory over sin. We are all tempted; there is no shame or guilt in temptation!  Only through Christ are those sins conquered.   

Once we ask Jesus into our heart, sin has no control over us, unless we let it. The way we keep sin out of our life is to be diligent through Christ.  Don’t deny sin or say it isn’t really tempting; if ‘this’ comes to mind then we are still being tempted!  

Ignoring temptation does not make it go away. Where we mess up is when we fail to deal with the temptation. A physical/mental/emotional action must be made the moment the temptation happens. The first thing we must do is make sure the sin is dead—-by asking Jesus to forgive us.   

If the temptation keeps kicking, whack it in the head with the heavy stick of God’s word.  Use a concordance to find scriptures that apply to this temptation—memorize them—and use as necessary.  

There’s no way in our “self” that we can win over temptation. Only through the continuing study of God’s Word and an intimate relationship with Jesus can we resist the wiles of the devil.  When sin ‘kicks’, whack it with the heavy stick of God’s Word.  

Matthew 26:41  “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.” 

 The Holy Bible, New International Version®. Pradis Grand Rapids: The Zondervan Corporation, © 1973, 1978, 1984.

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Got Light?

Some have said that God’s people should never have to face any kinds of problems.  A great concept, but reality is quick to teach otherwise.  

Jesus himself said we would have trouble, but he did not leave us without hope!  “—in this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world!”  (John 16:33)     

The apostle Paul said this treasure of strength in Christ is put in “jars of clay” (us!) so that all may see God’s power.  When hard times come, sometimes God does, by some miraculous means, deliver us!  But, most often, he keeps us THROUGH the troubles of life. 

The world watches when a Christian goes through a difficult time. They see when we are “hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair—“.  The world sees the light of God’s grace through us in the midst of crisis.   

Being victorious doesn’t mean we never hurt or cry.  The light of God’s presence in our life gives us the  reassurance of the Holy Spirit. Even in the midst of the storm, God is there. 

Peace comes when we acknowledge that God is wise and He does all things well; regardless of circumstances.  (John 14:27) The world can’t understand peace like that; but they can see it in Christ’s light in us.  

Whatever your circumstances, be convinced, as Paul was, that God is able to keep that which you have committed to him (II Tim. 1:12)  and that everything will be ok.  (Romans 8:28)  Make sure that in today’s trials, the world sees the light of Christ, God’s “treasure” in your earthen vessel!    

II Corinthians 4:7-11 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

 

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Got a Wimpy God?

 

Exodus 20:7

The other day, I went to the amusement Park with my granddaughter and her friend. While the girls played in the water park, I sat quietly observing people around me. Again and again, I heard people of every age saying, “Oh my god.”

The phrase wasn’t even spoken as an excited expletive, but as a common part of speech. My heart ached for all of these people who had such a wimpy god that they threw his name out as casually as one would say any other word.

“Oh, my god, it’s hot. Oh, my god, I could use a cold drink.  Oh, my god, what am I going to fix for supper? OMG! Oh, god, then what happened?” As I sat, I began to pray for these poor people with a wimpy god.

My God is an almighty God; He is ruler over the universe (II Chronicles 20:6)!  He created the heavens and the earth (Isaiah 42:5). He calls the stars by their name (Ps. 147:4).  He loves me so much that He sent His son to die for my sins so that I can have a relationship with Him(John 3:16).

I can’t imagine the name of my God being on my lips for any reason other than praise or because I’m telling of something that He has done in my life.  To say His name with the nonchalance of speaking of an empty can—mercy.  I know my God, He is worthy of respect and worship!

A God should be worthy of worship, if not, why would he be a god? His name should be far above any other word or name.

If your god is so wimpy that you find yourself making his name common, come talk to me, I want to tell you about MY God. The Lord God Almighty!

Exodus 20:7 You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Prayer: Oh Lord God, you are very great and powerful. I honor your Holy Name and I’m so thankful for the blood of Jesus that washes away my sin so that I can come boldly before you and speak as your child. Thank you for loving me so much that you want me to know you personally.

Scriptural References:

II Chronicles 20:6 “–O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you.”

Isaiah 42:5 This is what God the Lord says—he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it:

Ps. 147:4  He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

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Teaching Our Sons to be Men

A friend of mine confided to me that her 16 year old son declared to his father that he was sick of being treated like a child! 

The teen insisted that, from now on, his Dad would treat him as a man.

The father agreed. From now on, his son would be treated as a peer, not as a child.  

Tuesday night, the teen headed out the door to shoot some hoops. His Dad said, “Tonight is the men’s meeting; you are a man, right?”   

The teen nodded and asked what they would be doing. Dad responded, “We’ll fellowship, have some snacks, pray for each other and have a Bible study. If there’s any time left, we’ll shoot some hoops in the gym.”

Friday night, the man and his son got up at 2 a.m. to accompany their Pastor to the hospital to sit with a young man whose mother was dying. As the saintly mother slipped away to Jesus, the teen watched his Dad and the Pastor comforting the grieving young man with scripture and prayer. 

For a month Dad and his teen aged son did ‘man things.’ They cleaned out the gutters on an elderly couple’s house, they went to prayer meetings, men’s meetings and at night, they read the Bible together and prayed for their family.   

At the end of the month, the Dad asked the boy if he liked being a man.  The teen replied it wasn’t what he thought it was.  His Dad smiled and said, “I know.”

Ephesians 6:4  Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Prayer:  Father, help me to care for my children with the same attitude you care for me. Show me how to teach through leadership as well as instruction, help me to represent life as a Godly Father.  Amen

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Rear View Mirror Faith

rear view mirror 

One afternoon this summer, I was in the car with my lovely adolescent granddaughter, Allyson. 

She was being very animated in telling me that she didn’t like her hair, or her eyes or—ANYthing about herself.  Obviously, she was having one of those awkward “too big to be little too little to be big” moments.  

When she was done with her list of ‘stuff’, I assured her that she was not only very beautiful now but one day; she’d be a beautiful woman as well.  With a frustrated sigh, she proclaimed, “But mamaw, by then, you’ll be DEAD!”  While that is a stunning thought, it’s probably true. 

Sometimes, when we pray and pray and PRAY about something, we don’t see the answer.  In our heart we know that we know that God’s promises are forever true! However, our lives are so ‘time aware’ that we lose sight of the fact that God’s plan spans eternity. 

The “Hall of Faith” heroes in the book of Hebrews never saw the fulfillment of God’s promises in their life time.  But God’s word is faithful to accomplish what His perfect plan is—long past our life span! The faith heroes of old held, in their heart, the knowledge of God’s past miracles and held fast to God’s promises for the future. 

If there is something that you have prayed, in full knowledge of God’s sovereignty, rest assured that your prayers will be answered.  God is faithful; ALL the time. 

According to Hebrew’s 11:1, that is what “faith” is all about; knowing what you haven’t seen yet.  Sometimes, the only way we will see the full extent of God’s faithfulness is through the “rearview mirror” of eternity.   

(Hebrews 11:13) All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.

 

 

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Got Experience?

 

One of the hard things about finding first time employment is everyone wants you to have experience!  BUT, nobody is willing to hire you so you will get that experience!   

Life isn’t like that. We get experience whether we want it or not; it’s called, “living”. An intimate relationship with God also can develop through ‘living’.  

Experiencing God’s faithfulness doesn’t come just through answered prayer. The deepest awareness of God’s presence is often seen in loss and suffering—need and poverty. God’s faithfulness isn’t proven just when good things happen.   

Obviously, it’s easier to praise God when life is good and our heart is dancing with joy. But the real test of relationship with our Lord comes when we stand with tears running down our face. Psalms 18:1 I love you oh Lord, my strength.  

The praise that comes when I have sought Jesus in the silence of exhaustion and the agony of a broken heart is a sacrifice of praise. (Psalms 116)  In Hebrews 13:15 we read that a sacrifice of praise is the fruit of lips that openly proclaim the name of Christ. 

When I praise God in full knowledge of His awareness and His allowance (Job 1) of ALL things that happen; I read the Psalms with new understanding. Ps. 139 “Oh God, you know me, when I stand up, when I sit down–.”  

During those times when my life hurts and I experience great need, is when I share in the suffering of the cross.  If we share in His sufferings (Romans 8:17), we are prepared for ministry to a lost world, and, to each other.  

II Corinthians 1:3-4  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

 

 

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Got Dirt?

The other night, when I lay down on my back on the bed to read, I noticed the ceiling fan had been turned off.  The fan had never been turned off—, at least not that I had ever noticed. To my amazement–no–HORROR–the fan blades were dripping with black yukky globs of dirt.  Not just coated, dripping!

Several questions came to mind: How does dirt like that fly through the air and not be seen as it hurls by? And, even if it wasn’t seen flying through the air, how did it stick tight to a fast moving fan blade? Finally, how do I manage to get the yucky dirt off of the fan blades and not get any on the bedspread?

My mind was too weary to contemplate such deep housekeeping mysteries. I did the only thing any woman faced with a dirty fan late at night could do; I turned the light off. Problem solved, out of sight, out of mind. At least until tomorrow when I must find some way to tackle the dusty dangling dirt before word gets out and I am arrested by the good housekeeping police.

Like the dirt on the whirling fan, sin rarely overtakes us suddenly; it begins small and grows slowly, often without much notice. The Holy Spirit is faithful to point out sin when it first shows up in our life. However, it’s easy to rationalize; “it’s not that big of a deal.”  In time, if not removed, the sin will become so large it can not be hidden any longer. To be tempted is not sin, to embrace something we know is wrong is.

A good way to recognize sin is to judge whether what we are doing is being done in secret, or in plain sight.  A popular Christian by line has been, “What would Jesus do?” Perhaps a better measure would be, ‘What would YOU do, if Jesus walked in right now?”  Would you invite Him to join you? Or would you just want to turn the light off to hide your dirt?

Luke 8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

Prayer: Father, forgive me of my sins. Show me how to avoid temptation and give me strength to resist. Help me to be sensitive to the voice of your Holy Spirit so that I will be aware of sin and when I do stumble, to repent quickly. Thank you for your love and forgiveness. Amen.

 

 

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But, It Tastes the Same

milk on cereal 2

 

My grandson spent the night with me.  As I reached for the milk to pour on his breakfast cereal, the carton was empty.  When I told him we were out of milk, he asked if it had been whole milk or skim. I replied, “skim.”  In the tasting wisdom of a little boy, he said, “It’s ok, mamaw, just put cold water on my cereal, if I shut my eyes I won’t notice it’s not white.”    

As Christians, we should not “taste” the same as the world. In Romans, Paul was speaking to the local church about their hypocrisy.  In the “church,” they looked like Christians but when they left the “church,” they were living like the world.  This was not a good example of Godly living and the Apostle Paul was quick to tell them so! 

One of the most effective tools satan has is UNcommitted Christians.  According to surveys taken by Christian polling services; one of the top reasons people give for NOT going to church is because the people in church act just like the people out of church.  So, why waste time with the discipline of going?   

As Christians, we are to be set apart from the world, different, Christ like. If we are no different than the world, why would they want to spend time with our Jesus or go to church with us?  Let’s hold our own lives up to the cleansing light of God’s Word so we have something real to offer a lost and dying world. 

I Peter 2: 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, I want to represent you to everybody around me. Show me how to walk as you walked, how to love and forgive. I want to be a faithful representative of your love.  Amen.

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