I Shall Not Be Moved

I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.  I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.   (Psalm 16:7-9, NKJV)

As I write this, night has fallen.  It is dark outside, a time when vision is hindered and the body and mind are weary.  It is the time of day when the day's work ends and the body finds rest. 

But what about the soul?   Aren't there periods when we find ourselves in a dark place spiritually and emotionally, when the spirit is willing but the flesh too weak to continue fighting the battle waged against us by the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12)?  Our enemy, Satan, knows all too well what it will take to disarm the soldiers of God, strip us of our ministry, and tarnish our testimony.  He stops at nothing to do whatever it takes to discourage us, defeat us, and doom us to a life of ineffectiveness in God's kingdom.

If you are walking in a right relationship with God, surrendered to His will and living according to the principles set forth in His Word, then you are a threat to the enemy and he will stop at nothing to wear you down until you can no longer stand.  If you are in ministry, laboring for the souls of humanity and sharing the encouraging truth of God's Word with others, be on your guard and put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-17) so that you can withstand the attacks of the one who will do anything in his power to see you fail!  He may assault you through your family, your finances, or your health and so discourage you that you throw in the towel and cry, "It's not worth it!"  DON'T GIVE UP and DON'T GIVE IN!  That is precisely what the enemy is hoping for and we cannot give him the victory that Christ has already won for us.  We are MORE than conquerors (Romans 8:31, 37)!

I am facing my own challenges as I write this.  I look at my blog counter and think, "Who am I kidding?  Nobody reads this stuff.  I don't know why I even write it."  But, I do know.  It is because God continues to take me through hard lessons so that I may grow ever more dependent on Him, know on a much deeper level His great love and mercy, and share those lessons with others who need encouragement.  This is my ministry, my calling, and "because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.  Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh will also rest in hope."

If you find yourself so besieged by worry and trouble that you are ready to quit, I implore you:  Don't give up on God by giving in to the enemy!  Read God's Word, pray at all times and in all places, and give thanks in all things, knowing that greater is God who lives in you than the enemy who is in the world!  Continue to fight the good fight of faith (1 Timothy 6:12) so that you can say, as Paul did, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

The Other "F" Word

I hate filthy language, but the other "F" word is not something profane.  It is profoundly annoying, however.  The word I refer to is finances. 

For many of us, finances, or more specifically the lack of them, can irritate us like nothing else.  Those of us who find ourselves in debt, trying to dig our way out with a plastic spoon instead of a titanium shovel, know that we are easily defeated by the setbacks we don't see coming.  We live paycheck to paycheck with nothing to sustain us in an emergency except a credit card (if we haven't maxed them all out).  With the constant fear that an expense will arise we cannot possibly meet, such as a roof replacement, root canal, or heaven forbid, expense associated with a terminal or chronic medical condition, we feel the oppressive weight of the financial stress that keeps us from living in the true freedom Christ desires for us.

Some of us have contributed to our own financial lack by making the bad choice to use credit to purchase things we don't really need.  But some of us are simply waylayed by the accumulation of unavoidable expenses that are a part of everyday life.  Before we know it, we are filled with self-pity because of the burden we carry and the restrictions that lack of money places on the good things we wish to do and enjoy, including the desire to give to those in true need.

What can we do to maintain our joy when our finances turn from friend to foe and keep us from doing what we need and want to do?  First of all, we must remember Who owns everything we have in the first place.  God owns it all; we are simply His caretakers.  Although I can't imagine that God would want the roof to leak, I know that He desires that I trust Him even when I cannot afford to fix it.  What would happen if roofs never leaked?  There would be a whole lot of unemployed roofers, and He is their provider too!

We also need to know what God's Word says about His provision and understand that He doesn't necessarily provide according to our desired time frame but always provides in His.  We will never be able to understand His methods for doing things, but we can always trust that His plan and purpose for our lives are for our good, not to harm us (Jeremiah 29:11).  If we experience a setback of any kind, we can trust that God will work the circumstances of it for our good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

God's answer for our needs and wants may not always be "yes," but His "no" will ultimately lead to a greater yes and a deeper knowledge of Him as we persevere through our trials.

Instead of fretting over the other "f" word, try thanking God in spite of your finances.  Don't worry about the vet bill that is coming due in three weeks; thank God that today you have all you need.  He promised to supply all our needs, one day at a time.  If we will simply look back and remember His faithfulness during those times when our limited faith could not see Him at work, we will know that the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever will be faithful to keep His promises and meet our needs.

God knows we are prone to worry, but He loves us anyway.  Don't let your financial worries keep you from enjoying His presence today or seeing the many blessings He has placed before you.  Instead give Him thanks for the food in your stomach, the roof (leaky or not) over your head, and the knowledge that in heaven, you will not lack anything.

The Geek and the Good Guy

As my husband Steve and I sat at opposite ends of the kitchen table waiting on our lunch to finish cooking, I couldn't help but smile at the thought that after twenty five years of marriage (2/21/12 is our silver anniversary) we are still SO different.  There he sat flipping the pages of a catalog while I scrolled through Facebook messages on my smart phone.  When I offered to pull up his checking account balance on my phone he said, "You can do that?  Scary!"

It's true...opposites do attract, and God knew what he was doing when he sent Steve into my life.  I knew what I was looking for in a mate -- someone attractive, nice, funny, romantic, and generous.  Although Steve had his good qualities, I am not so sure I would have chosen him in a suitor lineup, if you know what I mean.  He was good looking enough with an amazing, winsome smile.  He was very nice and had a quirky wit at times, but was not exactly the most generous guy when it came to laying down money for dates or gifts.  I thought it odd that we dated "Dutch treat" a lot and definitely strange that his first Christmas gift to me was a pair of ankle weights.  But neither really mattered because we were both working and he was wanting to help me reach a fitness goal I was working on at the time.  (Of course, I traded in the ankle weights at the earliest opportunity!)  Steve never committed that faux pas again and has excelled in giving me gifts I really enjoy.  God knew that I was prone to spend a little too freely in those days so he sent Steve to rein in my spending.  He also sent me to Steve to help him loosen up his purse strings a little.    Steve has always been easy-going, just enough that it makes this intensely emotional woman crazy!  God knew I needed someone kinder and gentler than myself to bear with my faults and love me any way.  The balance we have achieved in many areas is a beautiful thing.  Isn't God so good? 

As we have grown together over the past two and a half decades we have become more alike in our thoughts and actions.  He is predictable but can still pull off a good surprise.  I love the way he laughs at my jokes and silly comments.  But in so many ways we are still just as opposite as the day we met.  And that, I believe, is one thing that has kept our marriage strong.  Steve will never be tech-savvy and I may never be the soft-spoken, gentle-spirited wife he at times probably wishes he had married, but we will always have a reason to laugh, a reason to pray for one another, and the adventure of waking up to face a new day together, "'til death us do part."

Here's to the next twenty five years, Sweetheart!  Thanks for making this the trip of a lifetime.  I love you.

The Frog That Stayed (A True Story)

As a young girl growing up in an age of innocence (at least by today's standards), I held to the fairytale belief that there is someone for everyone.  I still do believe that there is a forever mate handpicked by God for those God does not call out to a life of singleness.  There was a time when I was certain that being single was God's plan for me, but then I found a frog that stayed.  Yet I know that when death separates us, I will remain single because God has captured my heart in a way that no man will ever be able to, including my spouse of twenty-five years.

Finding the frog that stayed was no easy task.  True to the fairytale, I had to kiss a lot of frogs.  The thing about frogs, as I quickly learned, is that they have common names and occupations.  Although I won't name my frogs, each held an attraction for me at the time.  Some frogs stayed longer than others.  Some I wish I had never met!  Some left me heartbroken while they happily hopped into the sunset, but when I realized that some were mere toads with very little "prince" potential, I was happy just to send them on their way so I could move on to the next frog.

Some frogs genuinely loved me for me and generously gave of themselves to ensure my happiness.  Others were only interested in having their own needs met and had less than noble intentions where I was concerned.  I kissed frogs my age who shared common interests, frogs younger than me who adored me in ways no other frog could, and frogs older and too experienced for a girl like me.  But good or bad, they had their place in my search for true love and I will never forget them.

It wasn't until I met my true Prince that I found my forever frog, however.  As a young woman in my mid-twenties, I finally grew weary of compromising myself in the search for the love of my life.  The search had led me into unhealthy relationships and self-destructive behaviors that left me seeking a permanent way out of my misery.  I never thought I would find true love and I certainly didn't deserve God's best after the way I had thrown my life away in pursuit of it.  When I finally reached rock bottom and made the decision to forsake all others and keep myself only unto Jesus Himself, my forever frog skated into my life and nothing has been the same since.

It's true.  I had to forsake friendships, social circles, happy hours, and resolve to love God with my whole heart before I could ever be healthy enough spiritually and emotionally to enter into a covenant relationship with another human being.  You see?  We get it all wrong when we think that we can find God's perfect mate for us.  What we must do first is completely surrender ourselves to God and let Him bring that mate to us.  That is a lesson I wish I had learned long before I met Steve at the roller rink all those years ago.  Had I simply been secure in my relationship with the Lord and let Him do the choosing, I could have avoided some hard and costly mistakes.

If you feel alone this Valentine's Day, please know that Jesus, the Lover of your soul and your true Prince, is right beside you.  He loves you more than any human can, warts and all.

A Lapful of Blessings

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.  -- Luke 6:38, NIV

This morning as I sat in my La-Z-Boy under twenty pounds of pets, I had to smile at my lapful of blessings. We released our cat Gypsy yesterday, having deemed her fit to return outdoors after four weeks of recuperating in the house after suffering a gunshot wound.  Since the weather was so cold last night we coaxed her back inside to sleep. That little black furball looked so sweet curled up on top of the fuzzy red housecoat I used as a lap blanket that I had to just stop and relish her presence as Madison snored softly beside my leg.

Some of our biggest blessings are found in such simple pleasures. Have you stopped looking beyond your need long enough to see all the blessings in your lap?  If your needs seem overwhelming, try looking at someone else's problems and soon you will realize just how blessed you are.  Pour your life into someone else today.  Try to meet another person's need, even if all you have to offer is a word of encouragement or a promise to pray them through their challenges. 

Scripture teaches us that when we give we will receive, whether the gift be a meal for someone who is grieving or ill, a ride for someone who needs transportation, or a cup of hot coffee for a homeless person just trying to stay warm.  A seemingly insignificant gesture on your part will be a big blessing to someone else, and God will see your kindness and bless you for it when you need it most.

I Love The Lord (Whitney Houston in "The Preacher's Wife)

Nipped in the Bud

Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.  (Romans 6:4-5, KJV)

The inevitable happened overnight.  Winter returned and nipped spring right in the bud!  My daffodils are hanging their heads mournfully because they have been stripped of their glory by winter's stormy blast.  Hopefully the buds that have prematurely formed on the spring flowers and shrubbery have matured enough that this setback won't kill them altogether.  When sunshine and warmer temperatures return, I'm betting on the flowers to make it and to bloom with even greater vigor!

Life is full of setbacks.  Our ability to weather the harsh seasons of life will largely be determined by our level of spiritual maturity and the growth we have achieved in our relationship with Christ.  Are you rooted deeply enough in your relationship with Him and in your knowledge of His Word that you can withstand the adverse circumstances that assault you from time to time?  None of us is impervious to pain, discouragement, and failure, but in Christ we have newness of life and the hope of victory because of His resurrection.  Just as He emerged from the tomb three days after His crucifixion, so we too have the hope of surviving and thriving in spite of hard times and difficult challenges.

I've Drawn a Blank

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Need I say more?