Author: Jayne Lawson

“And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.”  Isaiah 58:11

I haven’t had a garden for a couple of years, but this year I decided to get back into it. My first challenge was ridding the plots of weeds! They have been enjoying the fertile ground for a couple of years, and now I had the not-too-enjoyable task of pulling them out in order to prepare the soil for planting. Not the most fun part of gardening, but definitely vital to a successful harvest in the future.

My next task was making sure the soil would support my plants. To do this, I had to add nutrients back into the soil since the weeds had pretty much depleted my plots of anything that would provide any kind of nourishment for my plants. Mixing and turning over soil is another one of those not-much-fun tasks that must be done to guarantee the healthy growth of my future vegetables. Once this was finally finished, it was time to plant.

I dug the holes, planted both seeds and seedlings, and thoroughly watered them. Time to sit back and wait for my bounty? No, not at all! In order for my garden to grow, I have to water the seeds and plants daily, inspect for new weeds encroaching on my young sprouts, pull those unwanted weeds out and discard them. This is an ongoing responsibility for me. If I forget to water, my plants begin to wilt. If I forget to weed, they threaten to take over my plots. It is a never-ending battle, but my persistence will pay off because I know what the future holds.

My vegetable garden is a lot like my spiritual life. Prior to my salvation… the time when I put my faith and trust in Jesus Christ… I was like the weed-covered plots of my garden. The weeds were analogous to the sin that was in my life. 1 John 1:8 states, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”  Those weeds had to be removed before I could begin to live. That was accomplished by the work of Jesus through His death, burial, and resurrection. When I accepted His forgiveness of my sins and trusted Him as my Saviour,  the weeds of sin were pulled out! “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

Next, my life had to be prepared in order for me to grow. Like the nutrients I added to my garden to make the soil rich and fertile, the Word of God has to be cultivated in my heart and life to enable me to grow in my faith. 2 Timothy 2:15 states, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

The more I study the Scriptures, the deeper and richer my relationship with God becomes. However, as I start to “sprout” spiritually, the weeds of sin begin to creep in, threatening to destroy my Christian growth. How do I combat this? By daily watering my life with prayer, studying my Bible, and fellowshiping with other believers. Through these activities, the sinful weeds of the world are pulled out and discarded, but if I forget to “water” my spiritual garden every day, the weeds of sin will quickly overtake me! I will begin to wilt in my faith, and I will yield no spiritual fruit. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23). I must be faithful to tend my spiritual garden just as I must be faithful in caring for my vegetable garden.

Eventually, both gardens will yield their harvest. One will provide a bounty of vegetables, while the other will provide a harvest of souls. Romans 6:22 promises, “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” As I serve God with my life, He may use me to plants seeds or water them or to help pull weeds. Whatever task He gives me, I am excited about what the future will bring for I know there will be a magnificent harvest!

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

(from “In the Garden” by Charles A. Miles)

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” – Matthew 9:38

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How will the harvest be that will come forth from your garden?

(photo courtesy of John Lawson)

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

There has been a lot of talk lately about the “end times.” This is usually in reference to the “Great Tribulation,” “the rise of the anti-Christ,” or the “second coming of Christ.” Regardless of which of these events are the focus of the “end times,” there is a wonderful event that precedes all of these. That is the Rapture of the church.  This is the moment when Jesus descends from heaven and calls all those who have trusted Him as their Saviour to return with Him to heaven. Sadly, many will be left behind.

Shortly after this event, the anti-Christ will come on the scene, beginning a 7-year period of God’s judgment on mankind for their rejection of His Son. This time of “Great Tribulation” is associated with the “mark of the Beast”, a cashless system, a one world economy, a one-world church, and total government dependency/control… this list could go on. This period of time will also bring horrific events upon the earth that the Bible foretells. No one can comprehend how truly bad it will be until it actually happens.

When will this happen? Jesus said that no one knows the exact time this will happen. Matthew 26:46 states, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” However, we can see the signs all around us of the imminent coming of the Rapture and the Tribulation to follow. If we take a look at history, there is no time when the government has ordered us to stay in our homes and to trust and rely completely on the them. Yet, since covid, we have seen this happen, lasting now more than a year in many places across our land. The pandemic has also resulted in schools closing, small businesses failing, isolation of individuals, disrespect of law enforcement, and churches being fined for keeping their doors open. How will it be before the “end times” that the Bible promises will occur, come?

Without God, it will be frightening, confusing, and hopeless. Without God, it will be a dark time, bringing tremendous insecurity, inconsolable despondency, and a deep abiding fear… even more so than what we have experienced with the continuing restrictions imposed from the coronavirus.

However, it won’t be a concern for the children of God. Why? Because prior to this 7-year period of judgement, Jesus will descend from the clouds to take all who have believed in Him home to heaven for all eternity. (It will be interesting to see how the media and ruling leaders explain the disappearance of so many people. I will never know that because I will not be here.)

While Satan is preparing people for the arrival of the anti-Christ, God is preparing people for the return of Christ.  No one knows when the Rapture will take place, but there is not one single Biblical prophecy left to be fulfilled before Jesus comes. I do believe it will be soon, and I KNOW without a doubt that I won’t be left behind when the trump of God sounds!

Right now, God is continuing to give mankind the opportunity to repent. The Bibles states in 2 Peter 5:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  This reminds us that while it seems like the Rapture and Tribulation may never happen, it will. God always keeps His Word. He is waiting in order for everyone to have the opportunity to repent and come to Him through His Son, Jesus. In order for repentance to happen, people must hear the gospel – the good news the Jesus died and shed His precious blood as an atonement for sin, then rose from the dead, which proved He truly was the Son of God and the Saviour of the world. Only through Him, can anyone attain eternal life with God in heaven.

I know I am going to heaven one day because I have a time in my life when I made the choice to believe in Jesus Christ as the one and only true Lord and Saviour. I believe that Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. I believe that He left heaven and came to earth as a baby born of a virgin. I believe He lived a sinless life, and that He died on the cross, shedding His blood, to be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. I believe He rose from the dead on the third day, and He is in currently in heaven preparing a place for all those who believe and trust Him as their Saviour.

He loves us all dearly (far more than we deserve) and is ready to forgive us when we seek His divine forgiveness. The Bible states in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Additionally, Romans 10:13 states, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Jesus is the only way to eternal life in heaven.

Sadly, many will be left behind at the Rapture. The Bible warns us in Matthew 10:33,  “But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which art in heaven.” These individuals will be the ones who will experience the “end times,” the “Great Tribulation” of God’s judgment upon the world, and ultimate separation from God for all eternity. What can be done about this?

Those who have never accepted Christ’s free gift of forgiveness of sins… who have never chosen Him to be their Saviour can do so today! What does it take to accept God’s free gift of salvation? Simply Admit you are a sinner in need of a Saviour. Believe that Jesus died on the cross, rose from the dead, so that He, as the Saviour, could offer you forgiveness of your sins once and for all. Then pray and ask Him to forgive you! Choosing Him to be the Lord of your life is as easy as A-B-C! There are no other requirements… not baptism, not communion, not doing good works. Nothing will save you except calling upon Jesus Christ to forgive your sins and become your Saviour. He said in John 14:6 “…I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” There is no other way but through Jesus. No one has sinned so badly that He will not forgive them. He waits with open arms for you to come to Him.

If you’ve never called upon Christ to forgive your sins and become your Saviour, or if you’re not sure you ever have, there’s no better time than today! “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” – 2 Corinthians 6:2

Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come! I come

(from “Just As I Am” by Charlotte Elliott & William Bradbury)

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20

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Do you know someone who doesn’t know Christ as their Saviour? Please don’t wait! Share the good news with them! The Bible tells us that Jesus will come, and it could be today!

(photo by Samantha Campbell)

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” – John 14:1

We live in a constantly changing world. Just about anything you can think of is apt to change at a moment’s notice. The weather, world governments, current fads… you name it! This continual change often generates fear. In our mind’s eye, we look forward in time and wonder, “What’s next?”  Will the stock market crash? Will a certain disease bring about global ruin? Will a particular country go to war with another? Will a new Ice Age come? Will we ever have peace in our land?

Wouldn’t it be great if we could answer with certainty the question “What’s next?” Well, we can. While many people speculate as to what will happen in the future, there is one way, and frankly, only one way, to know with certainty what will occur. The answer is found within the pages of the Bible.

While the Bible is considered by many to be solely a book of history or literature, to many others, it is the true Word of God. Within its pages are many prophecies that have come to pass. It is in the fulfillment of these prophecies that lead to the ability to answer the question, “What’s next?”

Historically, Biblical prophecies have been authenticated by the actual events transpiring as predicted. The rise and fall of empires, the destruction of Jerusalem, the coming of Jesus… these have all validated the accuracy of Biblical prophecy. So, what really is next?

Without a doubt, the next event on God’s calendar is the return of Christ for the Church. This refers to the time when Jesus, God’s Son, will “…descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

How do I really know this will happen? I know because every prophecy in the Bible that has to occur before Jesus comes back has been fulfilled.

The unfortunate thing about this is that only a few will actually hear the shout and the trump of God. Only a few will return with Jesus to heaven. The rest will remain, probably unable to explain the disappearance of the Christians, or the reason for the disappearance will be fabricated, and this deception will be completely accepted by those that continue their lives on earth. Again, this is the next prophetic event to be fulfilled. Every single prophecy that needs to be fulfilled prior to the return of Jesus has already happened.

Is there a way to guarantee you will be one of those who hears the shout and the trump of God? Yes, there is! Here is part of a message that my pastor, Rev. Tim Campbell, shared with us, and it clearly explains why Jesus is the only way to secure your place in heaven with God for all eternity.

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“And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled. In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:” (Colossians 1:20-22)

About this time over 2000 years ago, our Saviour’s body lay in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea. Joseph and Nicodemus had performed the funeral of Jesus privately preparing him for internment. His body was beaten, bruised, shredded by the scourge, pierced by nails, bloody and almost unrecognizable. What cruelty had taken place on the day of crucifixion at the hands of the Roman executioners. Yet, in that awful scene, God the Son begged His Heavenly Father to forgive them for they did not know what they were doing – but He did! All this seemed tragic to the human heart, but Jesus Christ had come for this hour and this event. Isaiah had written this down in the eternal Word! “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

The Blood of the cross was precious – that means there was none other like it. Its chemistry was perfect, for it could wash away sins forever! Its compass is powerful – it can wash away sins of the whole world. It is compassion – this Blood could wash away the sins because of the Grace of God for the worst of sinners, and its cause – the Blood of Christ could make peace between God and man forever on the singular merits of the Saviour who shed that blood for us.

This world is looking for peace in all the wrong places. People need to come to the cross and see that the blood of Christ is the remedy for sin and the key to peace. When we stand before God, now and in eternity, it will be that peace from that blood that will present us unblameable and unreprovable before God. Oh, what a Saviour!

This is salvation! What a wonderful gift from God through Jesus Christ our Lord! Hallelujah, what a Saviour! Jesus, our risen Saviour loves us so much that He offers, with open arms, forgiveness and everlasting life, but anyone who knows anything about the Bible must acknowledge that this gift came at an incredible price. God gave us His only begotten Son as the Lamb of God to die on the cross for our sins. Nothing that men can ever do will merit that gift nor purchase peace with God and eternal life.

As we read Romans 10:9, consider the word, “if.” It is a very important conditional conjunction used in the Bible. I call it the hinge word upon which the door of opportunity swings open. This little word is vital to us obtaining salvation. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” If, and only if, we call on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior will we be saved. When a person meets that condition of calling on the Lord for salvation, the door swings wide to the blessed life of the redeemed.”

“…Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3)

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How does one be “born again”? How does a person call on the Lord for salvation? It is as easy as A-B-C.

A – Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” You must ADMIT or ACKNOWLEDGE that you are a sinner in need of forgiveness.

B – Acts 16:31 states, “And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” You must BELIEVE that Jesus is the Son of God, whom the Father sent to be the Saviour of the world (1 John 4:14), died on the cross, shedding His precious blood, to take the punishment for your sins, and that He rose on the 3^rd day victorious over death and sin forever, proving that He is the Son of God, and He alone has the power to forgive your sins.

C – Romans 10:9 states, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” Lastly, you must CHOOSE Jesus to be your Saviour. This is a personal time of prayer between you and Jesus when you simply share what is on your heart, telling Him exactly what you believe, asking Him to forgive you and become the Lord of your life.

That’s it! Once you accept the forgiveness that Christ offers, you become part of God’s eternal family, and you are promised eternal life in heaven with Him.

I was guilty with nothing to say
And they were coming to take me away
When a voice from Heaven was heard that said
“Let him go and take Me instead”
 
Oh I should have been crucified
And I should have suffered and died
I should have hung on the cross in disgrace
But Jesus, God’s Son, took my place

(from “I Should Have Been Crucified” by Gordon Jensen)

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

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One day, that trumpet will sound. Perhaps, today?

Every now and then, I have the opportunity to share a devotion by another writer. This devotion was written by my friend, Barb Depew. With the exception of the verses, italicized text has been added by me. I hope you are blessed by this devotion as much as I was!

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The TP’s of Fellowship

T – Tribe

A teepee has an outer layer, traditionally made of animal skins.  Your tribe is like the covering, the enclosure that is all around you.  Therefore, your tribe is likened unto your church family for they cover you.

1. In prayer
   1. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” – James 5:16
   2. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” – Ephesians 6:18
2. In edification (building up)
   1. “Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace and things wherewith on may edify another.” – Romans 14:19
3. In admonition (correcting in love)
   1. “And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.” – Romans 15:14
   2. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” – Colossians 3:16

P – Peeps

A teepee is supported by the sticks within it. Your peeps are your close friends.  The ones you go to for instruction, for guidance, those you hang out with, that you teach, that help you in times of trouble and who you help when they have a need.  These are like the 3 close companions that Jesus had here on earth – Peter, James and John.  He spent extra time with them and entrusted them with his heart, mind, and time.

1. “Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” – Proverbs 27:17
2. “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17

S – Soulmate

A teepee is bound together by ropes. Like the rope that binds the teepee together, God binds us all as one in Him through His sufferings, His Word, His love, and His Holy Spirit.  Every believer has a soulmate. Not only the married people, but all believers.  Our soulmate is the Lord God Almighty.  The closer we draw to Him, the tighter He binds us to one another and strengthens our hearts to Him.

1. “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God; arise therefore, and build ye the sanctuary of the LORD God…” – I Chronicles 22:19
2. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” – Psalms 42:1

Are you building your teepee?  Is there an area that is lacking? One that may need strengthening?  Find your tribe, your peeps, your soulmate, and cling to them.  Start today and choose to adorn your teepee with love, goodness, kindness, and praise.

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You will notice we say brother and sister ’round here
It’s because we’re a family and these folks are so near
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear

I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God
I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod
For I’m part of the family, the family of God.

(from “The Family of God” by Bill & Gloria Gaither)

“O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” – Psalm 95:6

It has been said that one never knows what one has until it is taken away. This really hit home for me when I began to have problems with my knees. Having been overweight for most of my life, my poor hips and knees carried a very heavy burden for decades. Studies have revealed the following facts about knees.

1. Walking on level ground exerts a force equal to 1.5 times your body weight on the knees.
2. Walking on an incline increases the force on each knee to two to three times your body weight (ex: when you go up and down stairs), and four to five times your body weight when you squat to tie a shoelace or pick up an item you dropped.
3. Every pound of weight lost removes 4 pounds of pressure from the knees.
4. Excess fat cells can lead to pain, stiffness, and inflammation in joints aggravating conditions like osteoarthritis.

How did this impact my life? I lost the ability to kneel. The pain I had in my knees was too much for me to bear when I knelt to pray, so I had to change my position of prayer. I understand that one’s posture in prayer is not what is important to the Lord, for He looks upon that which is within us. 1 Samuel 16:7 states, “…for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” God always looks at what is in our hearts, whether in selecting a king for a nation or in being attentive to His children in prayer. However, for me, kneeling is a penitent posture; a physical position of humility. It helps me have a humble mindset when I pray. To no longer be able to kneel at home or at church grieved me greatly, but I assumed that it was my lot in life since I had been obese for so long. I was wrong.

These days, I am a different person physically than I have been for the last few decades. I have lost a considerable amount of weight, and my knees are much happier! I have very little pain in them now since I have removed 308 pounds of pressure off of my knees!

Today, I decided to “test the waters.” In my time of prayer, I very carefully lowered myself to the floor and knelt by my couch. With a bit of apprehension…awaiting the pain that has been my companion for years… I began to pray. Before I knew it, my time with the Lord had concluded, and I realized I was still on my knees… oblivious to how they felt. Why? Because there was no pain!

I cannot tell you how joyful my heart felt at that moment when I realized that kneeling was once again part of my prayer life, and I praise God for the healing He has done in my body. Being able to kneel in prayer meets a need in my life that I have long missed, and now I am so grateful to be able to bow my knee in worship and prayer to my Lord and Saviour.

Kneel at the cross, Christ will meet you there, come while He waits for you
Listen to His voice, leave with Him your cares and begin life anew
 
Kneel at the cross, leave every care
Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there
 
Kneel at the cross, there is room for all, who will his glory share?
Bliss there awaits, harm can nary fall those who are anchored there
 
Kneel at the cross, leave every care
Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there
 
Kneel at the cross, give your idols up, look unto realms above
Turn not away, to life’s sparkling cup, trust only in His love
 
Kneel at the cross, leave every care
Kneel at the cross, Jesus will meet you there

(from “Kneel at the Cross” by William York)

“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” – Daniel 6:10

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“When life gets too hard to stand… kneel.” – Gordon B. Hinckley

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” – Psalm 34:1

Have you ever been disappointed? I have. It could have been in a product I purchased that didn’t deliver as it promised. It could have been in an unmet expectation. It could have been through a friend who didn’t follow-through on a commitment, or even in myself for not measuring up to something. Disappointments come in many shapes and sizes, and often, people (including myself!) allow their lives to be governed by them.

An early morning disappointment can frame our entire day. Our minds continually review the disappointment, and it festers and consumes our thoughts. Sometimes disappointment lingers for days, and turns into something even more harmful… anger and resentment. Disappointment reveals itself in our faces, our words, and our actions. It becomes so domineering that we often forget all the positive things in our lives, and our testimony for Jesus can be negatively impacted.

It’s important to remember that no matter what the reasons for the disappointment, God continues to hold us in His hand, and His plans for us will come to fruition. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” There is no disappointment in life that can thwart God’s plans for those of us who belong to Him. We need to trust Him to uphold us and continue His good work in us as He promised in Philippians 1:6.

Additionally, God can use any disappointment we encounter to strengthen our faith and help us learn to depend upon Him more. Romans 8:28 states, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Whatever befalls us, good or bad, God uses it for His good will and purpose in our lives. Romans 15:13 gives us the key to turning our disappointments into joy. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Trust Him to do as He says in His Word and praise Him for it!

God has also given us directions on how to eliminate the aftereffects of disappointment. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” I frequently must ask myself, “Am I focusing on these things, or am I focusing solely on the disappointments of life?”

There is a song I learned as a child that speaks of putting Jesus and others before yourself in your life. When disappointment controls me, I realize I have put myself before everyone else. The focus is on me! I am disappointed; I have been slighted; I have been let down; I have failed. Do you notice the commonality in those four statements? It is the word “I”. When we make Jesus first and others second in our hearts and lives, the disappointments we face impact us less than when we place ourselves in first place. It’s not the easiest thing to do because our pride wants to make us number one, but the One who truly could claim that number one position humbled Himself and chose to become a servant (Philippians 2:5-8) because of His great love for us. We must strive to follow His example, becoming humble in heart and willing sacrifices to God, which is our reasonable service (Romans 12:1).

Jesus and others and you
What a wonderful way to spell joy!
Jesus and others and you
In the life of each girl and each boy.
“J” is for Jesus for He has first place,
“O” is for others you meet face to face.
“Y” is for you in whatever you do.
Put yourself third and spell JOY.

(from “JOY” by Bud Metzger & Sally Lewis)

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” Proverbs 3:5-7

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I will praise You, Lord Jesus, in the good times as well as in the bad. I will praise You at all times!!

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.” – Psalm 150:6

In a popular movie franchise, a group of crusty pirates are revealed as sinister skeletons that become human-like in the daylight. When exposed to the sun, skin and muscle appear over the bones, and the skeletons amazingly become pirates set on doing their dastardly deeds. These skeletons come to life due to computerized special effects, and it is clearly fictional. However, there was a time in history when real bones did come together to form human beings.

In the Bible, the prophet Ezekiel records that he observed God create a living army from a valley of dry bones. In chapter 37:1-10, God demonstrates His power to Ezekiel by commanding a bunch of old bones to assemble themselves together and be covered with sinew and flesh. The passage goes on to say that although they are standing, they are not yet living. Life does not come to the restored skeletons until God commands the wind to give them breath. From that moment on, the skeletons are a living army!

We are no different than the skeletons in Ezekiel 37. It is solely the breath of God that gives life to us all. In Genesis 2:7, the Bible states, “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” There is no amount of medical science that can create life on its own; it may be able to sustain life artificially, but never has medical science been able to create life. It is only God who gives and preserves life.

There is a young man in my church who often begins his public prayer by thanking God for the breath in us. The first time I heard this, I really pondered the implications. Thank God for my breathing? Then I realized how appropriate that was. Without God’s intervention, I would never wake in the mornings, never utter a single word, nor sing one note of a song. Job 33:4 states, “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.” It is by His will and for His purpose that I am able to awake each day and live my life.

Additionally, the prophet Daniel was also well aware that God was the One who held life in His hand when he told Nebuchadnezzar, “But hast lifted up thyself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before thee, and thou, and thy lords, thy wives, and thy concubines, have drunk wine in them; and thou hast praised the gods of silver, and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which see not, nor hear, nor know: and the God in whose hand thy breath is, and whose are all thy ways, hast thou not glorified:”

Without God commanding my body to function as He designed it to do, I would not be able to draw one breath! Luke, the physician, wrote in Acts 17, “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.”

In addition to all for which I thank God, every breath I take is now part of my gratitude list. And with that breath, I will surely praise the Lord!

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.
 
Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly Thine,
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with Thy fire divine.

(from “Breath on Me, Breath of God” by Edwin Hatch)

“Thus saith God the LORD, he that created the heavens, and stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:” – Isaiah 42:5

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What’s on your gratitude list today?

“Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.” – 2 Samuel 22:50

There’s a lot of talk these days about having an “attitude of gratitude.” Why? Because it is so easy for negative thoughts to occupy our minds, keeping us from recognizing and appreciating the blessings all around us.

Recently, I posted this question on my social media page: “What are 3 things for which you are grateful?” The responses were so encouraging! They ranged from family and friends to God’s love and His amazing salvation through His Son, Jesus, to having a job and good health! As I pondered the comments I received on that post, I reflected on my own attitude of gratitude toward the Lord.

There is so much I have for which to be thankful, and even in the midst of a pandemic, governmental confusion, and uncertainty for tomorrow, we can still rejoice in the Lord. The Bible tell us to “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4).

Here are just a few of the things for which I am so grateful to the Lord.

1. His everlasting love
   1. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3
2. His Son, Jesus, my Saviour
   1. “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.” 1 John 4:14
3. His salvation
   1. “Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.” Psalm 25:5
4. The Holy Spirit
   1. “And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 10:45
5. His daily protection
   1. “Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.” Psalm 119:117
6. His mercy
   1. “It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.” Lamentations 3:22
7. His care
   1. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
8. His daily provisions
   1. “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
9. His Word
   1. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
10. His promises
    1. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 1 Corinthians 1:20
11. My children and grandchildren
    1. “Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.” Psalm 127:3
12. Snow and rain
    1. “For he saith to the snow, Be thou on the earth; likewise to the small rain, and to the great rain of his strength.” Job 37:6
13. Ocean waves
    1. “Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them.” Psalm 89:9
14. Stars
    1. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;” Psalm8:3
15. Physical healing
    1. “Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” Jeremiah 17;14

I could on and on! There really isn’t enough time in a day to thank Him for all He has done for me and how He has blessed me! I am so grateful to be His child, forever in the family of God! Thank You, Lord!

Thank you, Jesus for all you’ve done, thank you Lord.
Thank you, Jesus for vict’ries won, oh, thank you Lord.
For Thy love and tender care,
For Thy word and answered prayer,
Thank you, Jesus for all you’ve done, thank you Lord.

Thank you, Jesus for love like Thine, thank you Lord.
Thank you, Jesus for grace divine, oh, thank you Lord.
For Thy cross of Calvary,
For Thy blood that cleanseth me,
Thank you, Jesus that Thou art mine, thank you Lord.

(from “Thank You, Jesus” by John and Ruth Hallett)

“Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare.” – Psalm 75:1

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Please share with me what you are thankful for!!

“Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” – Philippians 1:6

From the moment I was conceptualized in the mind of God, He began His work in me. In Philippians 1:6, He promises to continue that work until Jesus returns or calls me home. Having the understanding that God found something in me that He could use is very humbling, especially when I seriously ponder who I am, what I’ve done… what a sinner I am… God knew all of that about me, yet He still chose to create me and fashion me into a vessel He could use. I have failed Him, knowingly sinned against Him, chose myself over Him, yet He continues His work in me, crafting me into someone He can use for the cause for Christ.

In Japan, there is an art form, known as kintsugi, where cracked and broken vessels are not discarded, but instead, they are reassembled and glued together with a golden lacquer. No attempt is made to hide the cracks; the golden seams are viewed as strong and beautiful. The mended pottery now becomes a unique work of art that is more rare and valuable than the original.

I am also a broken vessel that needs to be repaired. I am flawed by the sin in my life. God, in His infinite mercy, chooses to restore me instead of casting me off. Unlike kintsugi pottery, I am not mended with seams of gold. instead, I am made new with the precious blood of Christ, which He shed for my sins upon the cross of Calvary. These sinful areas in my life that are covered with the blood of God’s beloved Son are what make me beautiful in the sight of my Lord. Each time I am damaged by sin, God is faithful and just to forgive me and repair me. He promises to continue fashioning me into a vessel, rare and valuable to Him. Why does He not just cast me aside? Because He loves me with an everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3).

Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will,
While I am waiting, yielded and still.

(from “Have Thine Own Way Lord” by Adelaide Pollard)

“But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.” – Isaiah 64:8
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May I always be a vessel of honor to the Lord!