God Time with Kids

My friend Jenny couldn’t move. Not anything. Not her hands, not her arms, she couldn’t wiggle her feet. She couldn’t bend her knees or her legs. She couldn’t move her arms. She could only turn her head. She couldn’t brush her hair the way she liked it. She couldn’t brush her teeth, she couldn’t blow her nose when she cried.
My friend Jenny couldn’t bring a sip of water to her lips when she thirsted. My friend Jenny couldn’t  do anything.
So much was taken away from this woman at 35 years of age, mysteriously one day, within a 24 hour period. Was it a virus of the spine? Or, other mysteries past finding out. The end result would leave her powerless -to move, and even breathe on her own without the help of her respirator. Jenny was completely paralyzed.
This all happened the same week I suddenly became stricken with Rheumatoid Arthritis many, many years ago- which was traumatic for me …until I learned of Jenny’s plight.
From the beginning, the Lord was using Jenny in my life to keep things in perspective. The Lord is using Jenny’s witness in my life, even today.
Jenny remained close to my mind and heart as I prayed for her during this crisis in her life, and as I dealt with my trifle trials, in comparison.
Our common ground? We were both moms, and ‘swim moms’ with kids swimming at the Y. God knit my heart to Jenny right from the start, and days moved on to months and months moved on to years . Our families separately, went through huge crisis , emotional, financial,  and spiritual-but Jenny and her family – ‘huge crisis’ was almost an understatement when considering the moment by moment …
God gave us choice. God gives us choice. Jenny chose to believe God.
Jenny was a witness to me. My eyes were open and I watched her ‘move’! It was her faith. It was her hope. It was her love.
Why do I share this story about my friend. Why do I expend energy in writing and wrestling with words in her honor? Because ultimately I am honoring a God who lived so abundant in her. If you try to convince me there is no God because you can’t see Him- I will say,
“God can be seen. By and through lives who are yielded and trusting in Him. God can be seen, if one opens their eyes.”
God opened my eyes to see one of His most beautiful diamonds, one of His most courageous champions.  Jenny.
Wouldn’t you think there would be extreme amounts of bitterness and anger after  having survived this way for 5+years?
None of that could be found in her.
And I write that sentence on it’s own line. This attitude of faith when ‘nothing was going her way’ is notable. This is a gold medal winner champion of faith.
And an attitude of complaint? It was not found in her. Yes, at times, discouraged in what seemed to be unanswered prayers, yet, she hoped and believed God even in the hardest and darkest times. Her cry went out to her Jesus – and I ‘saw’ with my own eyes, multiplied measures of ‘sufficient grace’ abounding in her.
God gave me this friend. God knew I needed her.
I needed to witness the life of God in my friend. I was battling with hurt and loss, and lack of faith. It seems I was always ‘trying’ to let go, always ‘trying to forgive.’
I had suffered loss in my own life, but Nothing compared to Jenny. I hadn’t suffered anything.  Spending time with Jenny ignited my faith. And helped me ‘let go’ of the junk.
I miss my most amazing friend. She still lives. And especially in my heart.
‘If Jenny could, then I could too.’ This was my inspiration. “If Jenny did, then I can too.” This is my motivation.
I used to wake up in days of trial and think, “Remember Jenny.”
She Believed God and waited on His healing and held on to God, even though she couldn’t ‘hold on’ to anything.
When I began spending time with Jenny, it was like witnessing Ps. 18:“The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield…”
Jenny couldn’t hold anything but she had a firm grasp on her shield of faith and her sword – her ears could hear: ‘I am your shield and your exceedingly great reward.'” Gen. 15:1.
 Jenny Believed God.
Today, I choose to “Remember Jenny.” And, ‘Believe God.’
“A river reaches places which its source never knows…
 “He who believes in Me… out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38).
 ‘This is the work of God, that you believe…’ John 6:29.”
“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God shall help her, just at the break of dawn.” Ps. 46:4,5.
‘This is the work of God that you believe’.  God is working and is working still, ‘this is the work of God that you believe.’
We will be tempted to give up on faith.  But Jenny chose to believe in God. And today I choose as well.
 “For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Heb 13:5,6).  

“This is my Father’s world, And to my listening ears; all nature sings and round me rings, the music of the spheres.” (1)

Can you hear the music?

Nature sings.

The culture around us clangs.

This is my Father’s world,
And to my listening ears
All nature sings, and round me rings
The music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas–
His hand the wonders wrought.

Do you join me in this thing?
Let’s fight to hear it – for the peace we’re so hungry for.  Our ‘listening ears’ hear so much noise at this time: disasters of the natural kind. Fights abounding and lies surrounding. Natural laws being changed by the mind, protectors of cities in danger of their lives. Political voices saying, “There is peace.” when there is no peace. 
But the old song, which seems so foreign and far, sings, “This is my Father’s world …”
Stop right there.
Let’s wait one precious second. This just might be our first mistake – we thought is was all ours. All mine, all yours. We believe that ‘this world was your land, and this world was mine! (exclamation point needed).
Join me as we attempt to ‘cheer up’ inside and remind ourselves: “Lift up your eyes. Lift up your eyes.”

121 “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth. Psalm 121 verse 1,and 2, King James Version, at that. This is my hill. Fancy words and all -God’s word helps me ‘be still.’

(1) This is My Fathers World by Maltbie D. Babcock, 1901.
(2) Psalm 121:3-4.
1 
2 This is my Father’s world:
The birds their carols raise,
The morning light, the lily white,
Declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
He shines in all that’s fair;
In the rustling grass I hear Him pass,
He speaks to me everywhere.
3 This is my Father’s world:
O let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
Why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King: let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let earth be glad!

Wh-eye worry? Again, I need a reminder I can see …

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others,  I’m told in 1 Corinthians 13:1, New Living Translation, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” 
My question is,  “What do I do when I come in contact with the ‘noisy gong’ who doesn’t care they’ve messed with my song?
I need  new revelation – To keep me breathing, to keep me sane. “O God -They’re difficult, they’re hard, they don’t bend, they don’t hear. Things just aren’t ‘going my way’, help me remember what You have to say.
Your word, in the Book of James, chapter 1, in verse two: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,…”

I will say it right here, “I’m not having fun. What’s going on? All I want to do naturally, is … Run!
I pray, ‘Our Father in heaven,’ I run to Your arms. ‘Holy is Your name. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done,’ Help me now. This moment in time – give me transformation.
Difficult people chase the ‘love’ right out the door. I search and find, the ‘patience box’ empty -de nada, there is simply, no more.
Forget about the ‘yellow’ card, to give warning there’s a problem. But with solution to work it out that it might again be set and in order,
This is the ‘red card’ brought to the table, no solution in sight. But it’s brought to You, God Almighty, who sees me inside and out. You know my thoughts and my weaknesses, (plural) …
‘O God, help me now. You clearly see, I’m not counting it ‘all joy’. My heart is on fire – You see the mess. I look for patience, and can’t find it on hand. There is none, no reserve –
Give me patience, dear Lord Jesus, and now,  I insist!“
People watch – when a believer in Christ suffers trial, so … I open up Spurgeon, (he’s like a grandpa to me) and I thumb through the pages and then stop to read:
He writes: “After much crying, the child is weaned.”(1)
“Patience enables us to bear ill-treatment, slander, and injury without resentment. We feel it keenly, but bear it meekly. Like our Master, we don’t open our mouths to reply; we refuse to return shout for shout. We give blessing in return for cursing, …”
This truly is wisdom, but I desperately need some rehearsing.
“…like the sandalwood tree that perfumes the axe that cuts it.”
“I keep thinking, ‘Why can’t they stop fighting? Will they ever stop? “Why can’t she … Why can’t he …?”
Then I hear Your still small voice, “Because I’m doing a great work of patience … in thee.”
And suddenly I see my Savior walking the road to Calvary, with a cross on His back, and realize, …
He did this for me.
 ^{1 Corinthians 13:4-7:}  Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud ⁵ or rude. It does not demand its own way.
My ears are open Lord. Let me hear You speak:  ^“Dear brothers and sisters,
when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.  So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
 If you need wisdom, ask your generous Father, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. This is James 1:2-5. 
OK, Lord, I ask for wisdom, and transformation. That I might have Your heart in mine. Help me put on Your love, and take off my vengeful garments, that I might ‘suffer long and be kind.’
 God’s love is ‘not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It doesn’t rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.
 ^God’s  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13, familiar, yet today, so new. This is written for me. I receive it, but I seek  You God to carry it through.
Jesus keep working on me, give me wisdom, give me Your power,  for each coming day, but especially, this hour.”
If you join me today in your struggle and trial, Spurgeon encourages with this: “If the grace of God by trial will work this in you, then you have gained a solid weight of character.”
so let us say, “Amen, Amen.”  And rejoice in our pain because God is working for us great gain. And we, all know, we will be tested, again, and again, and … until heaven – Haleluiah
(1) Beside Still Waters, CH Spurgeon, page 324.

Aug. 10, 201o I heard the words, “You have an invasive cancer of the breast.”
 
Oh – how I would believe that deep down, but on the surface there was no understanding to that sound. But, the fact that I can’t “see it” or “feel it” at any given moment, doesn’t change God. Back then, and now.
There’s a “keeping power” with God that I can’t even take credit for.
There’s no “hold on” ability. Some of us can admit that. There is no “holding on to anything” in our great weakness.
But God. He does it. He’s there.
Time proves. And His steadfast love appears. Even when our hearts failed and our faith disappeared. He shows up.
That is the grace that the Bible talks about.
“His grace is sufficient.”
We hear them. Hang down our heads during the trial. We can’t “feel” anything.
But somehow, God remains alive inside. Even though in anger and confusion, we turn our backs to HIm for a time.
howing up, even with no strength to “take hold” at times. But my heart can “hold on”, even if only by a thread. “Jesus loves me so.” Isn’t that what faith is? Believing when we can’t see. And believing even when we can’t feel. -toni
Job, a man who honored God, went through trial, and more trial and even more trial. But after a great amount of time, the Lord did speak. The Lord did answer Job: “The LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Gird up thy loins now like a man:”(KJV).
Oh, the mystery of God’s word, but so worth the effort to discover it’s meaning!
God used cancer in my life to be that whirlwind, to wake me up to LIFE.
You see, my vision was horizontal, yes, I had the Lord, but I was heavy-hearted and focused on troubles more than focusing on the Lord. The fruit in my life was being ‘choked’ because of the weeds of worry and the thorns of sorrow and loss.
My Father in heaven, in the midst of this cancer fight spoke in His word, to me personally,(even though originally they were written for Job). On this day, the word was opened, my body was sick and broken, my emotions were shot and I was anxious, but God, my loving Father spoke directly to me:
“Gird up!”, “Get up!”
Peter uses the ‘gird up’ expression in 1 Peter 1:13,
“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind,
be sober,
and rest your hope fully
upon the grace that is to be brought to you
at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
Well, one meaning of the word ‘gird up’, is ‘to cinch up the robe you are wearing to allow you to move with agility and purpose.’
But, ‘gird up the loins of your mind’?
Perhaps it helps to read the verse from the Amplified Bible,
“So brace up your minds; be sober – circumspect [morally alert]; set your hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace (divine favor) that is coming to you when Jesus Christ, the Messiah, is revealed.”1 Peter 1:13.
God was revealing His Son, Jesus Christ to me. Not like any beautiful building could, or perfect environment or location, No, God chose to reveal who He was through…a huge trial!
‘Jesus Christ the Messiah’ is revealed through God’s word, and God had a word for me on this dark and cold ‘day’ in my life! I turned to Psalm 73:1, and very plainly, it spoke:
“Truly God is good.” Psalm 73:1.
This basic truth was my battle! Did I or did I not believe this? Could I ‘brace up my mind’ and set my hope on all that Jesus is, even in loss and suffering?
The lie of the enemy says: ” How can a good God allow this?” “God will take stuff away.” Or, “Isn’t God trying to keep you away from fun? Isn’t God trying to hold something back from you?”
But the word of God in Psalm 73:1, says, “Truly God is good.”
Do we agree with the word, or do we argue and disagree with God and say in our hearts, and even believe:
“Obviously in all this trouble, God does not care.”
There is enough stubbornness in me(then and now!) that I made the choice to ‘brace up my mind…and set my hope wholly and unchangeably on the grace that is coming to us…’ What if none of this is true? What if what I believed was all in my head? What did I lose?
I made the choice to believe God’s word and agree with God’s word and guess what?
I began to be restored. I was being restored in my soul. Just like the Bible says: “the law of the LORD is perfect restoring the soul;”Ps. 19:7. It is powerfully, amazingly alive and true. God’s word restored my soul!
When troubles and loss occurred, even before my diagnosis to cancer, did I panic? Even with the Lord, yes. I was afraid and struggled with fear. Did I panic? Did I doubt? Yes, all of that.
But I knew where to run! And run I did: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous run to it and are safe!” (Proverbs 18:10). ‘Gird up’ your thoughts Toni, take every thought captive and think truth! This was God’s loving exhortation! He didn’t discipline me and let me go- NO, God began restoring me because His name is: ‘Gracious and Compassionate and Slow to Anger and Abounding in Truth and Forgiving iniquity and sin and extending mercy to generations’ (thank you Gayle Erwin for your wonderful breakdown of Exodus 34:6,7). That is the name I ran to, the strong tower from my enemy. When the world turns a cold, dark cloud your way, God remains, even in the great darkness.
I made the choice to believe God’s word and let the revelation of the goodness of God transform me.
This is what God’s word says about affliction:
“This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life.” (Psalm 119:50)
‘Gird up’!
“Thank you Lord, for the brokenness and pain and even the suffering, because you came down and answered me out of the whirlwind. I’m giving You praise, Lord, today.”
“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” (Eph. 5:14,15).
God woke me up! He used the cancer in my life so that I could ‘gird up’ and start really ‘believing’ what I always believed! Yes, God is good, He makes all things work together for good!
Cry out to Jesus. He hears. He’s alive. He came down then, He comes down now and He says, “It is I, do not be afraid.”
Believe in Jesus. He is able to accomplish all that concerns you…today.
How do I know? Because He did and He continues to do all this for me. My part? Is simply to believe and receive…not just once and for all, no, but for every waking breath and moment. May God richly bless you as He reveals His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the author and the finisher of our faith!  And He is good, yes, God is good. Amen.

“This is the fight of our lives, everything’s at stake. We’re fighting for our kids, our wives, our brothers in Christ. Here we stand as one, victory is sure as we stay strong!”  song lyrics by tim cook;awaken. (timcookmusic.com)
Today,  I believe these words are the wake-up call for us all -thus the title of Tim Cook’s album: awaken.
It’s illegal to write of other’s song lyrics without permission? “Thank you, Tim Cook for permission to share the words, (and the songs) God impressed on your heart.
You see, we go on our merry little way each and every day, until there is trouble or trial or crisis or pain. Then we’re ‘stopped in our tracks’. Isn’t this true?
There is no walking when we stub our toe hard. We stop and well, …(perhaps yell, some clean, some not so clean !@#) and we rub our toe.
“Wake up!” “There is urgent need here – it’s time to give attention to the pain.
If we can, we avoid the difficult situations. We simply ‘don’t look,’ we ‘don’t have time for this right now!’ Until it lands before our eyes,(or gets the way of our toe). Or, seriously leaves us broken and empty, full of pain, and sorrow.
Our souls are tempted to despair, but God awakens what was dead: “today I woke up in a war raging all around, the enemy is strong … My God is stronger!”
I speak the lyrics of Tim’s song. Why? Because today in our weakness and regret,  the words ignite breath into our lungs that have been deflated: “I won’t lose hope! I won’t back down! I will stand my ground to the end!”
There is life and power in the spiritual songs and the Word of God:
“…for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.
1John 5:4, the Word of God, once more: “This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith!”
Overcoming victory comes from faith, period.  Faith in God. To some, He is the ‘unknown God’ (Acts 17). To others, He is the ‘forgotten God’:
“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:13).
But faith in gods of pleasure, and gods of intellect, and gods of money have no arms. These gods have no ears. These gods offer no help when the world crashes and the way is dark and lonely.
“cover up- shift the blame, all these schemes, we create…”
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” Proverbs 14:12. 
” This is the fight of our lives. Everything’s at stake. We’re fighting for our kids, our wives, our brothers in Christ! Here we stand as one, victory is sure as we stay strong!”
“No more lies, no more games…” 

“The time has come to stand. I’m never looking back. The enemy is crushed my heart is steadfast…
I’ll be the man, that You made. 
Take my cross, hit my knees.
Pour Your Word inside of me.
Arm in arm, in unity, in Jesus’ Name – the victory!”
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9). This is the Word of God for all time.
There is no end to the power of God. The True and Living God whom Jesus Christ He has sent. To pay the debt of every sin, past present and future forever and again.  He is Living Water. His Word cleanses and restores. He  makes all things new. When we ask Him to come in our lives, He says, I will do.”
“The time has come to stand. I’m never looking back. The enemy is crushed my heart is steadfast…
I’ll be the man, that You made. 
Take my cross, hit my knees.
Pour Your Word inside of me.
Arm in arm, in unity, in Jesus’ Name – the victory!” Thank you Tim Cook for obediently writing and recording what God so powerfully gave to you.

“God is not the author of confusion,” (1 Corinthians 14:33).
“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. ” (Psalm 145:8).
“The LORD is good to all…” (Psalm 145:9).
“Well, if God is good as you say, then how can a God of love allow this, and that, and all the rest? How can God be good?” you might ask.
What question are you asking?  Are you ready to receive an answer? Do you ask simply to argue or are you desperately wanting to know? I share from my own story, in my brokenness, loss, and sorrow.
If your ears are open, I will share the bottom line: ‘If God’s  law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.’ (Psalm 119:92, NIV). 

“I don’t believe in all that stuff. I believe in love and nature and peace and such. I seek to live my life in simplicity. You’ve got your Truth and I’ve got, what I make it to be.”
I get it. I’m with you. I was as you are in the past. Seeking health and goodness and all the rest. But I was empty and anxious, without the peace I so desired – oppression wouldn’t cease.  I was exhausted and always tired.
Children, children, my heart breaks for you because you’ve been lied to for so long, that your hearts and minds are confused.
The voice of the culture streaming in every direction, and then terror and natural disasters, and loss among us.  Of course we’re confused. But beware of these voices:
“Don’t trust the church, those people are fake!” “Stay away from those doors, their people bring hate.” “The Bible is religion, from all that, stay far. “There is no need for such things, we’ve got plenty of knowledge and philosophies, and we’ve got the stars.”  
Children, children we have been created! The stars and moon and universe are His. He is the author of the heavens, He’s created the seas, and He holds the love that we so desperately need.
The God who made our seeing eye and ears that hear, brains so complex, He longs for us to see Him and hear and understand what He says.
I write for myself the things that God shows me in His word that saved me from this world and myself. I pray that God gives the children discernment to know good from evil, that He draw each one near, that they might finally discover,
His is the One who can make their hearts … still.
I will speak my own story, but unless you’ve been broken,it is most certain, you will not hear: “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey God’s word.” (Psalm 119:67).
You see, the hands won’t come down from the ears until then. The eyes won’t see, until there is humility within. God is God. It doesn’t matter what you and I think.
He is. and He was. and He is to come:  “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8).
So, today, I pray … for all the children of the world. That blind eyes would see and hearts be no longer cold. You see, ‘the devil is the god of this world’ today, God even tells us in 2 Cor. 4:4. But the Book that society hates and disregards, …
…is actually the life and hope for each who take hold. “Peace be still” are the words of Jesus. He is God. And He is a Person, who comes very near, when a broken child calls out His name through their tears, …
Oh, yes, I can tell you my story is true, I called His name and He answered.   He is waiting for you. Seek His face evermore. He is faithful and loves you more, and more – He loves MOST!

There are a few walking narrowly along. The light shines within. Old Words guide the Way and they sing, … as they travel on their journeys each day. (1)
From the rising of the sun until it goes down, their praises flow and their petitions are made. The few on the road that is narrow and hard, talk to their Father as if they can see. (2)
They tell Him their troubles and He … gives them back hope. Hope beyond sight and a Faith unseen. Each day they travel with their face in The Book, with a heart soft as clay, letting Him mold it His way. (3)
But they are now hated. ‘The few’ are viewed with scorn. They that believe, and sing of the old Story, and have love for others that abounds. (4)
“Keep silent,” are the words often heard from the crowd. “Truth is what each of us make in ourselves. You ‘few’ take your Truth and you go far away. We are the world and we have the say. 
You ‘few’ teach that your Way is, … the only.  Who do you think you are? You teach hatred of other’s beliefs to our children. What ‘the few’ say are ‘lies’, we say are ‘truth’. What you ‘few’  say is ‘evil’, we say is ‘good.’ Don’t take away our choice.  You now be silent. We are more than you anyhow. We have the voice.”
But a still small voice that rises in ‘the few’ gives courage and breath for the words to speak: “The children are led by the blind in this day.  There is a dangerous pit ahead. We can see. We see. (5)
There is an enemy that wants to bring the children of the world to destruction. (6) ‘Turn, turn around. There is death in your way.’ This is what love is, not ‘hate’ as you say. (7)
Hey we know your thoughts, let us speak up at last. Many of us were as you in the past. But there was a moment, a moment in time,  like the shepherds in that old Story told every year, at the time when the stores are filled with the man in red and a beard –
we were trudging along in our fatigue and our fret.  We had no peace, we had no rest. We were tired and depressed. We were as the shepherds that cold and dark, mysterious night, when an angel came with a flash of God’s Light.
Just like that story, but this time, our own.  There was fear, because we heard for ourselves, of this Savior that was born. (8) Oh, His name we knew, all too well. Many a time to throw it around when life felt like …
Well, OK, there was a change. Suddenly, it came –
– as if a heavenly host of heaven’s angels sang, ‘Glory to God in the highest (9) heaven, and on earth,  even  in your earthly situation, peace with men, (with you that is), personally God is well pleased. Turn to Him!’
“Don’t be afraid of what others will think. I’ve come to bring Good News to you. News of great events that you know through and through.  But today the Light will shine in you as the stars, …
“This day is born to you, a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord”, (10) 
“I Am here, and I know who you are.  I come to  bring you joy and happiness.” This wasn’t the voice of an angel, this was God drawing me near. No longer a stranger. No longer a distant thought. God came flooding into my heart …
In an instant, just as the shepherds in Luke 2, I had to see if these things were true. A new hunger and stirring found its way in my heart. A new-old Book had to be taken from the shelf.
By searching to see,  and asking, ‘do I believe’, I began to understand the purpose of the Tree.  (11) He came to die, not for ‘them’ but … for me.”
and I believed. Wouldn’t you?
I became one of ‘the few’. I could no longer worry what ‘everyone else thought.’ Were they my idol? Were they my deceivers? To walk with the mainstream and frown on the ‘believers’.
What if ‘the few’ did stay silent? What if the Word stopped going out? Well, it is reported –  that even the rocks would cry out. (12)
Thank you for taking a ‘few’ to listen.  You see, God is love. And He loves all the children. Even all the children of the world who hate Him.
He came to suffer and He came to die, that we might live and tell others why. As those smelly shepherds, that mysterious night, when the angels came and the sky was lit with light,
when they went to see if what was said was true,  they then proclaimed the baby’s Life was truly given, as Savior of the world, to bring peace and  rest and happiness. Truth is discovered to be…
a Person.
Oh, that the world would turn today. Then a Merry Christmas each would have, everyday.
Merry Christmas, the Christ has come. In summer and fall and each season long. To the world whom He knew, would largely reject Him. But today, Today, can be the day you receive – eternal life. How? Simply, Believe.
Jesus is our Immanuel. Oh how glorious The Story, that ‘the few’ will gladly tell!
______
(1) Matthew 7:13,14. “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell^[a] is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. ¹⁴ But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.”
(2) Psalm 113:2-4. “Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.  From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations,his glory above the heavens.”
(3) Matthew 6:9-13 NLT . “Pray like this. Our Father in heaven,may your name be kept holy.  May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
(4) Matthew 5:10-12. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
(5) Mathew 15:14. “… they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

(10) Luke 2:11.
(11) John 10:7-11. “…so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.  All who came before me were thieves and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them.  Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.  The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
(12) Luke 19:40, (Jesus said), “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
 

Jose forever lives …
Have you recently lost a love who was a lover of Christ?
I’m not sure our finite brains can even come close to comprehending eternal life, but we try to visualize streets of gold, and sapphires and pearls, and harmonious praise, and mansions built next door to our loved one’s gone home. Time to fellowship with David and Moses, and ask Jonah what it was like to be in the belly of the whale –
Oh, we love to imagine what it’s like. So we pray, “...Your kingdom come, Your will be done,
on earth,
as it is in heaven.” (The Lord’s Prayer, Matthew 6:5-13).
God answered so many of my questions yesterday at a ‘Celebration of Life Service’ for a man of God, Jose Rivera. You might know him, you might not – but you most likely know a man or woman of God who ‘walked the talk.’
Everyone gathered in the honor of this man, and gave thanks to God for all that He worked inside of him. Words were shared: Crazy. The life of the party. Compassionate. No one was a stranger. Forgiving and forgiving again, with a vision of hope that never ends. Believing the best. A smile that never quit.
As each person shared from their heart how they were helped and they were changed – by this man who chose to walk, in the way that Jesus did.
The glory of the Lord shone, the testimonies were given:  Hard stoney hearts were turned into to flesh. Doubtful minds believed in themselves because he lived a life choosing to be – like his Jesus.
He was ‘fruitful’ in his life, and crazy, amazing to me – I saw that he multiplied himself that very hour!
Each person that came that day was inspired to be ‘just like this man!’ “I want to be like Jose,” was the thought of each person that left.
God had a plan, and He blessed him, Jose, with His Spirit,  “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.” (Gen. 1:28).
That’s it …
God had a set of days numbered for him, and he obeyed and he lived them according to His plan. And, Jesus from heaven looked down to earth, and said, “Jose, it’s time. You have done an excellent job. My good and faithful servant, come home now to Me.”
So on that day, in that hour of expression, each person in that house said, “I want to be like him.”
And Jesus and Jose were watching from heaven, rejoicing in salvation and hearts desiring joy …
“Well done my faithful servant, you have been fruitful, and now, you will multiply!”

The news I will focus on today? “Draw near to God and He’ll draw near to you.” Now, that is the good news that I will center myself on today. How about you? Do you need some good news to focus on? Of course you do!

“Jesus loves me this I …
… I don’t know. I don’t know that He loves me anymore.
I let the world whirl me into believing that He wasn’t worth knowing. That I could do it on my own. That God didn’t matter. That ‘He’ wasn’t there. Ultimately, believing He didn’t care.
I believed the words that people shared. This culture has caused me to walk elsewhere.
But like roaring seas surrounding me. The screech of city sounds abounding. Anxious thoughts, and restlessness, made my pillow spin, endlessly, loudly.
“Jesus.” I call. Not in curse but desperation. Can You hear my voice? It’s solo. no congregation.
Just me … It’s only me.
“Did you turn and call My name? Look to Me and not your misery. Hand Me your griefs and your pains and all your stains. I am not the accuser. I will not bring shame.
“I Am the God Who hears.  I will answer, call me continually. I AM the God Who sees.
Do you choose to believe?
Turning to Me, is like a seed in the ground, dying. Your crying out my name offers new life, it’s true. O, … how I’ve been waiting – I’ve waited for you.
About the shame? I’ve taken it all. Your crimson stain washed white as snow. Call to Me. I will answer and show you great and mighty things …
you do not know.
Yes, I will do exceedingly abundantly, just as a seed in the ground, that dies, but then sprouts and makes glorious beauty.
I will give you back a simple melody. Look up, not out Turn to Me, not away.  We’ll soon be singing together … Love’s harmony.
I love you forever. I love you right now. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!”
 

“You should write a book.”
It’s funny, but when you think about it, people don’t say that because the road has been smooth and  the seas slick for sailing.
No, they say, “You should write a book,” because of great conflict and struggle. Because what was impossible has become realized.
When sailing the seas and a ‘furious squall’ erupts and the ‘waves break over the boat, so that is was nearly swamped’ (Mark 4:37),  but God’s Hand held you somehow.
God’s words, “Peace be Still” were heard in the depth of the soul, and the strength to persevere took hold. Circumstances didn’t ‘immediately’ change as the Bible story told, but there was hope that brought light to the darkness so deep.
Walking through thorns, hurting and bleeding. But God reaches out His Hand, with a hanky to catch every tear.
This is why one would say, “You should write a book.” How we long for the stories that inspire and bring hope.
So I write not to bring impressive focus on me, but that in this world of great confusion and ‘truth’ I might bring focus on the Person who is our Peace. That I might share the stories, one at a time, of His hands that saved me and saves me still.
He shows me His Hands –  in my sickness and sorrow. In my losses and trials. He shows me His Hands in other’s stories, past and present. And He says,
‘Write in a book, for yourself,’ (Jeremiah 3o:2), but perhaps for others too, ‘the things I have shown you.’
So I will write each day for God’s glory, that we all might discover that we’re all part of His wonderful Story. Seeking life, and light, and truth, and frighteningly discovering …
He’s in our boat. Life is a person. Truth has a Hand. Light is given.
This is the book that is being written.
Would you like to write a book too? I say, “Yes! Let’s write it today, publishing God’s great faithfulness and glory!”
^{Mark 4:35-41:  “}That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”