The Message of Christmas

“… The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” 1 John 4:14

This is the message of Christmas told to Joseph as he slept,

“Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21

It was the message delivered by the angel to a group of shepherds on the hillside.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11.

This is the good news. 

We have a Savior

His name is Jesus.

The angel announced it.

Simeon confirmed it when he took the infant Jesus in his arms declaring,

“ Mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.” Luke 2:30-32

J. Wilbur Chapman spelled it out in the hymn, One Day, written in 1908.

“One day when Heaven was filled with His praises,
One day when sin was as black as could be,
Jesus came forth to be born of a virgin,
Dwelt among men, my Example is He!

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me;
Buried, He carried my sins far away;
Rising, He justified freely forever;
One day He’s coming—O glorious day!”

Rejoice today in the one who came “to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:10.

Merry Christmas!

GOOD NEWS

The shepherds were just doing their job out on the hillside when the startling angelic announcement lit up the night sky, 

“Fear not! For behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10, 11 

We know the story.  We hear it every year around this time. Maybe so often that the wonder of the message is lost amidst the items on this season’s “to do list.” So much to do. Little time. And even less energy. As I considered the message this verse came to mind: 

“As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country.” Proverbs 25:25

How fitting! God’s good news was delivered by an angel from a far country, an angel who worshipped at the very throne of God in Heaven! THAT news refreshes weary souls today like no other news possibly could. God’s GOOD news brings peace to the troubled soul and joy – “Great joy” - to all people if we will believe it. 

Reflect on the words of this hymn, penned by Helen Howarth Lemmel in 1922.

Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus   

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?

There's light for a look at the Savior,

And life more abundant and free:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face;

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting

He passed, and we follow Him there;

Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conquerors we are!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

His word shall not fail you He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well.
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

So this Christmas, let’s look long into the wonderful face of the Savior, remembering that the baby in the manger was the One who came from the glory of a far country bringing salvation to a world hopelessly lost. HE is Christ the Lord!

Joy and Peace,
Ruth

Hope is Born

Reading in the book of 1 Peter this week I found myself zeroing in on the word “hope.”  It is encouraging to remember that Christians have a living hope that rests fully on God’s grace, a hope that is in Him.  This hope is a sure thing, a confidence that is alive! This confidence is based on the mercy and grace of the Almighty, Sovereign God, the Resurrected Christ who will be revealed at the proper time. Peter reminds us that:

Redeemed by Him,

Kept by Him,

And Saved through faith in Him.

We can Rest fully in Him,

Believe in Him,

Trust in Him,

Be at Peace in Him,

Call on Him,

And Rejoice in Him.

In this Advent season we give thanks for the hope we have because of Jesus.

Consider the words of this hymn from the 1700’s. 

TO US A CHILD OF HOPE IS BORN – lyrics by John Morrison, 1781.

To us a Child of hope is born,

To us a Son is giv’n,

Him shall the tribes of earth obey,

Him all the hosts of Heav’n.

His Name shall be the Prince of Peace,

Forevermore adorned,

The Wonderful, the Counselor,

The great and mighty Lord.

His pow’r, increasing, still shall spread,

His reign no end shall know,

Justice shall guard His throne above,

And peace abound below.

To us a Child of hope is born,

To us a Son is giv’n,

The Wonderful, the Counselor,

The mighty Lord of Heav’n.

“Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder:

and His Name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father,

the Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

A sacrifice of praise

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God,

That is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." 

Hebrews 13:15 

Continually offering praise does not come naturally to some of us. It takes dependence on a supernatural God. It is “by Him,” a sacrifice that does not come easily.  But for one who abides in the Vine (that is Jesus) the fruit produced IS praise and giving of thanks. In this Season of Thanksgiving, let us pray to be so filled with the presence of Jesus that what flows from us comes from Him. May our lips praise Him and our hearts overflow with thanksgiving.

This song from 1948 is a good reminder to get us started. 

“Thank You, Jesus, for all You’ve done,

Thank You, Lord.

Thank You, Jesus, for victories won,

O! 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."

                                                                            (John C. and Ruth G. Hallett)

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
Ruth

Fall Favorite Things

Some of my favorite things about November...

Beautiful Fall colors

Cool, crisp weather

Open windows

Hot coffee with Pumpkin Spice Creamer

Cinnamon, Ginger and Nutmeg Scents

Hot dogs and marshmallows roasted on sticks held over the fire-pit

Fragrant, lit candles

Thanksgiving celebrations

But… one of my MOST favorite things is the 30 Day Thankfulness Challenge!

This is how it works:

                Every day by day’s end, write down one thing I am thankful for that day.

                That’s it … just one thing.  But no repeats!

It helps me remember the many ways God blesses us, and give Him thanks.

What are you thankful for?

Are you up to the challenge?

Oh, and one more thing... That extra hour of sleep I'm going to get tonight!

"In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Post debate thoughts

My reading this morning came from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. I know that Jeremiah was writing concerning another people in another time,  but somehow it seemed fitting for today.

6:12 “For I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land,” says the Lord, “Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness;  and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely…”

Last night we watched the 2^nd Presidential debate. It’s been a terrible election year for both parties, colored by lies and accusations, dirt-digging and mud- slinging. One hardly knows what is true and what is not.  There is no sense of morality, no shame, no concern for what the children hear and see from our leaders.

So much bickering, arguing, fighting, blame-casting…

THIS is who we have become! A people whose word cannot be trusted, a country bent on self-destruction, people who refuse to take responsibility, choosing rather to blame someone- anyone else- rather than admitting our own wrong-doing.  It is appalling, shameful, reprehensible and can be summed up with these words from Jeremiah “Everyone is given to covetousness, everyone deals falsely.”

And my heart cries – surely not! Really?  Everyone?

There is a remedy. There is hope – if we will heed it.

Verse 16 Thus says the Lord, “Stand in the way and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is. And walk in it. Then you will find rest for your souls.”

But they said, “We will not walk in it.”

Our stubbornness is our own undoing.

Verse 17 But they said, “We will not listen”

Verse 19 Hear, O earth! Behold I will certainly bring calamity on this people – the fruit of their thoughts because they have not heeded my word, nor my law, but rejected it.”

And there it is:

Refusal to listen.

Refusal to heed God’s word.

Refusal to obey His laws.

That is what dooms a nation to judgment and calamity.

We’ve been dancing, teetering on the edge and now we are toppling over.

God help us!

Climate Change

 “He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good,

and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Matthew 5:45

It’s raining today...again! 

I’m more of a sunny day kind of person. 

But this morning I remembered the words of this hymn, written by Daniel W. Whittle in 1883.

Showers of Blessing

There shall be showers of blessing; This is the promise of love;

There shall be seasons refreshing, Sent from the Savior above.

               

                Showers of blessing, Showers of blessing we need;

                Mercy-drops round us are falling, But for the showers we plead.

There shall be showers of blessing—Precious reviving again;

Over the hills and the valleys, Sound of abundance of rain.

There shall be showers of blessing; Send them upon us, O Lord!

Grant to us now a refreshing; Come, and now honor Thy Word.

There shall be showers of blessing; O that today they might fall,

Now as to God we’re confessing, Now as on Jesus we call!

There shall be showers of blessing, If we but trust and obey;

There shall be seasons refreshing, If we let God have His way.

As the song weaved its way through my consciousness I began to appreciate the opportunity to sit with my Bible and devotional books,

hot coffee,

fragrant candle burning,

sounds of raindrops hitting the deck.

Retirement has become a ‘season of refreshing’ allowing me to reflect on a lifetime of busy, active service while waiting on God to help me know my place in the now.  And I admit, that sometimes it is hard to wait and ‘let God have His way.’  For me it is more about knowing what not to do, than what to do. There are so many opportunities but I’m not looking for time fillers. What I want is to walk in trust and obedience to the One who sends the times of refreshing and blessing. And I want to live a life that refreshes others.

In this present climate of accusations, hatred, cultural and political upheaval and uncertainty, perhaps a good way to start a rainy day is to do what Johnson Oatman wrote in this hymn from 1897:

Count Your Blessings

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,

Count your many blessings, name them one by one,

And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

                Refrain:

                Count your blessings, name them one by one;

                Count your blessings, see what God hath done;

                Count your blessings, name them one by one;

                Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,

And you will be singing as the days go by.  

When you look at others with their lands and gold,

Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;

Count your many blessings, money cannot buy

Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.  

So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,

Do not be discouraged, God is over all;

Count your many blessings, angels will attend,

Help and comfort give you to your journey's end.  

Happy Counting!

Love,
Ruth

Getting Through It

One of the neatest things I found when I was clearing out my mom’s house is this little plaque.

At times we catch ourselves saying – “I’ll get through it (the tough situation) somehow,” often accompanied by a sigh or tears.

But this… this plaque is a reminder that we can triumph even in adversity because we belong to THE ONE who triumphed over death

THE ONE who gives us hope

THE ONE who never fails

THE ONE who never leaves us or forsakes us

THE ONE who holds us in the palm of His nail-scarred hands

THE ONE who leads us in triumph!

Today I thought of these wonderful old hymns written by Civilla D. Martin in 1904 and 1905

God will Take Care of You

1.       Be not dismayed whate’er betide, God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide, God will take care of you.

o    Refrain:
God will take care of you, Through every day, o’er all the way;
He will take care of you, God will take care of you.

2.       Through days of toil when heart doth fail, God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail, God will take care of you.

3.       All you may need He will provide, God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied, God will take care of you.

4.       No matter what may be the test, God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast, God will take care of you.

       His Eye Is On the Sparrow

1.       Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav’n and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant Friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain:
I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

2.       “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear,
And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears;
Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

3.       Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

So, dear friends, today on this cloudy rainy day, 

you’ll get through it – not somehow, but triumphantly – because of Jesus!

Lovingly,

Ruth

Glorying in Him

1 Corinthians 1:31 “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

Why?  Because He is glorious and worthy!

Just this one chapter alone gives plenty of reason.

•          Because grace and peace come from Him. Verse 3
•          Because He enriches our lives. Verse 5
•          Because we are confirmed by Him. Verse 8
•          Because we are called into fellowship by Him. Verse 9
•          Because He is faithful. Verse 9
•          Because it pleases Him to save those who believe. Verse 21
•          Because He is wiser than man. Verse 25
•          Because He is stronger than man. Verse 25
•          Because He is righteous. Verse 30
•          Because He sanctifies. Verse 30
•          Because He is our Redeemer. Verse 30

And if that isn’t reason enough to glory in the Lord – search the Scriptures yourself!

Fanny Crosby was blind from infancy. Yet she wrote thousands of hymns, some under pseudonyms. One of her hymns, To God Be the Glory, first published in 1875, was the theme song of the Christian primary school I attended. Admittedly, I grew tired of singing it at every student assembly and school program, but the meaning of the words is never tiresome.

“To God be the glory great things He has done.”

(Just consider making your own list!)

“So loved He the world, that He gave us His Son.”

(I doubt very much that I love anyone enough to willingly give up a child or grandchild.)

“Who yielded His life an atonement for sin…”

(He took a death sentence so that even “the vilest offenders” could receive “full pardon.") 

"And opened the life-gate that all may go in."

May I be found glorying in Him today!

Comforts in Anxieties

“In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19

Reading this verse today I couldn’t help wondering how many are carrying a “multitude of anxieties.” In today’s world there is plenty to be anxious about! We may not express anxiety openly, but watching the news or looking at social media rarely cause peaceful feelings to well up in us.

So I began thinking about God’s comforts.  Here are just a few with several verses for each. As you read the list you will no doubt think of others.

The Comfort of His Presence:

•  Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.
•  Psalm 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
•  Matthew 28:20 … I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.

The Comfort of His Promises:

•  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.
•  Psalm 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
• John 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

 The Comfort of His Peace:

•  John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
•  Philippians 4:6-8 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
• Psalm 29:11 The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.

The Comfort of His Power:

• Psalm 147:5 Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
•  Jeremiah 32:17 Ah Lord God! Behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee.
•  Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, ‘All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.’

The Comfort of His Provision:

•  Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
• Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (You might want to start reading at verse 25.)
•  Psalm 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

 The Comfort of His Protection:

•  Psalm 138: 7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,  you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;   with your right hand you save me.
•  Psalm 121: 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life.
• Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.

The Comfort of His Preeminence:

• 1 Chronicles 29:11 Thine, O Lord is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O Lord, and thou art exalted as head above all.
• Deuteronomy 4: 39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.
• Psalm 86:8 … there is none like you, Lord; no deeds can compare with yours.

So, Father God, in these troubled times You comfort us.

Thank you for giving us a central focus, a secure refuge, 

and the assurance that You’ve got this!

When we feel anxious help us to remember Your comforts which delight our souls.

Standing on the ROCK

What a time to be alive! 

We're in a season of violence – race relations harking back to a darker time in history, police officers ambushed and murdered, protests and riots, disturbance and thuggery while the nation gears up to elect a new President. And in the running are a billionaire businessman and a former first lady. 

Islam is growing and in the current political arena seems to be the protected and favored religion. Political correctness is at an all-time high (or low, depending on your point of view). History is rewritten, the constitution is disregarded, and traditional words and morals are redefined. Our flag is stomped on or set on fire in the streets. Terrorism increases as bombings, mass shootings, executions and persecution occur with frightening regularity, and places of worship once honored and respected, are no longer a refuge. We are like ants on a circus ball spinning crazily out of control.

And yet…we have HOPE!

Hope in The God of hope – who never leaves or forsakes us.

Hope in The God who is Majestic and Sovereign – who is never caught by surprise and who is not wringing his hands in despair.

Hope in The One who has the power to raise the dead – who will one day judge the small and the great- who will right every wrong.

Hope in The One who is able to use even a donkey (See the Story of Balaam - Numbers 22:22-34),

or a rock (See the story of the wilderness wanderings - Exodus 17:1-6, Nehemiah 9:15), 

a pagan king (Cyrus - 2 Chronicles 36:22-23, Isaiah 44:28),

or a shepherd boy (David - 1 Samuel 17) –

to fulfill HIS purposes.

Hope in The One who keeps all His promises, who never fails, and who is ever-present – 

The One who cannot lie – 

The One who IS the Truth – 

The One who sees, and hears, and cares.

HE is our hope.
Hallelujah!
Even So, come Lord Jesus.

Nehemiah 4:14 “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome…”

Recall the words of this hymn so seldom sung today:

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. 

         On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand;
         all other ground is sinking sand.

When Darkness veils his lovely face, I rest on his unchanging grace.

In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, his covenant, his blood supports me in the whelming flood.

When all around my soul gives way, he then is all my hope and stay.

When he shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found!

Dressed in his righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne!

                                                                                            Text: Edward Mote, 1797-1874

Cause for Rejoicing

Psalm 5 could have been written today. The Psalmist found himself opposed by deceitful, arrogant, lying men bent on destruction, evil-doing and total rebellion against God.  Not a word from their mouth could be trusted.  Yet He found reason for joy and gladness. And his reason was The Lord! He cried out in prayer to Him. He took refuge in Him. He trusted in Him.  And he was glad and sang for joy!

Consider these words from Psalm 5:11-12

“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name be joyful in You.  For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous with favor; You will surround him as with a shield.” (NKJV)

In fact you might want to read all 12 verses of Psalm 5 – maybe in several translations. See what he was up against and his response to the evil around him.

And today - despite governmental corruption, disappointment in recent investigative and judicial decisions, false accusations and rampant rebellion against the Word of God - we have reason to rejoice. And that reason is The Lord! He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) He sees, He hears, He knows. He is the defender of the righteous and the vulnerable. He has already won the victory and no puny decisions of man can interfere with The Sovereign Creator.

So, Christian, rejoice in your GREAT God today!

One Thing

We know that life on this earth is temporary.

We know that our days are numbered.

Intellectually we know this.

But today… today came reminders

                That life changes – ready or not,

                Whether we expect change or not,

                Whether our work is finished or not,

                Whether we’ve made peace with friends and family,

                Or Not.

This morning we learned of the sudden, unexpected death of a friend.

Then this afternoon the street near my home was blocked by police, fire and ambulance vehicles. A wheeled stretcher waited outside the door of a house in our neighborhood. And I wondered – did they know when they woke up this morning that they would be calling 911 today? And today our daughter had a harrowing experience when the wheel of her car came OFF while she was driving. I shudder to think what could have happened had she been driving on the Autobahn at the time.

And so, I stop to think –

What is truly important?

What of significance would remain done, or undone, if today is all I have?

So – to friends and family out there I want you to know that I love you.

Your friendship means the world to me.

Most of all I want to spend eternity with you in the place HE has prepared. 

And making sure of that eternal destiny – that is THE ONE THING you must not leave undone.

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

Do you hear what I hear?

On the day of Pentecost the believers were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak so that those around them heard the message each in their mother tongue. Miraculous for sure! And what was the message that grabbed the attention of the bystanders? It was the declaration of “the wonderful works of God” (See Acts 2:11) or as stated in various English translations:

“The wonders of God,”

“The mighty works of God,”

“The great things God has done,”

 “The magnificent acts of God.”

How different from the usual conversation of our day, especially in today’s climate of mud-slinging, blame casting, accusatory speech.  How much would we impact those around us if our conversation centered on the wonderful works of God?

If someone overhears my speech today what will they hear? I hope they hear a clear, understandable and hope-filled message of the wonders of God.

In the words of hymn writer, Fanny Crosby:

“To God be the glory, great things He has done;

So loved He the world that He gave us His Son,

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the life-gate that all may go in.

                Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,               

                Let the earth hear His voice!
                Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

                Let the people rejoice!

                O come to the Father through Jesus, the Son,

                And give Him the glory,

                Great things He hath done!”

Father God,

Today may I declare Your wonders to those I encounter. Help me to speak words that please You and draw others to You. 

Amen

Doing what comes naturally

God’s commands supersede natural inclinations.  In 1 Kings chapter 17 there is an account from the life of the prophet Elijah. God told Elijah to go into hiding and that He had commanded the Ravens to feed him. And they did! “The Ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread and meat in the evening.” (Verse 6) I have sometimes wondered why the birds didn’t eat the food themselves. That would be their natural behavior. Then I considered that they could not because their Creator commanded them otherwise.

We may sometimes excuse our behavior because we are just doing “what comes naturally” even though it may be hurtful to others or ourselves. But if we want to follow Jesus, desire to please Him, and have positive impact on those in our sphere of influence, His Word will rule over our natural tendencies.  In John 14:15 Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”   Obedience to Him is one way we demonstrate our love for Him.

So today, I choose to NOT do what comes naturally, but rather to live supernaturally and do what pleases Him.  Perhaps I’ll start with this: “Let my mouth be filled with your praise and with your glory all the day.” Psalm 71:8

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer.”  Psalm 19:14

Staying Positive in Negative Times

“Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain thing?”  Psalm 2:1

It’s hard to stay positive in today’s politically charged climate where accusations and generalizations are flung in every direction at everyone.  Claims are made and charges leveled against just about anything. It’s hard to see any humor in this. Right is wrong and wrong is wrong – it’s all just wrong! Snide comments on social media, blatant hateful remarks, and absurd illogical conclusions find us looking at each other with suspicion and dislike, wondering “what in the world is wrong with you?” 

We stand on shifting sand, among overturned values in a society run amok and we wonder why we feel off-balance! It’s enough to make you sick in your stomach, fearful, and even despairing.

But then – as if seeing a lifeline atop the turbulent waves, we remember who is REALLY in charge, and IT'S NOT US! It’s HIM.  Try listening to some good praise music today.  Put on your favorites or if you can't think of any, here are some suggestions. Go to YouTube and find these:

“God will make a Way”, by Don Moen

“Press ON” or “Wonderful Merciful Savior,” sung by the group Selah, who reminds us that “He offers hope when our hearts have hopelessly lost our way.”   

“We’ve Come This Far by Faith”

“It is Finished” or “Let Freedom Ring,” by the Gaither Vocal Band who also reminds us that “Because He Lives” we can face uncertain days without fear.

And, of course, there are always the great hymns like "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," and "Amazing Grace" or "It is Well with My Soul." Remember those?

Oh, and more importantly, perhaps a change in reading material is in order!  Take a break from social media and get into THE BOOK.   What encouragement did you find there today?  I’ll get you started. Feel free to add your own verses in the comments. Maybe you can encourage someone else today.

“Then Job answered the Lord and said, ‘I know that Thou canst do all things, and that no purpose of Thine can be thwarted.’” Job 42:1

“As for God, His way is blameless; the word of the Lord is tried; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.” Psalm 18:30

“Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you, Nor will I ever forsake you,’ so that we confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid, what shall man do to me?’” Hebrews 13:5-6

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

Blessings, 

Ruth

Strength for Today

1 Samuel 30:6 “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”

Strength for each day comes only from the Lord. No pill, smoothie, supplement, exercise, self-help book or guru gives strength, encouragement and fortitude in the face of anguish and distress.

1 Samuel chapter 30 finds David in grave danger of being stoned to death by the very men whom he led! He was in “much distress” and grief. His wives, along with the wives and children of his men, had been captured by a raiding party and carted off by their captors while David and his men were away in battle.  Now David’s men were threatening to kill him. His own men whom he provided for, sheltered and had led in numerous victories, turned on him at a time when he also needed comfort. 

His response?

• He “strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” Verse 6 
• Then he inquired of the Lord as to what he should do. Verse 8
• He did what the Lord showed him. Verse 9
•  And he gave glory to God for victory. Verse 23

What can I learn from this?

No matter the grief or trial,

                I have no need to fear

For God, my strength and fortress,

                Has promised He will hear.

If I will call on Him in prayer,

                He’ll show me what to do.

When in obedience, I trust Him,

                His strength will get me through.

Then I will give Him all the glory,

                Give Him all the praise.

For He, in mercy and great love,

                Has seen me through tough days.

How about you? Where do you find strength for each day?

“Discouragement turns to encouragement when we look away from our circumstances and focus our eyes upon the Lord.” (Mildred Stamm, Meditation Moments)

Remember when...

I’ve been skipping down memory lane these past few days.  It’s funny how much we forget in the busy dailyness of living but, when once reminded, we are transported back to “remember when?”

And so, this Mothers’ Day, I challenge you to remember when …

You were hurting and she kissed it to make it better.

You were sick and she fed you chicken soup and ginger ale.

You had nightmares and she got up in the middle of the night and prayed with you, then stayed with you until you fell back asleep.

She made you breakfast in the mornings, packed your lunch for school, and insisted on family suppers at 5:30.

She was there to help you with your homework.

She went to your school programs and cheered you on in your endeavors.

She got up early to put turkey in the oven for Thanksgiving dinner, and stayed up late on Christmas Eve wrapping presents to put under the tree.

She taught you right from wrong and corrected you when you needed it.

She taught you to say “please” and “thank you.”

She talked to God about you - and to you about God.

And when it was time to let you go, she did – to school, to work, to a home of your own, to another state and to another country.

She visited you and she loved the ones you loved.

And she did it all without complaining – because she loved you.

Remember when?

Thanks, Mom, for all you did with me and for me.  I miss you and I thank God for you. 

Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:

“Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”

Proverbs 31:28-29