I Was Held Up

Fellow BCM missionaries at our regional retreat~Photo by Rick Franklin

We've just returned from our BCM Southeast Regional Missionary Retreat. The gang wasn't great in number this time, but~boy~were they ever big on encouragement! We left refreshed, knowing our fellow missionaries would be praying for us...and we for them.

Each one of these dear ones has known hard times and realizes the importance of comforting others who struggle. Sometimes when you serve God full-time, it's like tiring in battle.

May I share the Biblical account of Moses holding up his arms while the Israelites battled against the enemy (in Exodus 17)? As long as Moses' arms stayed up, the Israelites prevailed. But when his arms wearied and dropped, the enemy prevailed. So Aaron and Hur held up Moses' arms until the battle was over and God's people were victorious. Had it not been for Aaron and Hur, Moses couldn't have endured till the end.

There have been many a time had God not send encouragers to "hold up our arms in the battle," Brian and I would have been overcome. Others at this retreat testified the same. And we all pledged to "hold up each other's arms" when absent from one another~through prayer.

Do you have people like this in your life? If so, you're abundantly blessed. Do you know someone who needs their "arms held up" until their struggle passes? Can you be that one? Especially if you've been on the receiving end of encouragement, you well know how it lifted your spirit to continue on. If you need an encourager now and feel you don't have one, let me know. I'd be so glad to hold you up in prayer.

But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. Exodus 17:12

Promises~Promises

Sunrise in Jenkins, Kentucky ~ Photo by Cindy Fleming

Imagine we're swaying gently on my front porch swing, savoring this sunrise between sips of hot coffee. Our Creator sweeps His brush across the skies, giving glimpses of His majesty and reminding us of His promises ~ like those found in Lamentations 3: 22-24...

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.

'The LORD is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.'"

Do you wonder if God ever stops loving you? ~ His steadfast love never ceases.
Is there doubt He can forgive when you've messed up for the umpteenth time? ~ His mercies never come to an end.
How can you know this? ~ Great is His faithfulness.
Is this God of promise enough to fill the empty in your soul? ~ The Lord is your portion~"full plate."
Am I sure? ~ He cannot fail. (It's not in His Character.)

One of my favorite hymns is Great Is Thy Faithfulness. Although I cannot post the words due to copyright laws, here is a link for you to listen on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0k1WhFtVp0o  

May God's promises and this song's powerful words (right from the Bible) guide you to the One Who is able to restore your hope. Have a blessed day!

Redbud Reminder

Photo by Gracie Walters Maggard

While most welcome spring's new life, I think of weeds and mowing ~ beauty vs. fight-for-life. Lawns and gardens require perpetual care lest they be choked and destroyed.

Appalachian winters tend to grow depression. Narrow hollers weave between towering brown mountains with few hours of direct sunlight. Yet every spring redbud whispers hope of what's coming, bringing smiles to mountain folk who know the new season's promise.

Photo by Dawn Marie Pennell

If you wrestle with the negative, you're not alone. I, too, need "redbud-reminders." Here are some suggestions that may help:

Plant: Pray, asking God to grow in your life.

Water: The Bible is a good place to stay "watered." Fellowship with God's people in small group or church is also a plus.

Weed: Seek God's help when sin, pain, hurt, and grief overwhelm. The enemy wants to steal your joy. Don't let him. Weed away! The Lord, your Creator and Care-giver, delights in being there for you.

Enjoy: Praise the Lord for Who He is, all He's made, and what He will accomplish. You'll find pain, hurt, and grief yield a beautiful planting.

History's Most Horrible & Wonderful Event

Holy Week ~ a time to reflect and remember the final events Jesus, God the Son, endured leading to His crucifixion. Why did this have to happen?

In the beginning Adam and Eve sinned, so God had to put into place forgiveness of sin (He doesn't want anyone to perish). Our all-knowing God foresaw this before He laid the world's foundation. He knew a perfect blood sacrifice was needed.

The problem with shedding animal blood? It didn't last. Even though it covered sin in Old Testament times, an animal ~ once slaughtered ~ was dead. The end. So these sacrifices had to be repeated as instructed by Old Testament laws.

Then came Jesus ~ the Blood-part of God. Since God is Spirit, He cannot shed blood, yet He provided The Way through sending His Holy Spirit to conceive a child through Mary. Jesus ~ God-with-blood ~ Perfect, Spotless, Sinless Sacrifice ~ His primary reason for putting on skin and walking on this earth.

The difference between animals being shed and Jesus (God) dying and shedding His blood was what followed the crucifixion. Life! Three days after that horrible event (remembered on Good Friday) comes Resurrection Sunday (Easter)! The Perfect Sacrifice given for all came to life again ~ the most wonderful event! Only God could do that.

In His infinite wisdom, God prepared the Way for us to be forgiven today. No longer do we shed blood of animals because Jesus' Blood paid the price, receipted, and sealed our salvation by the Resurrection ~ our Reason for Hope.

Thank You, Lord God, for providing the forgiveness of sin through Jesus' death and resurrection. I know when I asked You into my life, you forgave me. Sealed me. And even now, when I stumble and do wrong, you are still my Abba Father Who lets me come to you, accepts my apology, and still claims me as Your own. What an awesome Love! Thank you for this time of remembering, reflecting on the wonderful terrible event that You endured, and celebrating Hope! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Jesus said ... "I AM the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die ..." John 11:25,26 ESV