And Oh So Much More

I don't know about you, but I've stepped into 2013 with fear and trepidation. And although I know I should not be worried, I am. God knew I would be from time to time. He's told me in His Word. He also promised to be my stay, strong tower, refuge, comfort, peace, presence, and oh so much more.

The world we face spirals downward. The depravity of man surrounds us. We could be consumed, yet God is our all-in-all, ever-present help, shepherd, guide, light, and oh so much more.

Today as I write, this Scripture comforts...

...do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ... And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field ... will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not be anxious ... your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow wil be anxious for itself. Matthew 6:25-34 ESV

We face troubled times, ruled by ones who do not honor God. Still, Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. This sovereign, benevolent Ruler will care for our needs. He's promised.

May I, instead of facing tomorrow with fear, seek first God's Kingdom~casting away all that is worrisome. For then I will focus on God Who is my provider, joy, hope, best friend, anchor, and oh so much more.

Jesus Shall Reign

Photo by Dave Bothwell

The past two weeks I've fought writing. Although my head-knowledge shouts God is in control, my heart-knowledge blocks that truth. This trips me, and I wallow in discouragement. I cry.

No, there's nothing wrong with crying. Sometimes it's a great release and also appropriate. I grieve for our nation and uncertainty "we the people" face, I weep for Israel ~ the apple of God's Eye and my sister's adopted homeland. I wonder and, yes, (hate to admit) worry about our son's future when evaluations are less than "flattering." I doubt when my husband's health declines even more ~ all this comsuming me.

Yet my failure to cling doesn't alter the Almighty's sovereignty. It is I who falls short on a morning-by-morning basis. I must cling to the Hope Rope extended from Jesus' nail-scarred Hands to mine. As discouraged as I was with all the above mentioned, I woke up the day before elections with a hymn on my heart and have made this my Thanksgiving praise...

JESUS SHALL REIGN

By Issac Watts

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does his successive journeys run;

His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore, till suns shall rise and set no more.

To Jesus endless prayer be made, and praises throng to crown His Head;

His Name like sweet perfume shall rise with every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue dwell on His Love with sweetest song;

And infant voices shall proclaim their young Hosannas to His Name.

Blessings abound where'er He reigns; the prisoner leaps to lose his chains;

the weary find eternal rest, and all the sons of want are blessed.

Where He displays His healing power death and the curse are known no more;

In Him the tribes of Adam boast more blessings than their father lost.

Let every creature rise and bring its grateful honors to our King'

Angels descend with songs again, and earth prolong the loud amen!

Great God, Whose universal sway the known and unknown worlds obey,

Now give the Kingdom to Thy Son, extend His power, exalt His Throne.

The scepter well becomes His Hands; all Heaven submits to His Commands;

His justice shall avenge the poor, and pride and rage prevail no more.

With power He vindicates the just, and treads the oppressor in the dust;

His worship and His fear shall last till the full course of time be past.

As rain on meadows newly mown, so shall He send His Influence down;

His Grace on fainting souls distills like heavenly dw on thirsty hills.

The heathen lands, that lie beneath the shades of overspreading death,

Revive at His first dawning light; and deserts blossom at the sight.

The saints shall flourish in His days, decked in the robes of joy and praise;

Peace, like a river, from His Throne shall flow to nations yet unknown.

Follow The Leader

Photo by Laura Kee Clouse

Does the tot in the photo want to catch up with the pumpkins or with his dad? He may relish the prizes they picked from the patch that day, but ultimately he needs his daddy ~ the leader, the one who helped find these big round orange wonders that now have faces carved in them.

I've been thinking a lot these pre-election days. Who will we chose to follow the next four years? What do I look for in a leader? Here are some thoughts:

~ I want a leader who is honest, no matter how bad the news. I can trust someone who doesn't lie. If a person deceives once, he may again. Being able to trust is vital.

~ I need a leader who knows what he's talking about, has proven it, and doesn't give empty promises (which are no better than lies).

~ I desire a leader of good moral character. What is in one's heart reflects through his life and actions, and one's faith guides how he does both. Some say character and faith don't matter, but what seed is rooted in the heart always grows either into a good plant or terrible weed.

This election like no other in our nation's history will decide our fate ~ whether we will journey down a deteriorating path or hope for another period of grace on this God-founded country. Who will I chose?

Photo by Stephen Brower

Ultimately, I'll follow Truth ~ no matter what happens at the polls. Our sovereign God is over all. I pray He grants us favor and once again "sheds His grace on thee," America. No matter what the voting outcome, I have a Leader I can follow, One who will lead me to the heavenly prize and hold my hand the whole way.

"Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD; look unto the Rock whence ye are hewn..." 
Isaiah 51:1

Sunflowers

Photo by Joanna Sensenig

I'm a city girl who grew up in a "brown thumb" family. Oh, Mom and Dad occasionally grew tomatoes in a tiny patch of earth. These endeavors generally yielded little to nothing. I, too, have tried from time to time raising a garden. Sadly, I inherited my parents' gardening gene. Yet I'm still fascinated with all God's given to enjoy in His creation ~ one of these being sunflowers.

Not until a few years ago, while researching a story idea, did I realize the wonder of these giants. I had assumed one planted them to face the direction where they'd receive the most admiration from passers by. Silly city girl! Instead, the magnificent flowers follow the sun east to west all day long every day. That amazed me. They don't stand at attention to me or anyone else, instead, totally yielding to the Creator's sun as if their life depends on this. And, indeed, it does.

If I focus on the things and people about me and fail to keep my eyes on Jesus, I become down-trodden and discouraged. Surely this life yields its share of difficulties. But if I fix my eyes on my Savior, Who is always there and never fails, my hope is renewed ~ just like the sunflower that gathers it's nutrients from following the sun.

Used with Christian Charisma's permission

"Looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:2) The One Who died and rose again is the same One on Whom I can depend no matter what. If I take my eyes off the Lord, I sink just like the disciple Peter, when Jesus bid him to walk on the water. As long as Peter focused on His Savior, he continued toward Jesus. But when the disciple looked down at the fearful waves about him, he began sinking. (I'm so like this.)

My prayer for you is that you'll look to Jesus ~ not just when times distress and waves toss you about ~ but that your face will always follow the Son. Then when the travails of life hit, you will still draw life-giving Hope from the Savior.

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.

(Public Domain ~ Helen H. Lemmel ~ 1922)

Helen Keller ~ Giver Of Hope

Helen Keller & Anne Sullivan

Last week I attempted to eliminate some children's books from my collection. A few tattered paperbacks minus covers and pages certainly didn't add beauty to the shelves. I pulled those first, deciding to read them before discarding. One particularly dilapidated early Scholastic edition was about Helen Keller. Although I knew much about Miss Keller, she being a prominent inspiring individual, I learned more.

Helen's indomitable will fought against her as a young girl trapped in a silent, dark world. Yet that same spirit worked on her behalf, once Anne Sullivan entered six-year-old Helen's life. Helen's parents pitied her and didn't think her capable of living civilly in a hearing/seeing world. They left her untrained. Then Anne Sullivan arrived. "Teacher," as Helen dubbed her, expected much more and practiced tough-love with this child. Once Helen's strong will yielded to Teacher's demands, the young girl soared.

By the time Miss Sullivan had been with the Kellers four months, she taught Helen to finger spell (manual alphabet), form sentences, write on paper in an understandable fashion, read and type braille ~ all this from a child not thought capable of learning. Within the next few years, Helen (who didn't want to be "dumb") learned to speak understandably enough to ones who knew her.

Helen at Radcliffe

Helen determined to attend Radcliffe (Harvard's women's division). They didn't initially want her. Minds changed, however, when Helen wrote to them saying, "I realize that the obstacles in the way of my receiving a college education are very great. But a true soldier does not admit defeat before the battle." She was accepted (with Teacher at her side), wrote The Story Of My Life during those years, and graduated with honors.

Once graduated, this young woman desired to earn her way in life. She did so by writing, touring the lecture circuit, and "performing" in Vaudeville (harshly criticized but wanting to earn enough to sponsor Anne Sullivan for life, in gratitude for what Teacher had done for her).

Helen wanted to offer the world what Anne Sullivan had given her ~ hope. She promised Teacher she'd do just that. When World War II ended, Helen and new companion Polly went to hospitals to encourage soldiers and citizens blinded in battle and air raids. She advocated for the sightless worldwide, raising funds and petitioning for better disability laws.

Helen "listening" to President Eisenhower

Helen Keller, known and respected by countless thousands, held audience with royalty, celebrities, and Presidents. She learned to understand those who could not communicate with her by reading their lips. What a remarkable individual!

In closing, I share with you several quotes from the woman who "spoke" well: "I never fight, except against difficulties ... I seldom think about my limitations, and they never make me sad. Perhaps there is just a thought of yearning at times, but it is vague, like a breeze among flowers ... I long to accomplish a great and noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble ... Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another's pain, life is not in vain." ~ Helen Keller

(Photos ~ Public Domain)

Solid Ground ~ Part 3

Photo by Liz Marr

Our hope is based on solid ground whether talking about life, faith, or politics. Storms will come in all areas of life, but what's founded on rock holds. Remember the example in Part 1 where a foolish man's house built on sand cannot withstand the tiniest wave, like my childhood sand castles? But the wise man who builds his house on a solid foundation stands much greater rate of survival.

Over the years, many churches have weakened their message in hopes of bringing in greater numbers, diverse age groups, or a trendier crowd. The very people searching for a firm foundation cannot find it. They may become believers, but they're not grounded in Biblical teaching. So how can they grow strong and stand when trials hit? Bible doctrines, God's principles for living, are essential for us to grow and stand firm in the Lord Jesus Christ.

What does this have to do with politics? Same principle holds true. About 100 years ago in our nation's history, men who ruled strayed from our founding father's intent, putting into play a whole new philosophy to weaken our republic. Although we've had a few presidents since who've tried to rescue us and place us back on freedom's trail, the ones who've undone have succeeded in weakening our nation. None has done so as drastically as our present leader.

Our founding fathers birthed us a country with a strong Constitution. These men didn't haphazardly throw together what they like for convenience or self-aggrandizement. Quite the opposite, despite what modern-day textbooks may tell us. They sacrificed much ~ they and their families, knowing full well it might cost them the ultimate price. And the key? They based their beliefs on God, Lord and Creator of the very ground on which they stood.

To uproot a nation built on such principles and plant it on sandy soil of feel-goodism, lies, and anti-God rhetoric is to doom what blood bought and paid for ~ not only military blood but Jesus' as well. For our founding fathers reverenced the Almighty and understood the importance of centering our government on Him.

The farther a people stray from our Solid Rock, the closer they come to destruction ~ whether we're speaking of their personal lives, their faith, or their political choices for governing us all. Now more than ever it's essential we understand our future lies in the balance. Will we chose solid foundation or crumbling sand? This individual choice will affect us all, come election day. May we look to the Lord for His discernment in every decision.

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

When darkness seems to hide His 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 support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand...all other ground is sinking sand.
(Edward Mote ~ 1836)

Solid Ground ~ Part 2

Firm foundations are essential. I'm convinced we can only survive if we are anchored in solid ground. As I reflected on the subject of hope, I realized this is key.

Back to doctrine (mentioned in part 1) ~ Foundations of our faith based on God's Word, the Bible, serve as building blocks for everything else in our lives. If we trust Jesus as Savior, Who Himself is the Rock and Cornerstone, then we've taken the first step toward building that foundation. But is that enough?

Yes, it's enough to seal our salvation from sin and destination to Heaven ~ also our escape from hell. No, we should not stop once sealed by the Holy Spirit even though our salvation is complete. We need to grow ~ become anchored. That's why God instructs us to learn more of Him through His Word. By reading and memorizing the Bible, we grow in our relationship with Him and remain on solid ground. God speaks truth. Truth is hope's foundation.

All through history false teachers have risen up and attempted to convince people there are other foundations. But all these, based on false gods, have failed. Like building a house on sand. The only one Who has stood the test of time is the Trinity ~ God the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Why? Go back to the cross. Jesus, God the Son, not only took our sin on Himself and shed blood for our forgiveness but rose again and lives. Had He not risen again, would He be any different from the others? His grave is empty. Truth lives. Hope lives.

My faith is not only founded on solid doctrines/teachings/ground, but I can say without a doubt I serve and love the Living God. You may ask what that has to do with hope, truth, and doctrine. My answer? Everything. By learning God's Character through time spent in His Word, I realize one of God's attributes is that He Is Truth ~ thus He Is Hope. If I don't learn more of Him, I could easily waver when other "gods" try to sway me.

So learning about God's attributes and growing in Him is essential for my life, faith, and how I carry out my civic duty. Some will argue that character, morals, and wishy-washy beliefs do not affect who we are as a people, body of Christ, and nation. I disagree...