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

Eating Elephant

Maybe you're not into eating elephant. That's okay, although if you are, I've heard you can purchase pre-packaged elephant ear in some U.S. grocery stores. But eat a whole elephant? Not impossible, although looking at the creature may seem so.

Of late we've been bombarded with numerous challenges and decisions. When this happens, I want to throw my hands up and quit. Just then hubby asks, "How do you eat an elephant?" And I grudgingly reply, "One bite at a time."

Many of life's issues overwhelm. If you are "facing an elephant," try "taking one bite at a time"~one day at a time. Are you steeped in grief and cannot make it through a whole day? Then try one step at a time. And if you're totally spent, how 'bout a moment at a time?

My life's verses are Proverbs 3:5,6~"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all they ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." I learned this Scripture in the King James Version (KJV) as a child and still remember it best this way.

Although I like some newer translations, I disagree with those that read "...and He will make your paths straight." God never promised an easy journey. He does promise, however, to take the journey with us. If you've asked Jesus Christ to be your Savior and Lord, you do not travel even on the roughest, most crooked paths alone. What comfort to know He has gone this route! We can trust Someone Who already knows the way.

So the next time you face something that seems too large, remember that "elephant in the room." And mind your manners! One bite at a time.

"Who loves you best?"

Photo by Laura Kee Clouse

Every morning we read some sort of devotion to start the school day. These are short and on the age level of our child at that time. 

When our youngest was in elementary school, we usually read a short biblical account, followed by questions. Sometimes our learning disabled son could answer, sometimes not.

One particular day I wanted to help him get the correct answer ~ boost his morale. Question: "Who loves you best?"

He guessed ~ his mom, dad, brothers, Grandma. 

I tried again~simplifying my question. Still no correct answer. Then I said, "I'll give you a clue. This is how you spell the answer: G-O-D."

Our very good speller's eyes lit as he clapped his hands together and exclaimed, "The dog!"

We had a good laugh over that one. And, although the dog did love him very much, that wasn't what I was going for either. Yet several times since I've thought about our son's connection to animals~man's best friend in particular~and seen correlations between the dog and God.

Please do not throw your computer and scream, "Heretic!" I mean no disrespect to God, as I revere Him above all. But think about it. On an earthly scale, aren't dogs great examples of unconditional love? Parents or friends can be, but they aren't always. Yet the family dog will greet you like you're royalty every time you enter your home, lick you and show affection even when you've wronged it, and remains loyal and true.

Photo by Laura Kee Clouse

God's love is unconditional. I cannot compare His amount of love with anything on this earth~only use one of His creations as a mini-example. Our dog, however, didn't lay down her life and die for us. (Who would? Military? Parents? Given that choice.) Only Jesus, God The Son, did that and then rose again~proving He is our Living God.

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God ...

1 John 3:1 

God loves so much He's made a way for us to be with Him for eternity. You can click on one of the tabs near the top of this blog to learn more about that. If you're not His child, you can become His today. If you are His yet have erred, He hasn't stopped being your Father or ceased loving you. 

So, who loves you best? I'll give you a clue. This is how you spell the answer: G-O-D!

Storm-takers & Hope-givers

Tornadoes ravaged our part of the country 11 days ago. Although numerous twisters touching down here, most damage occurred on the Ohio River's western side. Marysville, Indiana no longer exists, and most of neighboring Henryville lies in ruins. One of our church families lost their home this side of the river.

Government arrived on day 4 to assess damage. It deemed Henryville hadn't sustained enough damage to qualify for help, "only" having 300 homes in shambles, not the 400 or more required.

Community began clean-up as soon as the storm passed. And one standing church in Henryville served meals and provided needs~not days later, but immediately. One report told of a man going to his truck to get some sleep and finding food and blankets placed there by people who just did what needed to be done.

So it was with our church family's home and property. Pastor, other family & friends, folks from the community, and 4 other churches showed up to help. Mark, the husband, relayed, "They were like a human vacuum, cleaning so much so fast, I couldn't believe my eyes." The ones who gathered that day came to restore hope to this devastated family. Pastor said the helpers were equally blessed by one another.

Houses and material possessions are gone, but those hit by these storms haven't lost hope, and neither have those who've stepped in where government hasn't. We need each other.

Our Army National Guard son called, telling us of storm-torn counties in Eastern Kentucky~one town  nearly gone and another calling in the guard for road-clearing. State funds were not available to do more. Yet, newspaper articles report people didn't head to shelters or to the Red Cross for help. Family and friends took them in. That's what mountain folk do~and do it so well.

Storms take away (weather-related and life ones both) ... yet God gives hope, and so do those who share Him with their community. Thank you, hope-givers! You're an amazing blessing!