God’s Wide Open Door

When I lived in Tulsa, I held a weekly Life Group in my home. I’ll never forget the night when one of the gals told us that her job was being discontinued and she was very concerned about her future. While we were encouraging and reminding her of God's faithfulness, I remarked “This situation is no surprise to Him. So trust Him that as one door closes, another door will open." At the same moment I was speaking to her about the open door, the front door of my home gently opened with only the sunlight coming in. (See below photo!) We chose to believe that in our conversation about HIM, we heard His voice, and invited HIM into the door of our hearts.....and, indeed, HE came in to confirm that what we were speaking in faith....was true!

Yes, we got goosebumps and were in awe. Some would say "That was just a coincidence. The door wasn't closed tightly when the last lady came in." But, we said what God's Word says, "As your faith is, so be it unto you." In a matter of days, an open door for a new job appeared for this young woman. Yes, she had to do some “knocking” on doors for that new job, but soon the door opened.

Have you ever felt like you were knocking on God’s door and it just seemed nobody’s home? You know He’s in there. You have His blessed assurance that He is there. You continue to pound away at the door – pleading, begging, seeking, knocking, but the door just doesn’t open.

We've all felt that way. Here we are at the Christmas season when we'd love to give to our family and others but there's just so little or nothing at all to be a giver. You may be looking for a job or a better job. You know how thrilling it is for children at Christmas, which makes you desire to conceive and have a baby even more. You may be suffering from a tormenting illness and the thought of Christmas makes you say "humbug" because you so desire to be freed to embrace the joys of this season. Maybe you just want to experience joy again and truly be able to sing "Joy to the World" with fervor. It’s in these times that our loving Father, on the other side of the door, gently whispers to us “Be still and know that I am God. Be still and listen.” All we can see is the closed door, but God is working all things for our good on the other side of the door. He’s repositioning circumstances and people for an answer to our prayers (our knocking). Very soon that door will swing wide open and He will do a quick work. In the meantime, He’s getting things in order for us.

Are your knuckles red from pounding on heaven’s door? Are you discouraged because no matter how hard you pray, all that you see is a door that’s got a deadbolt on it? I have such good news for you! Remember Jesus walking through the walls to the disciples? He doesn’t even need a door to show up for you. Stop and listen. Be still in His presence and let Him assure you that He is working behind the scenes to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine!” (Ephesians 3:20)

Be encouraged by Matthew 7:7 "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

Why Are We Poor Little Lambs Who Have Lost Our Way?

Remember singing "We're poor little lambs who have lost our way. Baa, baa, baa"? That little song represents many of us who wander off from their shepherd.
The cartoon here is funny but, the message is clear and VERY real to our lives. Jesus said, "My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" John 10:27. Wonder if He had in mind how difficult "listening for His voice" would be in 2017, and especially at this time of the year? More than ever, we really need to hear His voice. We need His wisdom, comfort, guidance, peace, and direction. Of course, we long to hear His voice, but in the busy-ness, the clamor and the many activities and distractions of everyday life, we may often, be hard-pressed to find that quiet PLACE to hear the voice of our Shepherd. Even when we manage to find that place, "noise" -- our cell phones, emails (so many advertisements that beckon us to call now, buy now, order now), radios, computers, TV, etc. -- keep us distracted from hearing our Shepherd's voice.

It's time to find that place where His voice comes through loud and clear to us. He has that place -- and we can find it, but it's up to us, to disregard the distractions to "Be still -- to hear and know our God." I'm not referring to a far off island in the middle of no-where. It's possible to find that place, if only for a few minutes in our day, to "Come away with Him"!

What if everything we're needing -- the decisions we need to make, what job we should take; what school our kids should go to; what diet or fitness routine we should be on; what part of town we should live in, etc. All of these answers, and more, are found and answered by our Shepherd. If "The Lord is my Shepherd, He promised, I would never want." so maybe we need to "tune-in" to our Shepherd, and "tune-out" what's NOT!

Before the little shepherd boy David became King David, he wrote Psalm 23. He was where there were no distractions, other than the lion and the bear, but because he had been in the quiet green pastures with HIS Shepherd, he could take on the distractions with a fervor and defeat them. What if we hung out in the "green pastures" of our Good Shepherd? If we did, the distractions and the opposing forces that come to defeat us, would be silenced and rendered "null and void". We would sing with David "The Lord is MY Shepherd. There is NOTHING that I want."

Shhh. It's Okay. Mommy's Here.

"As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you... "Isaiah 66:13

Isn't it so heart-warming to witness a young child being comforted by his mother? More than any pain that needed to be taken away, he needed his Mama's TLC.

There's a great lesson to be learned from the way of a mother with a young child who needs comforting. Many times the child isn't just whimpering either. Often they're wailing! The mother’s response is not casual or indifferent, but one that is instant and intense. Love moves her to action, not with explanations or reasoning, but with everything in her power to quiet, to comfort, and to reassure. And, the arms of the mother’s embrace speak louder than any words the child could hear in that moment of fear or discomfort.

The mother’s voice is also soothing and quieting, “Shh, it’s okay…Mommy’s here. It’s okay.” These words are all the child needs to hear and know. Her gentle words bring the assurance that helps the child to believe, “I can stop crying. I can begin to quiet myself because Mommy is here and I am in her arms.”

The words spoken by God in Isaiah 66:13 "Be still, and know that I am God…" are words like those of a caring mother for her child. The language is simple, the words are few, the impact is instant, the result is profound. WE are God's children and His words tell us all we need to know to settle us, still our fears, quiet our hearts, and reassure us when we hear, “Be still, calm down, release all your concerns, quiet your heart, it’s okay, I am here and you are safe in the shelter of My arms."

"Knock Knock" But Noone's Saying "Who's There?"

Have you ever felt like you were knock, knock, knocking on God’s door and it just seemed nobody’s home? You know He’s in there. You have His blessed assurance that He is there. We continue to pound away at the door – pleading, begging, seeking, knocking, but the door just doesn’t open.

We've all felt that way. We're looking for a better job, maybe we so want to conceive and have a baby, we need healing from a tormenting illness, we need a financial breakthrough, we just want to experience joy again. It’s in these times that our loving Father, on the other side of the door, gently whispers to us “Shhh! Be still and know that I am God. Be still and listen.”

All we can see is the closed door, but God is working all things for our good on the other side of the door. He’s repositioning people and circumstances for an answer to our prayers (our knocking). Very soon that door will swing wide open and He will do a quick work. In the meantime, He’s getting things in order for us.

Here’s how that played out in our lives. We were in a difficult financial season. It seemed that every effort we made for increase…..only sent us further “in the red”. We were doing all the right things: praying, believing, giving, sharing, and caring for others. It looked like we should have been prospering financially on every level. But the more we knocked on the doors (God’s door and business doors), the more we were turned away. Our daughter posted sticky notes and signs all over our house -- on the refrigerator door, mirrors.....everywhere....that said "Expect a miracle". After months of "knocking", a creative idea hit my husband’s mind. He met with a businessman and that one meeting, SUDDENLY changed everything for us. That one conversation literally opened doors to a financial comeback like never before.

God was always on the other side of the door setting things in motion for the doors to open BIG TIME for us. And He did. When the door opened, so many things were set in place and He did a quick work -- quicker than any we could imagine.

Are your knuckles red from pounding on heaven’s door? Are you discouraged because no matter how hard you pray all that you see is a door that’s got a deadbolt on it? I have such good news for you! Remember, Jesus walking through the walls to the disciples? He doesn’t even need a door to show up for you. Stop and listen. Be still in His presence and let Him assure you that He is working behind the scenes to do “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine!” (Ephesians 3:20)

Be encouraged by Matthew 7:7 "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.”

When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Day 114 of Photo Inspirations -- When Irish Eyes Are Smiling
Today we made journeys across country by ship, by train, by taxi and a lot of walking, and it was beyond spectacular.

Two months ago I never gave a second thought to being in Ireland on April 25th, 2015, and then I found a pot of blessings when friends asked if I'd like to take a journey to Europe with them.

Today we took our time to make a journey through diverse surroundings -- hills and valleys, cobblestone streets, up through tiny passage ways in Blarney Castle, through splendid gardens and lush landscaping.

We walked through mystical and magical places.  From the top of Blarney Castle, which for over 200 years has been the place where millions of pilgrims climb the steps to kiss the Blarney Stone and receive the gift of eloquence (aka gift of gab).  I was told that since I was already gifted in that area -- it was unncessary for me to kiss the stone (LOL).

After this adventure and then to the wool mills where gorgeous sweaters were made, we made way to a traditional pub, O'Clancey's, for yummy fish and chips,  

It's in the 50s year round here -- and it rains a lot!  We only experienced a little rain -- most of the day was warm sunshine.

But, as in previous travels of my Sweetheart and I, we carried on our tradition of visiting beautiful cathedrals and churches in the cities we visited today.  There is something about walking into the sacred places of worship that draws us to the reason for it all.

I loved stopping in the midst of all the wonders outdoors, to give thanksgiving for He Who created this wonderful world we live in.  And, what He creates.....He decorates.....and what He decorates....He gives us every reason in the world to celebrate -- "to be still and KNOW He is God" Almighty!

How can I express enough appreciation for He Who opened this amazing door of opportunity to me to experience His grandeur and splendor.