“Do Not Fear” Seems to be a Theme Here

Those three words “Do not fear” pack a punch, don’t they? While I stay on the bandwagon about living by trust and faith, the fact is I am not so Pollyanna-ish that I am unaware of the fears we all face: taking care of bills, repairs, health concerns, pain and struggling relationships, etc.. And, I'm very cognizant of the seriousness of those who are at the end of their rope in coping with fear. It is no laughing and quick-fix matter.

So where do we start when worry, fear and concern dominate our lives? Can we live above our fears? Or at least quiet their gnarly voices? I really feel this season puts the answers for us in neon, flashing lights. By this season I don’t mean the "Christmas carols playing, Santa ho-ho-hoing, colored lights and sentimental old Christmas movies." I mean how Christmas can point us to deeper sources of hope, courage and fearlessness.

Those of us in the Christian tradition believe that this time of year presents us with the answers we need that can change the whole picture. No wonder the angels announce to the main characters in this drama, “Do not be afraid.” Mary hears it. Joseph hears it. The shepherds, scared witless by all the radiance in the sky, hear it from a chorus of angels. No wonder “Don’t be afraid” appears in the Bible more than 100 times.

It sure sounds like God delights in turning around “fearing times into holy, providential moments" of His presence and His promises to keep us in spite of times of fear.

But God. The ONE and ONLY -- the same God Who told Mary, Joseph and the shepherds to not be afraid, is still telling us "Do not be afraid." The "Do Not Fear" words don’t sound like a suggestion to me. Why does God COMMAND us not to be afraid when every day there are situations that occur and it seems impossible NOT to fear?

Throughout the Bible we learn that our Lord is a Lord of miracles and we are not to fear or have a lack of trust, because all of it, even the tough times, even in the uncertainty of the 21st century (or the 1st century) God’s plan is greater than our fears. So whether in this season, or the days to come, let’s remember that the perfect love of God casts out fear. The message of the Angel of the Lord is for every day - not just Christmas… “Fear not, for I bring you tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people. For unto you is born this day … a SAVIOR which is Christ the LORD! (Luke 2:9-11) Picture the God of the universe handing you his Son, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Hear him say, "Don't be afraid of anything….ever. I give you joy. I give you peace. I give you comfort. I give you hope. I give you good news of great joy! I give you peace that passes understanding. I give the the perfect love that casts out all fear. I give you JESUS!

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.” Psalm 41:1-2

Be Fearless

Fearless in these days and times? Get real, girl! Who can be fearless when from the smallest fear (like a snake in a flowerbed -- that was me yesterday) to my friend's upcoming major surgery or another friend's livelihood being challenged after a hard fall that fractured some bones? I get it. There are plenty of reasons to be in fear about what tomorrow holds. But God has solutions for us to squash those fears. We can be fearless. It's not a suggestion from God -- it's an actual command! Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God..." God Almighty is our back-up and our back-up plan for being FEAR-less.

Clearly, God's solution for annihilating fear is Himself. He shows us how to be fearless. It is by trusting in His sovereignty and power which keeps us in peace when everything else in the world screams out for us to FEAR. My husband identified FEAR in an acrostic -- "False Evidence Appearing Real". Reality tells us that so much of what we spend our time worrying about never even happens. Living under the weight of the "what if's" is a mighty heavy blanket to live under.

My younger self struggled with fear and worry for years, so much so that I developed acute colitis. My amazing Christian doctor coached me to healing by giving me the prescription of taking God's Word into my heart and meditating on it as soon as anxiety showed up. I took that prescription, faithfully. I learned to call on the Prince of Peace (Jesus) to give me peace and I found it as I relied implicitly on what He promises in His Word. In time, I began to find that the things that I once feared, no longer affected me. Change happened. Anxious thoughts disappeared. Worry released its constant grip. God's words became "life" words, soothing to my soul, calming my spirit, giving power to my days. It wasn't always easy, and it often came down to a choice. Choosing not to allow fear and anxiety to control my life. Choosing to guard my heart. Choosing to focus my mind on what is truth in the midst of uncertainty.

If you're relating to what I'm speaking about today, and FEAR has you in its grip, I urge you to take the same prescription that Dr. Gregory gave me. As many times a day as you can -- take God's Word in, speak it, pray it, meditate on it and be healed. Our Master Physician is on call 24/7. Find Him in His Word that is full of His promises. Be assured that He is a promise keeper!

~ Psalm 34:4: "I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."
~ Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
~ John 14:27 "Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be ~ worried and upset; do not be afraid.”
~ Psalm 118:6-7 “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? The Lord is with me; He is my helper.”
~ Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

PEACE be with you! Be FEAR-less!

When Life is Sad – God is Good

I just can’t help myself. The inspirations at VBS keep coming so I must keep sharing! This has been a week of watching so many precious children get all caught up in God’s goodness and yesterday was off the charts. We had a departure of wandering in the wilderness with the Israelites to a day that was all about Jesus. Rather than the boisterous exclamation “God is good”, this day our theme was “When life is sad – God is good” so in our Faith Station, we whispered those words. It’s amazing how children respond to the atmosphere they’re in and this day, the atmosphere was created by the wooden cross in front of the sun (how appropriate – the sun was the spotlight for THE SON!), that was enhanced by the little strands of lights and ivy. We were amazed at the somber posture the kids took on as soon as they saw the cross. They respected it.

On a personal note, I came into yesterday’s VBS Faith Station in prayer for a dear cousin who was having serious brain surgery at the same time. I’ll be honest with you – though I was absolutely in a positive “Do not fear – only believe” mindset, still I thought about the theme “When life is sad – God is good” and wondered if God was giving me that theme just in case the surgery didn’t go as well as expected. But, thanks be to God, at 11:10 am, I heard from his sister who said all went well and heading to recovery..."Praise God!” But I wonder, had it been the other way, I think that I had been so immersed in the goodness of God this week – that I would have still exclaimed: “God is good”!

This day was all about Jesus Who was on the earth to show us God’s goodness and love. We talked to the kids about betrayal and how Jesus knew He was going to be betrayed. We asked them the question: “If you knew that something really bad was going to happen to you at a certain place, would you still go there? What would you do?” The common answer was “Stay at home!” From our script: “But, Jesus went to the garden even though He knew something terrible would happen. He was betrayed, arrested and He knew He’d be beaten and mocked and He knew that after all that, He’d be crucified – nailed to a cross to die. Jesus’ friends and family watched it happen. Can you imagine? They were so upset and sad. Have you ever been sad? We’ve all gone through sad times, but we’re learning about God’s goodness and we’re learning that when ‘Life is sad – God is good’. Jesus was willing to die to take the punishment for our sins, the wrong things we do.”

Here, we gave each child a stone which represented their sins, and said, “You know, this stone kind of reminds me of sin. Stones are usually kind of dirty, aren’t they? That’s like sin. Sin makes our hearts dirty, and if our hearts are dirty, we can’t be close to God. Sin separates us from God. Another thing about a stone is that it’s hard. Is anyone’s stone soft? No? That’s like sin, too. Sin can make our hearts hard. It can make us turn away from God. Remember Pharaoh? His heart was hard, and he turned away from God. What if you had to carry the weight of every sin, every day of your life? Imagine how heavy that would get. But Jesus made a way for us to be forgiven of our sins. When Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment for our sins. We don’t have to carry them anymore. Jesus overcame the world! Let’s ask Jesus to forgive us for our sins.” Then we invited the children to place their stone in the basket in front of the cross as a symbol of their being forgiven.

The simple message of the cross. In children’s language – young and old. It is the same message no matter what age we are. This blog today is even longer than my usual lengthy blog, but perhaps there are those that need to see how simple it is to turn over a new leaf by receiving Christ into your heart. We walked the children over to the chapel where they sat in adoration of our Savior. I was amazed at the reverence and tenderness of each child. Yesterday, my blog was about the open arms of Jesus to children when He said, “Let the little children come to me and forbid them not,” and I believe He has His arms open wide for you today. Our chapel speaker said these words: “Jesus loves us so much that He was willing to be nailed to a cross so He could forgive our heavy sins. What amazing love! Remember what amazing love He has for you. It was a sad, sad day when Jesus died. But we know that when life is sad…..God is good! And God was very good because that wasn’t the end of the story. On the third day after Jesus died a few of His friends went to the tomb and were amazed. There was an angel in the tomb who said, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead.” Luke 24:5-7

Because of Jesus, we can remember that God is good, even when life is sad. Jesus gives us a reason to celebrate every day! And, that, my friends, is the Gospel message that is as fresh today as it was on the day of Christ’s resurrection. It is so fresh that it is a brand new day that affords a brand new start for children of all ages. If this blog is nudging you toward the cross, you can thank all these precious children for it as scriptures says: “A little child shall lead them…….” Isaiah 11:6

My Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

I was awake in the night praying for my granddaughter. She was leaving on her first driving-trip alone to Austin yesterday morning. At 17 she's a great driver, but I send off a quick text message to her: “Looks like lots of rain this morning, sweet girl. Please, please be careful and cautious. Praying angels around you.” I go back to sleep and wake up thinking about her. I better text her and remind her that the Dallas traffic really picks up the later she leaves. (I drive these roads often so I know what lies ahead of her!) I better tell her to leave early before the traffic gets heavy! My text: “Good morning, precious girl. Are you close to heading out? I pray angels all around you, sweet girl. As you’re going down Dallas Tollway, don’t be like me switching lanes. Pick a lane and just stay in it. That’s the best way. Sorry, I’m being a Nana nag. But I love you so much I want you protected and safe. Have a wonderful weekend. I look forward to hearing all about it. I love you so so much!”

I call her a couple of hours later and find out she’s safely made it to Italy, Texas and past Carl’s Corner. All is well. What in the world is the matter with this doting Nana? Yes. I am. Proud of it. Each one of my grandchildren has had my special attention, but this girl of five boys, I’m smitten. I think the love dosage has increased of late as I’m seeing my girl blossom into a beautiful young woman who not only cracks me up with her wit but now true wisdom has kicked in on so many levels. I’m so proud of her as she just graduated from high school. And to celebrate, all she asked for was to spend last weekend at her Uncle Ryan and Aunt Shawntel’s home with the boys. (I missed out because I was in Tulsa for a reunion with friends.)

I realize I’m having to continue to untie my “Nana” apron strings with the older grands. After Alexia, came Brennan (14) and Bryson (12) so I have more letting go to do with them eventually, but for now I’ll continue to do what I do best. Love them, spend as much time with them as I can…..and pray for them.

It’s expected that a good Mom and Nana keeps her heart and eyes open for them – right? I’ve been on this life path for many years, going before them. I know my subtle “recommendations” to them are often overkill and unneeded, but it’s innate to want them safe and protected and I think it’s my job to ensure that happens. Oh me! Then, the best reality check comes to mind. It isn’t my frugal attempts to keep them safe that makes the difference – it is our all-sufficient and all-loving God Who is overabundant in grace and mercy to handle all that for me.

Reality check. No matter what path we (and our children) walk or drive down, God is one step ahead. No matter what mountain we (and our children) come up against, He is already climbing it. No matter what journey of uncertainty we (and our children) encounter, God is 100 steps further. He’s laying out our path and their path and preparing our steps.

“The LORD is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8
‘The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf…” Deuteronomy 1:30

God is famous for caring and preparing us and our children for greater things. He walks ahead to fight our battles. He calms the storms we’re convinced we can’t beat. He softens the blows we worry will take us down. He knows our roads.

Here’s what I know: I worry less when I hand over the worry and concerns to He Who is the waymaker, provider, and caregiver – extraordinaire!

FYI – just got a text from her – “Just stopped at CFA (Chick-fil-A) in Waco! Got a yummy breakfast!” The girl works at CFA and still wants to eat there! No need to worry or fret! The girl’s got game……and chicken!

Behind Locked Doors Because of Fear

I'm so happy the Easter Story doesn’t end with the resurrection. There's so much more! The next verse in John 20:19 says this: “That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders." They locked the door, they shut themselves off, they locked away the world. Out of fear. And what does Jesus do? He shows up in spite of locked doors and says "Peace be with you"! Can you imagine? “Here today and gone tomorrow. Gone yesterday, here today!” Abracadabra! He was there.....right there!

The disciples were hiding because they were afraid. Bless their hearts. I can’t blame them. The Lord had been crucified and maybe they were next. They didn’t grasp the words of Jesus that they had heard throughout the three years they were with Him. He said over and over “Do not fear!” "Do not be afraid!"

Today, you may have things that you are really afraid of -- spiritually/emotionally/physically. You may be really afraid. It’s okay. We’ve all felt that way; we’ve all been there. And what we want to do when we are afraid, is lock the doors. Don’t do it. Hear the words of Jesus – peace. He has this. He’s alive. He has overcome. We don’t have to be afraid. We don’t. Trust. Love. Laugh. Live. We don’t have to lock the doors of our hearts anymore. We can trust. We can. Today, and each day.

I read a precious mom’s FB post a couple of days ago. She is pregnant with triplets and while one baby appears to be healthy, he/she is being compromised by the other two who have major issues. That is reason enough to fear. But, I also read how she is choosing joy and peace in the midst of their crisis. And, like that young mom, we can’t protect ourselves from pain. But every day we can choose faith, joy, and peace over fear.

Suddenly Jesus was in the disciples' presence. Fear must bow to the presence of God. When we invite Him into our circumstances, peace comes in with Him. Suddenly everything He said over and over again was true. The disciples had a history with Him and so do I. I survived many crises and I’m still standing. The faithful God of my past is my trustworthy and faithful God today. When I’m afraid, I need to welcome His presence into my room and my heart – turning on worship music, finding solace in prayer and fellowship with other faith-filled friends. Bottom line, I chase fear away with knowing that right in the middle of my “locked doors” is Jesus in the room with me and because He’s here, I know Romans 8:28 will be the end result! “We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose." Let's unlock the door of our hearts today. We won't give into fear. We welcome the sweet presence of Jesus in and we receive His peace!

I Voted, and I'm Glad I Did!

I did it! I voted on the first day of early voting for the mid-term elections. By the way, Texans, you can early vote right through to November 2nd. Outside of Texas, check your state’s early voting times. I stood in line a while with this mama and her sweet baby until I went to the front of the line and asked if they'd let her cut-in. Those folks welcomed her. I was pleased to see the happy faces of so many voting early. I met some really fine people and none of us were discussing our political persuasions. We were all pleased with the opportunity to vote on a beautiful, sunshine-filled day. At least we were all united and in common on that!

I never know where I’m going to be in any given day, so why take the chance in missing out on my civic duty and my personal belief that when I vote I’m making a difference? Really? How can my one little vote make a difference in the grand scheme of things? Actually, voting can be a hassle. It takes time to register, learn about the candidates’ views, understand the questions and standing in a long line, knowing all the while that the chances my individual vote will make a difference among the thousands or millions cast are pretty much zero. So, why even bother?

I bother because my morals and values are so closely tied to my Christian faith and what God’s Word says. How can we not vote when there are such critical issues of life and death and of God’s Word taken seriously or not? Voting confirms my commitment to stand-up for those morals and values and in so doing I get to choose who aligns or comes the closest with those beliefs. It is a privilege to live in a democracy-led country which enables us to vote in or vote out candidates that align or don’t align with our principles. If I don’t vote I shouldn't complain or whine about anything that's going on in our country.

The fact is, I'm quite reserved when it comes to my political voice. I have my own opinions but I rarely voice them publicly. That could be seen as a wimpy way out of controversy, or it may mean that I choose to live "above the fray" by recalling my Mama's favorite quote "If you can't say something nice, say nothing at all!" Aligning myself with particular political figures has been a private matter for me, especially on social media. I am a professing Christian so my primary voting guide is the Bible. I do my best not to be driven by the media, politics, or personalities, but I carefully weigh out the "heart of the matter". I weigh out their stances, but I don't know the true hearts of candidates, so when the time comes to vote, I trust in my tightness with God and His Word: "My sheep know my voice", and that I'll hear THAT voice and vote according to what I hear.

I’m ready for this mid-term election to be over. According to the campaign signs I see in my neighborhood and on the streets, it looks pretty even. It would be wonderful if the election meant an end to the rancor and tackiness. No question, there is deep down angst about the result. What if THAT party takes over the House and/or Senate? When we wake up November 7th, post-election, when the election is finally over, what will we see?

I have a prediction. I know exactly what November 7th will bring. Another day of God’s perfect sovereignty. He will still be in charge. His throne will still be occupied. He will still manage the affairs of the world. Never EVER has His providence depended on a king, president, senator or ruler. “The LORD can control a king’s mind as He controls a river; He can direct it as He pleases” (Proverbs 21:1). As followers of Jesus, we possess the power and comfort of God’s Promises as we face an unknown election and future for our country. We can ask a different set of questions because we are called to live by a different reality: hope, love, and peace. No matter what happens on November 6th, remember God’s words of encouragement. “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

F.E.A.R. – False Evidence Appearing Real

That was my husband’s definition of fear. And, he was right on. How many times do we have fears that are false fears based on false information? As much as I’d like you to believe that I’m this fearless dynamo, I still have those times when fear is an unwelcomed guest in my heart. I know better than to let Mr. Fear in because I know too many scriptures where God commands (not suggests) “Do not fear”. This one is my favorite: “So DO NOT FEAR, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” {Isaiah 41:10}

During my childhood years, they called girls like me “Fraidy Cats”, and I was. I feared my home burning down because I smelled smoke coming from neighborhood chimneys. After seeing a film about “The Rapture”, I was so afraid that I would be one of those left behind, that if I called out for my mom and she didn’t answer, I panicked. F.E.A.R. False Evidence Appearing Real. It was a false fear, but fear was my constant companion.

But, then one day, all those Bible stories I heard and read about, and all those "Do not fear" scriptures I thought about, clicked in me. The more of God’s commands and promises I read about, the more fear left me. I started sensing His presence wrapping me up in a “security” blanket. Many years of living and soaking up His presence has transformed a “fraidy cat” into a fearless, relentless, equipped, and on-purpose woman.

For many, many years, now, I have known those "I am with you" words to be true. I really know and sense His presence with me daily. I soak up His presence. And when I don’t sense His presence – it’s not because He’s left “the building”. I’ve left Him. I may be thinking about something that is bothering me, or I may be involved in a disagreement with someone, or I may be watching something on TV or social media that doesn’t bring joy and light into my room (my heart) and then fear sneaks in.

When we seek Him with all of our heart, we find Him, and when He’s with us, Fear finds no place in us. I wish I could say that I don’t have moments of occasional fear. You know them, too.
Times when we may have lost our keys or cell phone (if you're like me, you're well acquainted with that knot in your stomach when you can't find them), or what about a huge repair bill that came in, and there just wasn't enough in the bank or credit card to cover it? Or, even worse, maybe a negative medical report came in, that left you feeling hopeless. The easiest thing to do at any of those times is to retreat and to run away from it all to escape. I want you to know....I've been there. I've experienced those circumstances, and I know how easy it is to fall prey to FEAR! But I also know that when we move forward with undaunted faith and determination, and we face that giant of fear head-on and we aim our fear-less stone at his ugly head and declare: "I am more than a conqueror" he will FALL.

Fear must flee in God’s holy presence. And, in His holy presence is where I endeavor to stay. God doesn’t promise to make our lives easy and carefree, but He does promise to be with us every single step of the way. He is with us, dear friends. We can count on it. He will never leave us and never forsake us. He will love us through whatever circumstance or fear we face.

Joy to the World

Those words resonated with me yesterday, especially when I was standing in an extremely long check-out line. A voice came over the loud speakers "We assure you all our available cashiers are working very hard to get you served as quickly as possible." When I arrived at the front of the line, I noticed there were only three cashiers checking out all those folks and there were five vacant cash registers. When I saw the manager making her announcement again, I said, "It looks like you don't have enough cashiers!" She replied, "We don't. We're hiring. If you know someone that needs a job, please send them our way!" With only three cashiers, however, the line went quickly and in spite of the wait, there were no Scrooges or Grinches because we were all echoing Christmas joy. We were laughing and making conversation and everyone was tolerant of the manager's dilemma. No one was complaining. We all agreed -- "It's the time of the year for Christmas cheer!"

Joy to the world! Could it be that the angel's message to the shepherds holds true today? "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of GREAT JOY!" Christ is that good news no matter how dismal or hectic everything might be. There is good news of great joy that can change everything for us -- especially as the rest of the words in that song sink in "Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her King. Let every heart PREPARE HIM ROOM." Aw! That's the answer -- making room for JOY -- making room for Jesus..

I know it was that JOY that I sensed yesterday. I drove past a Luby's Cafeteria. I hadn't seen one in a very long time and It brought back sweet memories of my husband and I eating at Luby's. He loved cafeteria-style restaurants. I thought...."I'll visit a couple of stores in this area and time it so I can have lunch there", and I did. I chose food items we both enjoyed together . I texted my two children and told them I just had to stop and celebrate remembering how much daddy loved this place. I was embracing the memories. When I returned to my car, I remembered the little bottle of his favorite cologne that I keep in the car and gave it a spray. I teared up for a minute at the thought AND smell of him.. Just a minute because, though those were some of our best of times, I don't live there anymore. It's sweet to remember, but there's too much living for TODAY with gratitude and purpose and I began to sing "Joy to the World".

It was pre-electricity era 2,000 years ago when the dark night skies became brilliant and the angel appeared to those terrified shepherds and said , "Do not be afraid. I bring you GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY that will be for all the people."(Luke 2:10). Those terrifying moments were replaced with good news and great joy.

Psalm 16:11 says "In His presence is fullness of joy." To have that joy, we need to make room for the JOY GIVER. Though He came as a sweet little baby boy, He is ALIVE today and is our King of Kings. We can experience His presence and know that GREAT JOY! We can experience it in the crowds at the store or at a crowded restaurant. We can experience it when facing a crisis or a disappointment or any other time of weakness.

Joy isn't the same as happiness. Happiness is based on those ooey, gooey feelings when everything is going right. But JOY is based on the CONSTANT of He Who lives big within us. He is that GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY and when we sing those words "Joy to the world, the Lord is come", we know we have found the key to joy is welcoming the JOY-GIVER inside our hearts. Let me start your day with GOOD NEWS of GREAT JOY today. Go ahead. Receive this most precious Christmas gift EVER. Welcome Him -- the JOY GIVER into your heart -- into your day -- into your Christmas. I just gave you JESUS!Welcome, JOY!

God's Church Triumphant is Alive and Well

God's Church Triumphant is Alive and Well
I'll be heading home from Tulsa after attending church with so many of my dearest friends this morning. Of course, my sweet godson will be sitting by me. That's been his seat since my Sweetheart went to heaven. Each Sunday, he'd wait for me, or I would wait for him to snuggle close to me, often holding hands, and while in that place, I would remember the precious man whose place he took there. That man and I treated going to church like “date night”, except God was the center of our attention, while we held hands together. I never loved him more than when we were worshiping God together. My godson has helped me carry on that love.

The recent “church” tragedies could cause one to question that attending church isn't that safe place that it once was, but, without fear or doubt, I know it is still a place of hope, peace, comfort, faith, community, and fellowship with God and His people. Of course the enemy of our souls celebrates if he can create fear in our churches, in outdoor music concerts, in our schools, and even just a walk down the street, but fear only paralyzes us and keeps us from the abundant life Christ came to give us. Isaiah 41:10 says 'Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

Rather than being on the defense, St. Paul gave us a warfare strategy against our greatest enemy in Ephesians 6:10-17 Ephesians 6:10-17 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the BELT OF TRUTH buckled around your waist, with the BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS in place, and with your FEET FITTED WITH THE READINESS THAT COMES FROM THE GOSPEL OF PEACE. In addition to all this, take up the SHIELD OF FAITH, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the HELMET OF SALVATION and the SWORD OF THE SPIRIT, which is the word of God.” Now that's what I call "suited up for day AND night patrol!

We continue to ready up each day by putting on our whole armor and that includes carefully choosing those friends that brighten our day with good news instead of bad news. That's why I love attending my church. It's the Body of Christ -- fellow believers. We're the family of God and when we gather together, we realize that these are the people who love to talk about the things that we love to talk about; they love to dwell on the topics that are dearest to our hearts. If our hearts have been given to the LORD, we gravitate to hanging out with His people who are like-minded in our desires to know Him and his children more. We even sincerely desire to reach out more to others to help them know Him more, too. We are motivated and inspired to live out our faith in word and deed. We find solace and peace within the Body of Christ. And in a world that presents so much chaos and confusion -- it's a safe place of refuge. I would propose to you that the Church is such a place. I am who I am today -- faith-filled, joy-filled, purpose-driven, and passionate about my Lord because of Church. The fact is: I've got friends in high places, where the Spirit of God dwells, not in just a building or place, He lives inside us. We are not just going to Church. We ARE the Church triumphant -- and we are ALIVE and WELL!

RELAX!!!

Yesterday, it was in the low 40s in Frisco and it rained, literally, all day. My kind of day! I started out sitting in front of my fireplace -- sending love text notes to my children. I never made my bed -- just in case I wanted to crawl back in -- I did. After all, those 4 to 5 hours of sleep at night justifies a little nap during the day. I did lots of office work, made several important phone calls, had a sweet time of devotion, washed clothes, created this post (as well as a couple of other posts for another day -- time well spent), and I loved every minute of this easy-go, easy-flow, RELAXING day. I looked into my bathroom when I laid down for that little middle-of-the-day nap and saw those words RELAX and I could hear two reassuring messages from God.

1) RELAX -- I was feeling a little guilty about having such a care-free day, doing just what I wanted to do. But, then I remembered the last three weeks of call-of-duty with my grandsons and then my mother-in-law -- that were non-stop, sometimes exhausting days. Here's what I know. It's okay to have a day when we can just BE. After all, we were created by God to be human BEINGS, not human DOINGS. I know that many of my younger friends dream of days like this. I was you in my busy working days, wife and little children days, Bible teacher and speaker days -- and now I am here, in these days. You'll be here one day and I urge you to savor these days, because tomorrow can be amped up, full-on, all-out exhaustive days. These are the days to refuel and get ready for firing up for the next call-of-duty.

2) RELAX -- There are many things to be concerned about in my life, my family's life, our city, country and world. How can we relax when there's so much to do for God? After all, we are His hands extended. After all, if we don't go, who will? After all, if I don't take care of this and that, who will take care of it for me? Then, loud and clear -- I could hear God's voice in these words in Psalms 26:3, "Be still and know that I am God." When He said those words, He meant it for the many troubles in King David's life and times, and just as assuredly, He means it for you and me today. I don't think He meant for us to actually sit in a chair and be still, but I think He meant "Be still of worry, anxiety and fear." How many times did He say "Do not fear. Do not be afraid"? I didn't count, but I read in my Google search, 365 times. So, then, when God says to RELAX -- that means, fear is unnecessary AND is disobedient to God's command of "Do not fear!"

Isaiah 30:15 says “For the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel says: in returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength….” I've been at this journey of faith long enough to be convinced that in quietness and confidence in God’s faithfulness, we will be renewed and strengthened daily. The word for quietness in Hebrew means “repose”. And repose means calm, relaxed, free from all anxiety, to be still, to lie down with support underneath (like the green pastures in Psalm 23). That was my yesterday -- enjoying the green pastures of my Father -- and RELAXING -- because why should I worry or fret, when He can handle it all for me?

Bah Humbug or Good News of Great Joy

"Bah Humbug" is an expression used to show disgust at the Christmas season, made famous by Ebenezer Scrooge in the Charles Dickens novel 'A Christmas Carol'. Ever had that "Bah Humbug" feeling? With all the "Joy to the World", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and all the other songs of goodwill and glad tidings that describe this season, I would be remiss to think that we are all in that perky, celebratory mood. I know there are many that can hardly wait for this season to be in the "rear-view" mirror.

I get that. I know what it is for my Daddy to pass away on December 17th and witnessing my sweet Mama unwrapping his gifts that she had placed under the tree for him! Bah Humbug. I know what it is for my Sweetheart to graduate to heaven on November 16th and have the first Christmas without him in over 44 years. Bah Humbug. I have friends whose loved one just recently passed away, others who are facing a debilitating illness and still so many others who are experiencing tremendous financial stress -- particularly because they just can't afford to spend another dime, and they're broken-hearted that their little ones just may not get that "Santa gift" that they asked for. Bah Humbug.

Christmas isn't that happy-go-lucky, jingle bells, holly jolly time of the year for everyone. But who wants to be Ebenezer Scrooge any time of the year -- especially at Christmas? Remember the angel's words to the shepherds on that first Christmas night...."Do not be afraid -- I bring you good news and great joy!" There is good news. There is great joy. That news is for ALL people -- you and me -- no matter what we may be facing.

Whether we have family surrounding us, or we are one of our beloved service men and women who are away from their family this Christmas. Whether we live in a palace or a small one room apartment, we can experience that good news and great joy. What matters most is that we remember what matters most. The Christmas story makes our own stories make sense. It offers us comfort and joy. That is the message that all of Scripture offers. It’s the message, invitation, and reality of our God – throughout time, now, and forever.

Here’s a few of those scriptures that explain it:
From Psalm 63 "My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises You with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy."
COMFORT AND JOY.

From Psalm 34:8-10: "Taste and see that the Lord is good! How blessed is the one who trusts in Him! Fear the Lord, you holy ones of His; for those who fear Him lack nothing."
COMFORT AND JOY

From Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand"
COMFORT AND JOY

God-with-us. Emmanuel. Comfort and joy. May it be so. Whatever your circumstances are this year, focus on the face of God and be reminded of why we celebrate Christmas. It isn't really about all the things the world has made it to be. It is about the good news of great joy. Picture the God of the universe handing you his Son, wrapped in swaddling clothes. Hear him say, "Don't be afraid of anything….ever. I give you water that you'll drink and never thirst again. I give you peace that passes all understanding. I give you joy. I give you comfort. I give you goodness and mercy. I give you a future and a hope. I give you my Son, Jesus"

Nothing to Fear

I've had many tears and sorrows. I've had questions for tomorrow. There have been times I didn't know right from wrong. But in every situation, God gave me blessed consolation, that my trials come to only make me strong.

Those who have heard and sung the songs of Andrae Crouch (we sang many of them), will recognize that first paragraph from his song, “Through It All”. The chorus goes on to say, “Through it all. Through it all. I’ve learned to trust in Jesus. I’ve learned to trust in God. Through it all. Through it all. I’ve learned to depend upon His Word."

Actually, those words could be my song and my story, because through everything I’ve encountered in my life, from a young girl to today, I’ve learned, through it all, to trust God and His Word. That is my anchor, my mainstay, my pillar of strength, my shelter from the storms, my strong tower.

I like what George Mueller said to a man who had asked him the best way to have strong faith. 'The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials." Whew! Great trials?? That's not what we wanted to hear.

If ever we need to trust God and His Word, it is in these perilous times. There’s plenty going on to make us fearful. In times like these, when our entire world is in turmoil and when nothing seems safe or secure, our God says, "Fear not!"

Isaiah 41:10 says “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

To those, today, who are facing financial challenges, health issues, marriage problems, have children who are off-course, have fear for safety and peace, our Father’s message to us today is the same as the angel’s word to the shepherds “Fear not”, the same words that God spoke to Joshua, “Fear not”, the same words that Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and DO NOT BE AFRAID."

Knowing that I have a Father who comes to me and says, “Fear not, I am with you” gives me so much hope, encouragement, solace and assurance for all my todays and tomorrows. By the way, He's your Dad, too -- He says the same thing to you!

Peace Be With You

Day 158 of Photo Inspirations -- Peace Be With You
There are so many lessons to be learned from the faith journeys of others and when we're in that atmosphere of thanksgiving and praise, God has the opportunity to get a Word in edgewise.

That's what happens in my Life Group every Tuesday night.  For example, having encountered some health issues, three of our ladies asked for prayer as they were being called back to the doctor or hospital for additional testings.   Immediately, one of our strong women of faith, quite confidently and boldly said, "Peace be with you.  Do not fear.  God is with you.  Cast down imaginations.  Be strong and of good courage because God is for you and you will declare His glorious works."  She was so passionate that it startled some of us, but we realized it was God, Himself, Who made His presence known.....and replaced our concerns with "PEACE be with you!"

I started thinking about that strong word and, I thought about the disciples after Jesus died -- afraid and hiding in the Upper Room.  THEN, the risen Lord appeared to them.   "On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “PEACE BE WITH YOU!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord."  John 20:19-21

It’s tempting to scoff at the disciples for their weak faith. But, we’re no different. Like the disciples, we don’t always understand what God is doing in our lives. We read His clear promises in the Bible, yet often succumb to concern, fear and doubt when life gets tough.  Jesus came into my house on Tuesday night.  He spoke those beautiful words "Peace be with you!"

I pass THIS WORD on to you today.  Perhaps you are facing some extreme volatile situations, potential failures, negative medical reports, relationships that are broken and many other worries and concerns.  

God loves us, as He loved the disciples.  He wants us to know HIS peace.   Think of it, those disciples had walked and talked with Jesus.  They witnessed miracle after miracle.  And while we sometimes want to roll our eyes at them because of their wishy-washy faith, we can be very grateful to them for providing us an object lesson in human ignorance… and divine patience.  Like Jesus said to them, He says to you and me today, "Peace be with you!"  Now, let's receive that Word, and make it our own today!