Give Thanks!

"in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Hmmm...in everything? I confess, I'm not very good at this. I don't usually give thanks in everything. Around the Thanksgiving holiday, I reflect on the many blessing the Lord has given, but this verse is convicting because it implies a constant. Giving thanks is supposed to be practiced all year 'round, not just during this season. We are not supposed to have moments of thankfulness and then times of ungratefulness. Though we all struggle at times, we must remember that "every good thing given and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father..." James1:17. So if you draw breath, or possess anything that you enjoy, or have someone to love...GIVE THANKS! A heart that embraces thankfulness does not have a complaint department. An ungrateful spirit cannot thrive in soul that constantly gives thanks & praise!! I thank my God for you, Friend, and pray that a heart of thankfulness follows you throughout life! May God continue to bless you! 

Find Joy in Him Beloved!

Rise Up!

I get chills every time I hear this song!! Rise Up, people of the Lord, Rise up!! Be encouraged!!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Earthly good! Heavenly great!

I'm sure you've heard the saying "Some people are too heavenly minded to be any earthly good." Right, wrong, or indifferent...here's my two cents.

While I believe that we should be fixed on Christ and focused heavenward, I understand the meaning behind this phrase. I have come across a few Christians today that say "Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus". But it's said with a sigh of discontentment, rather than an overwhelming excitement for His return. To me, it seems like an unhappy persons way of saying, "I'm tired of living in this evil world and I'm tired of dealing with all the crap that surrounds me. Come take me away from it all, Lord. I know you have better things for me than this." Have you ever come across someone with this outlook? This perspective saddens my heart, because I believe that these folks have become their own joy robbers. They're slapping away the Lord's hand of great blessing. He created this world and said it was good. Yes, the devil parades around and evil is prevalent, but creation bares the fingerprint of God. Life is a gift, not a curse. The Lord has given us so much to be thankful for and instead, we tarnish our testimony to the viewing public by focusing on all the things that make us upset or uncomfortable. Our purpose is to rejoice in the Lord...Always(Philippians 4:4)!!

"When you look for the bad in mankind, expecting to find it, you surely will." -Abraham Lincoln. 

But if you choose to see things through God's perspective, you'd live a life of joy on this earth, because your focus would be on the good. 

I believe that we, as believers, are called to celebrate life! In my readings of "Wisdom for the way" by Chuck Swindoll, he draws attention to Psalm 90:12. "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." 

He continues, "I find it interesting that we are to view life by the days, not the years. We are to live those days in such a way that when they draw to a close, we have gained 'a heart of wisdom'. With the Lord occupying first place in our lives we accept and live each day enthusiastically for Him. The result will be that 'heart of wisdom' the psalmist mentions...
Because we cannot alter the inevitable, we adjust to it. And we do that not a year at a time, but a day at a time. Instead of eating our heart out because a few more aches and pains have attached themselves to our bodies, we determine to celebrate life rather than endure it. Aging isn't a choice. But our response to it is. In so many ways, we ourselves determine how we shall grow old."...

..."Joy is available now. We are not to put it on hold. Happiness isn't something that will secretly open up to us when we turn fifty five, or when we reach some goal or find the right marriage partner. Happiness is for now. It is inseparably linked to the living Lord...'The chief end of man is to love God and enjoy Him forever.' Not just to serve Him, not just obey Him, not just sacrifice to Him, not simply commit ourselves to Him, but enjoy Him - 'laugh through life with Him.' Smile in His presence. So much more is included in enjoying Him forever than most would ever believe...Happiness is to pervade  all the years of our life...It's there for us to enjoy throughout our days."

It's sad to think that some folks are waiting for Christ's return and an address in heaven, before they'll experience His true & lasting joy. If that is you, that's not the way it has to be, Friend. You don't have to wait for heaven to feel at home! I love the thought of continually being in the presence of God no matter where I am. Heaven will not make Jesus anymore real for me, because His home is my heart. While I anticipate His return for me and am excited for the things to come, I am just as happy being with Him here, where He's placed me. For now, though a stranger, this world is my home and God did not create me to merely exist in it, but to live and thrive!! He has good things in store for me...and you! Until Jesus Christ beckons us to reside with Him in heaven, we are called to abide, thrive and joy in our Savior...throughout our days!

Look for the good and...

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Resort continually!

So sorry for my absence, Friend. We are now back from our trip to visit out of town relatives and I am anxious to get back in the swing of things! I hope this finds you well and pray that the Lord has been filling your days with amazing blessings!

Recent events and what I've been learning:
I have to say that I had many apprehensions about flying with 2 one and a half year olds. In preparing for our departure, we had to bring the twins' identification with us. Ian and I discovered the day before that we've never received the girls' birth certificates. Of course, I panicked. Ian got on the phone with the airline and they said all we needed was an official document that had their name & birth date on it. Thankfully, we had their immunization records. Our trip to Reno was quite difficult. We drove to Austin, got on the plane, flew 2.5 hours to Las Vegas, changed planes and flew another hour to Reno. Before getting on the plane in Austin, I decided to change both girls only to discover that one of them is deathly afraid of public restrooms and wouldn't let me change her. She screamed in freight and began climbing up my body, reaching to cling to the highest height. I had no idea she would react that way. You can imagine, we caused quite an unavoidable spectacle! In hopes of providing us with some comfort, my sweet husband paid for 3 seats so that we could have an entire row to ourselves, but still the girls did not nap at all and we had many moments of sheer insanity! We left home at 9am and finally got to Reno at 6pm (8pm Texas time). It was a very long day. Having not seen my family in a year, we had plans to have professional pictures taken. My daughters have been in front of a camera their whole lives, so I thought it would be no big deal, but I was wrong. They behaved terribly (like toddlers...imagine that!). They did not sleep well the entire trip. But all in all, despite the difficult moments, we were so blessed with sweet fellowship! Being surrounded by friends & family made everything worth it!!

I wanted to share what I read upon coming home. It amazes me the way that the Lord reveals things to us at certain times. I know that I didn't react well to my circumstances & situation, so this is exactly what I needed and it is such a comfort.

"Wisdom for the Way" Chuck Swindoll:
Big Picture Perspective. You are my hiding place and my shield; I wait for Your word. Psalm 119:114

One of the greatest benefits to be gleaned from the Bible is perspective. When we get discouraged, we temporarily loose our perspective. Little things become mammoth. A slight irritation, such as a pebble in a shoe, seems huge. Motivation is drained away and, worst of all, hope departs. God's Word is tailor-made for gray-slush days. It sends a beam of light through the fog. It signals safety when we fear we'll never make it through. Such big-picture perspective gives us a hope transplant, and within a brief period of time we have escaped the bleak & boring and we're back at soaring...We can actually stand firm through discouraging times but only if we apply God's instructions. 

I wish I had read this before our trip as well. Maybe it could've helped my perspective when I was faced with uncertainty & difficulty. The Lord blessed us with an amazing visit & an amazing trip home! My prayer for us both, Friend, is that we will continually rely on our Savior and remember that God will help and deliver us when we face difficulties. "Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually; You have given the commandment to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress." Psalm 71:3 

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Speak Up!

Friend, I have to admit that I have been struggling this week. I am quite opinionated, but typically I keep my perspective & preferences to myself. I rarely share how I feel with others, due to the worry that they might disagree or become offended by my point of view. But the Lord has been so good to me in revealing my secret faults and showing me how dangerous it can be to keep silent. When I do not share my honest perspective, I'm living a falsehood and unintentionally being deceitful. All the while, my "pursuit of peace" has only been a crusade of tolerance.

Something that really spoke to my heart this week was this excerpt from "Wisdom for the way" by Charles Swindoll.

Perspectives and Preferences: "So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another." Romans 14:19

Disagreements are inevitable...There will always be opposing viewpoints and a variety of perspectives on most subjects. Tastes differ as well as preferences. That is why they make vanilla and chocolate and strawberry ice cream; why they build Fords and Chevys, Chryslers and Cadillacs, Hondas and Toyotas. That is why our nation has room for Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals - and moderates. The tension is built into or system. It is what freedom is all about, including religious freedom. I am fairly firm in my theological convictions, but that doesn't mean you (or anyone) must agree with me. All this explains why I place so much importance on leaving "wobble room" in our relationships. One's theological persuasion may not bend, but one's involvement with others must.

...God has placed you in His family and given you a certain mixture that makes you unique. No mixture is insignificant! That mix pleases Him completely. Nobody is exactly like you. That should bring you pleasure too. When you operate in your realm of capabilities, you will excel and the while Body will benefit...and you will experience incredible satisfaction.

This is what I hope we can all glean from this...
When we adopt the "mum's the word" mentality, we deprive the Body of Christ of a good thing. The Lord has created us with individual voices and every perspective is valuable. Typically, even the most kindred of spirits differ on a few points of view! A difference of opinion is nothing to be afraid of; in fact, it should be welcomed. Have you ever changed your mind when someone else has shared their opinion with you, and come to find that their perspective actually made more sense?

We need one another, Friend! No two are alike! The world needs Mary's and Martha's, David's and Daniel's, Peter's and Paul's. I have identical twin girls and yet they are as different in personality as a lion and a lamb. But both need one another. Karis and Kelsie seem to balance one another out. I love watching them because their year and a half old enthusiasm for life is unharnessed. They don't know what it is to keep a secret or repress feelings. Although not in many words, they can communicate what they want very well. And when their desire is not beneficial, they learn to yield to parental judgement. So it should be between Christians. The older are to help the younger become wise, but how can that be when mouths remain closed?! We cannot grow if we do not share the state of our roots. The Gardener has "tools" that He uses to cultivate healthy development.

Are you allowing yourself to be ministered to?! Are you ministering to others?! However different, your honest opinions and preferences should be shared. Speak up. Sharing the truth in love will make difference!

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!

Faith Alone!

At Grace Bible Church, we have been in Romans and I just have to share what we learned about on Sunday! It was so great to hear! We read chapter 3:24 - 4:13 and the main point was being justified through faith alone. I know so many Christians that struggle with this concept. They seem to believe that works play a huge part in justification. On Sunday, we learned why God insists on faith alone!

1) Adding works inflames pride. 
 - "boast"; a cause for pride (Romans 4:2)
In Judges 7 we read of Gideon preparing for battle and the Lord instructs him to face the Midianite army of thousands with 300 men. Sounds foolish, doesn't it?! But the reason God only sent 300 men with Gideon was so that no place would be given to pride and that God would receive the glory for the defeat! (7:2-4)
- Acts 4:13 records the Sanhedrin(Jewish court system; supreme religious scholars) being astonished by the boldness of these untrained, uneducated fishermen (Peter & John) that they knew they had been with Jesus.
Again, another account where God was noticed, rather than man. Counting our "good works" leads us to comparison and division.

2)Adding works divides God's family.
In Acts 15:5-11, Peter is referencing Jew & Gentile alike and argues that there should be no distinction. "So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did us, and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith." (v.8-9)
- circumcision and the keeping of the Mosaic law = works of Judaism.
We tend to put people into classes. First/Upper class folks are those that meet our standards. Second/Lower class folks are those that don't. Sadly, we come to expect "good works" from the "good Christian" and when we don't witness the action behind faith, we judge others and slap an "unbeliever" stamp of disapproval on them. We have no right to judge the inner workings of another's heart. We often forget that Christ died once, for all people. "There is only one table and we're all sitting around it. We are all loved equally by God."

3) Adding works to faith makes it worthless.
Romans 4:13 - "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."
- if justification requires faith and keeping the law...
- ...and keeping the law is impossible...
- ...then faith is useless!
We do not have to "work" to prove our faith because we can't. We will always fall short! No one can be perfect or keep the whole law. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."(Romans 3:23)

True, good works follow justification, but they do not earn it, prove it, or keep it! "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13. Life eternal belongs to the believer in Christ, not the "good worker" in Christ. We all fall into the same category in the Lord's eyes. Good works do not make Him love us any more than He already does. His ranking system has but one level, and because of what Jesus did for us, we are acceptable to God. It is about time we set aside our judging eyes and simply focus on loving one another!!

Have you trusted in Jesus alone for justification, Friend?
What do you boast in?
"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ..." Gal.6:14.
"Thus says the Lord: let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the Lord." Jeremiah 9:23-24

Dwell on these truths this week and...

Find Joy in Him, Beloved!