I want to point you to a post written by Debra at “As I See It Now” called “Who Comes First”. In this piece Debra shares how living out Colossians 3:23 transformed her life.
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” … Colossians 3:23
I give Debra a hardy Amen! It served as a good reminder to me on how to approach giving to and serving others. As I was reading, the thought came to mind that for me the most challenging people to live out Colossians 3:23 is family. I take that as a prompt from the Lord to purpose in my heart and mind, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to do things without expectation on how they will respond or what I should get in return.
Recent days and months have had their share of sorrow in the death of precious friends.I’ll tell you, there is a world of difference when a Christian dies and when an unbeliever dies.
As a Christian I have confident hope and assurance that I will one day see my believing family and friends again.It brings joy to think that I will once again see their face, hear their laugh and feel their warm embrace.We will be together in heaven, a place where there is no more sin, sickness, sorrow or death.We will be with our Savior and see Him face to face.A place where worship and praise will never end.Halleluiah, I long for that day.
But when someone dies who has not received Jesus Christ as their Savior, when they haven’t repented of their sin, when they haven’t cried out to the Lord for forgiveness…it’s not good!It’s a place of eternal punishment, retribution, unrelenting suffering that will never, ever end.
It almost feels more tortuous when I don’t know if my loved one is in heaven or hell.
There’s not a day that goes by I don’t think of my precious friend.I may hear some whose laugh sounds just like her laugh, or see someone who looks like her and I wonder…where is she today?Will we ever be together again?
Lord forgive me please for not being more bold in sharing the Gospel message, for worrying more about offending her rather than being concerned about the place she will spend eternity.
This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not.Head on over and take the challenge today.
Squeaking breaks were more than just an annoyance or an indication that I needed to get our car serviced to insure that I was safe on the road.This would be another repair on a car that’s 11 years old.A repair that might cost more than what the car was worth.Our car had become a money pit and it seemed like we were throwing good money after bad.
After the last repair, my husband Chris and I discussed the possibility that it might be the time to consider getting a new car to replace our aging car.
The squeaking started just a few days before we were going on vacation and whatever action we decided to take would have to wait until we returned.Thankfully both Chris and I had taken an additional day off from work following our vacation.It proved to be helpful as we went car shopping yesterday.
God had some lessons for me to learn in the middle of our car troubles.One of the top lessons was to not be anxious.Our car problems didn’t take God by surprise and He would go before us and give us wisdom to make good choices.
Yesterday, before we set off to look at vehicles, I felt that God was telling me to let go of my preconceived notions.Based on prior bad experiences with two car dealers, I was tempted to dismiss two cars that we should consider because they had good ratings for safety and value.
Prior to our vacation, I had done some research on AAA’s automobile car shoppingservices and had a good idea on what cars we should look at.It’s a great tool that proved to be very helpful in our search for a car.If you are a member of AAA you can contact the designated dealers and arrange to meet with them.In doing this, you eliminate the high pressure sales tactics associated with car buying.You will also avail yourself of the AAA agreed upon discounted rate.
Before we left the house we prayed for God to give us wisdom to determine the best car to purchase and trust His leading and timing.We asked that we would both be in agreement as to what car we should purchase and for His favor.
We set out with a plan to look at three vehicles, test drive them, find out what finance options were available so we could choose the best car for us and be responsible with the resources God has given us.
God did indeed go before us and we both felt comfortable with purchasing any of the top three vehicles we were looking at.We had set a plan to look at all three vehicles before making a decision and we stuck to that despite heavy pressure from one dealer to make a decision right then and there.
As it turned out, we ended up getting the vehicle that was last on my initial list.We both liked the car and the tipping point was that we were able to get 0.0% financing for 60 months.That was too good to turn down.
Now every time I look at the car I am reminded of God’s faithfulness, His provision in finding the car and getting a good deal.
I know it’s silly, but I like to name my cars.Last night after we got home, I decided to name our new car Ebenezer because it will be a reminder, “Thus far the Lord has brought us.”
My husband Chris and I are fresh back from our vacation to Washington DC and Virginia to visit with family.It was a much needed time away from the day to day grind of responsibilities at work and home.It was lovely to spend time with family and meet those whom I’ve only talked to on the phone or seen pictures of and prayed for.I was honored to see historic sites that I’ve only read about in history books or seen in news stories.
While on vacation, I did take my Bible and read scripture and my devotional, but goodness I missed so much my closer walk with the Lord.It was not the same as sitting in the chair in the quiet of the morn and reading the scripture with my ear inclined to hear Him speak to me.Due to our travel days, we missed going to church on Sunday which left me feeling an emptiness in my soul.
I truly missed my prayer time built into my daily life, where I come before the Lord.My prayers were not as focuses and purposeful.I must say, there were some spiritual battles going on and the enemy had the upper hand as I was weak and ineffective in my daily walk.
So today, as I opened my Bible, I was able to focus as I read God’s word.A couple of things stood out to me as I read my devotional from John 20″11-13: “11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
The commentator pondered that Mary Magdalene’s life was transformed after she was delivered from demons and experienced the joy of being with Jesus.
I wondered, when I lack joy is that an indication that I am not walking closely with You?
The second reading was about the father who comes to Jesus and is desperate for Jesus to deliver his son from demon possession.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” – Mark 9:21-24
As I read the words of the father I asked, when I’m desperate but struggling in my faith, do I turn to Jesus and cry out, “I believe, help me with my unbelief?”
Oh Lord, I missed You greatly.If for no other reason than the fact that daily life keeps me close to You, I’m grateful to be back.Jesus draw me close and never let me go.
If you would like to be blessed, stop by these godly women’s blogs. They all have a tender heart for the Lord and share about what they are learning along the way.
Only a couple more days until I give away the certificate for a copy of the wonderful book, “A Miracle for Jen.” The certificate was made available through the generosity of Tyndale House Publishers.
If you would like to read this book which will both challenge and encourage your faith, please leave a comment on this post or on the book review below.
On Sunday, I will be selecting a winner. If you are the winner, I will contact you via email to get your mailing address.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast. – Ephesians 2:8-9
I’d like to shout it from the roof top, “Salvation is a gift of God”, and have it echo through time.
Daily I pray for those whom the Lord has laid on my heart…that He would move in their heart and mind, bring them to an end of themselves. That they would recognize that there is a day coming in which they will have to give an account to the God who created them. That they would recognize that they are a sinner, unable to save themselves before a holy and righteous God. That they would cry out, confess with their mouth and believe with their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and they will be saved. I pray for divine appointments, bold witnesses, hearts to be tendered, eyes to be opened and ears to be inclined to the Lord.
And yet, I need to confess, that while I pray for them, there have been very few that I have had a point blank discussion with about their need for salvation found in Christ alone. There are times I will look at someone who I know doesn’t believe in God and think if he or she died today, they would be in hell for eternity.
You want to know the place that I find it the hardest to share my faith? The workplace. People know I’m a Christian and I freely talk about my faith with fellow believers and others. When people are going through difficult times, trials and tribulations, I’ll let them know I’m praying for them.
But their greatest need, this side of the grave and for eternity is for them to hear the gospel message. And I remain silent. I have news about the greatest gift ever and I keep it to myself.
Lord…I’m afraid at times I fear man more than You. Lord how can I remain silent when a person’s eternity hangs in the balance? It’s You that does the convicting and saving, all You are asking me to do is be a witness.
This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not. Head on over and take the challenge today.
It was my privilege to read “Miracle for Jen” a true story written by Linda Barrick with John Perry.
On Sunday, November 5, 2006, the Barrick family was traveling home having experienced an almost perfect day.Andy and Linda’s son Josh had played in a baseball tournament over the weekend and their daughter Jen was making her musical debut in the church choir that evening. The choir would be performing one of Jen’s favorite songs, “Lord, You Are Holy.”
Following the evening service the Barrick’s invited family and friends over to watch a football game.But the Barrick family wouldn’t make it home that night.In fact, it would be over 3 months later before the family would be home together again.Unbeknownst to them, a drunk driver was barreling down road going 80 miles.
The Barrick family was gravely injured when a truck ran over the family’s van.Having sustained multiple skull fractures and brain injuries Jen was not expected to survive the night.But God had other plans.
“A Miracle for Jen” details the long road of recovery for Jen Barrick and her family.Jen remained comatose for weeks.Family and friends rallied around the Barrick’s and sacrificially loved them and helped meet their needs.Someone remained by Jen’s bedside 24 hours a day, praying, reading the Bible and playing worship and praise music.
Having been warned that brain-injured comatose patients are often agitated and confused as they are waking up and may lash out, they weren’t expecting what would happen next.A phone call came in the middle of the night, “Linda, you won’t believe this, but Jen started praying out loud for forty-five minutes and hasn’t stopped since.”
This was just the beginning of God doing an amazing work in the life of a young woman who loves the Lord and had fully committed her life to Him.
This family would never be the same again.Their journey would not be easy.Each day there would be a choice to trust God and the work He was doing in their lives and depend fully on Him or to give in to pain, bitterness and unforgiveness and doubt God’s love.
Linda Barrick shares openly and honestly about the struggles they faced as a family.It was a journey they never wished for, didn’t deserve and didn’t understand.It was their faith in God and His goodness that brought them through.
Through reading “A Miracle for Jen”, my faith was encouraged, strengthened and challenged.There were times I both cried and rejoiced.This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it.This book is a keeper and one I want to read again in my own journey of life.
Through the generosity of Tyndale House Publishers I am able to offer a certificate for one free copy of “A Miracle for Jen.”If you would to read this book, please leave a comment on this blog post.In one week, Sunday, April 1, 2012, we will draw one name to receive the certificate for the free book.I will contact the winner to get your mailing information and send you the certificate.
One of the most wonderful things about the days in which we live is the abundance of God’s word for us to read and listen to. At the same time, I ought to be sobered because God tell us to whom much is given, much is required.
Please click on the link to the 2012 Shepherd’s Conference which took place early in March. The messages are free for download or to watch on line. These are men who study to show themselves approved and accurately handle the word of God.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. – 2 Timothy 2:15
A comment that Denise from Refine Me made provoked some thinking about God’s presence and His work in my life, even in the midst of trials:
So true Susan; when our hearts and minds are open to receive (even through our trials and when we are suffering!) our actions and outlook begin to change, and we open ourselves up to appreciate and accept every blessing with grace and sincere appreciation.Have a joyful weekend!Denise
Am I aware of God’s presence and nearness, even when my feelings don’t feel it?
Do I override my feelings with the truth from God’s word?
Do I looking for the blessings that God may have veiled during the everyday trails of life?
Am I trusting God to do a good work through the trials of life, even if the situation itself is not good?
Am I trusting God to refine me and buff out the things in my character that are sinful and not pleasing and glorifying to Him?
Do I have the eyes to see God’s goodness woven into the difficulties?They are like roses amongst the thorns and manure.
Do I say thank You Lord for this trial, for this lesson?
bother, irritant, nuisance, pest; disadvantage; cross, misery, tribulation, something to be avoided at all cost
Lord…help me to walk by faith, trusting You at every turn.
Please check out Denise’s blog at Refine Me. You will be challenged, convicted and built up in the faith. Her blog is one of my regular and favorite reads.
Today at lunchtime, as I walked to my car I was talking with God. “Lord, I don’t know why You keep me here and what is it that You want me to learn? But whatever it is I’m begging you to help me learn the lesson so we can move on. I’m overwhelmed Lord.”
I turned on the radio only to hear my words echoed. The pastor was teaching through the book of Lamentations. “You are overwhelmed and crying out to the Lord and asking why. The truth is you’ve come up against life and life holds trials and tribulations. Instead of asking why, what you need to do is to praise God in the midst of your trials and tribulations.”
Wow! God had my attention. He wasn’t promising a quick deliverance from uncomfortable circumstances. But He showing me that I could encourage my heart right where I was at by reminding myself and praising Him for who He is, both in the good times and bad.
Lamentations 3:22-26
22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24 “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”
25 The Lord is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26 It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the Lord.
God you are indeed the God who hears my prayers, You are the One who never leaves me, nor forsakes me. Great is Your faithfulness, Your mercies are new every morning and more than sufficient to help me right where I’m at today. Help me to keep my heart and mind stayed on You. May Your Holy Spirit bring to my mind truth found in Your word. Lord help me to trust You even while I’m in the midst of uncomfortable places for You are always near. Thank You Lord…I love You!
This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not. Head on over and take the challenge today.
When I hear the word brave, I think of someone who is courageous and self-sacrificing in face of danger, giving little thought of the personal cost to themselves, and a willingness to put themselves in harm’s way to protect, rescue and help others.
I think of men and women who serve in the military to serve, protect and defend this nation.Often they do so at a cost to themselves.Their family also sacrifices so that our nation can be secure.
A living picture of bravery are police officers and fire fighters.I’ll never forget the images of the men walking into the World Trade Center Towers on September 11, 2001.Men and women of like character serve and protect our towns and cities each day.We owe a great debt of gratitude to those who daily serve, protect and defend us.
There’s another kind of bravery that I see in those courageously facing a terminal or devastating diseases.Not giving up and not giving in to despair.That’s not to say that their every moment is infused with courage, but they don’t stay there. Instead they press on.
A compelling picture of bravery is Christians who live in nations where being a Christian is a matter of life or death.They willingly and daily choose to proclaim the message of salvation found in Jesus Christ alone, no matter what the cost.Accepting the cost rather than deny their Savior.
Lord, may I be a brave and courageous person when the time of testing comes.
This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not.Head on over and take the challenge today.
Today the Lord convicted me that I was praying empty prayers devoid of faith when praying for God to intervene in circumstances in my life.
My prayers have been passionate and my feelings have been laid bare before the Lord.Each day, I’m praying for God to move in the circumstances and intervene on my behalf.While I was praying the Lord helped me to see that I was being double minded.I was asking for the Lord to be at work in my situation and immediately following that prayer I was planning how to handle it if or when the Lord did not answer my prayer as I had asked.
I’m wrestling about praying with faith and accepting God’s will.I desire to pray with confidence in God and be assured that He is able to handle what concerns me.Nothing is too hard for God.
Then the doubt creeps in…I need to be practical, after all what I’m praying may not be God’s will for my circumstance?
Erring on the side of faith, when I’m praying within the will of God as revealed in the Bible, I can pray with a confident expectation that God will act.
The fine line is praying with expectation and a confident assurance in God, but not demanding my way when God chooses to act differently.I need to remember that when God chooses to answer my prayers differently, it doesn’t change one iota who He is and what He is able to do.I can trust the plan He is working out.I will only know God’s will as He works out the circumstances in my life.
Lord, may I err on the side of faith, of believing that You are well able to handle all that concerns me today.Help me to pray Lord with unwavering faith and trust You in all circumstances.May I not be double minded and remember that You are pleased with those who walk by faith.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. – Heb 11:1
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. – Heb 11:6
7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. – James 1:7-8
This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not.Head on over and take the challenge today.
As I start this week, I’m asking the Father for help. How can I not just tolerate the unlovely, but actually love them?
It impossible in my own strength, to love those who are unlovely. Impossible to love those who are unlovely in their character, whose words are ugly, boastful, prideful or mean-spirited. Yet God calls me to love those very persons whom He has placed in my life.
As I was listening to a sermon this weekend by John Piper I got a better understanding on how I can walk in the Spirit by abiding in Christ. What does it mean to abide? John’s description helped me to see in a practical way what abiding looks like in everyday life.
“And if you wonder what hour-by-hour abiding in Jesus means, it means hour-by-hour trusting him to meet all our needs and be our supreme treasure. And when we are confident that he will meet all our needs and be our treasure, we are freed and empowered to humble ourselves and meet the needs of others.”
Hour-by-hour abiding in Jesus…Lord that’s what I need to do. Lord, help me to do that this coming week, so I can obey Your command to love one another and even love my enemy. May I remember that I too was the unlovely one that You chose to love. How amazing is that?
Sharing what they’ve learned in this journey called life
They share from their heart
What the Lord is teaching them today
Dare to reveal their hopes and dreams about tomorrow
They openly share about trials and temptations
Failures and what they’ve learned
Praising God for their victories in Christ
They share with photographs
Too beautiful for words
Of God’s abundant blessings in their lives
They give a picture into their lives
Telling of family and friends
Even their heartfelt passionate prayers
They encourage readers to stand firm in their faith
Never waver or doubt
But only believe
Some old friends, some new
Some whom I know personally
Some I will one day meet in heaven
They bless me as I read what they share
In their journey of life
Lord, for this I give You thanks
By Susan Wachtel
March 3, 2012
Thank you to the many bloggers who have blessed, challenged and encouraged me.Truly there have been day’s the Lord has used your word and pictures to bring me much needed encouragement.Abundant blessings to you in Christ!
I could easily writing about the ache that I have for heaven. There’s not a day that goes by that I wonder, is today the day that Jesus will call His church home? Is today the day in which I will meet my Lord and Savior.
However, after reading Wanda’s post at “The Watered Soul” it got me to thinking about a different kind of ache. It’s the ache that I have in the midst of the busyness and pressing demand of life to be able to make the time to do things I love to do, to do things that really matter and make a difference.
Oh I feel that ache often. It’s the card that I don’t send because I don’t have time to sit down and write a few words of encouragement. It’s the phone call I never make because I know the person likes to chat and I only have a few minutes. It’s the doily that sits uncompleted on the table because I don’t sit down and take the time to finish it. Or I don’t take a couple of hours to go to the park with my camera and snap some photos of God’s creation. I feel that ache when thoughts that are going through my head that I don’t take the time to put pen to paper and really listen to what the Lord is teaching me.
Lord…show me how to get off the merry-go-round and LIVE life and not just continually run at a frantic pace, accomplishing stuff that’s of little consequence and of no eternal value. Show me how Lord, show me how.
This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not. Head on over and take the challenge today.
Tonight at Bible study we sang the hymn “Oh How I Love Jesus.”As we sang acapella my thoughts began to wander and I found myself thinking what will it be like when we are seated at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb?
Who will I sit next to?Will it be family or friends that I knew all my life?Or will it be a new friend that I will get to know in eternity?Will we break out into songs of praise and worship with the people seated next to us, giving praise, honor and glory to the Lamb of God, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Oh How I Love Jesus
By Frederick Whitfield
There is a Name I love to hear, I love to sing its worth; It sounds like music in my ear, The sweetest Name on earth.
Refrain: Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus, Oh, how I love Jesus, Because He first loved me!
It tells me of a Savior’s love, Who died to set me free; It tells me of His precious blood, The sinner’s perfect plea.
It tells me of a Father’s smile Beaming upon His child; It cheers me through this little while, Through desert, waste, and wild.
It tells me what my Father hath In store for every day, And though I tread a darksome path, Yields sunshine all the way.
It tells of One whose loving heart Can feel my deepest woe; Who in each sorrow bears a part That none can bear below.
It bids my trembling heart rejoice; It dries each rising tear; It tells me, in a “still small voice,” To trust and never fear.
Jesus, the Name I love so well, The Name I love to hear: No saint on earth its worth can tell, No heart conceive how dear.
This Name shall shed its fragrance still Along this thorny road, Shall sweetly smooth the rugged hill That leads me up to God.
And there with all the blood-bought throng, From sin and sorrow free, I’ll sing the new eternal song Of Jesus’ love for me.
If you need a blessing from the Lord today and want some encourage, head on over and read Denise’s current post at Refine Me. She posted reflections about friendship.
When I first saw this week’s word “Grit” the movie True Grit came to mind.I remember the scene of John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn riding his horse across a meadow with guns blazing.
Grit…now that’s a rather interesting word.
Some people are like gritty sandpaper in my life.God uses them to buff out and polish off some of the rough not so pretty parts of my personality or character.The key is, to having the perspective that God is using them in the middle of those difficult days with difficult people.It doesn’t feel too good, but in retrospect I see how God uses them.
In fact I have one of those sandpaper people in my life right now.I find myself saying, “Lord, I don’t understand?”The other day when I was bemoaning the latest offence the Lord impressed upon me that perhaps I should ask, “Lord, what lesson do You want me to learn in this?”
Before I get too cocky and think too highly of myself, I need to remember thatI may be someone’s gritty, irritating sandpaper person.
Here’s one of the definitions of the word grit:firmness of mind or spirit : unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.
Now I rather like that!I would like it to be said, “Now she displayed a lot of grit.”But I want to be a godly woman of grit.Not one that is self-willed and unyielding, but one who can stand firm because I know my God, who He is and what He can do and because I know Whose I am.
This post is being linked to 5-Minute Friday courtesy of The Gypsy Mama, where you simply write for 5 minutes without worrying if it’s right or not.Head on over and take the challenge today. It’s kind of fun!
Susan's Blog 