What is your cause?

Over the last 2 years, my husband and I took up the cause of "waking up" our country through a national program.  We have spent many weekends teaching men, women, children, service men, veterans, families, beginners, and old pros the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship.  We have also studied hours upon hours the history of how our country began, namely the start of the Revolutionary War. 

At some point, I purchased an American Patriot's Bible and started having a devotional on Sunday mornings for those of us missing church.  I relayed stories of christian patriots and the church of 1775.  As time progressed, I emphasized knowing what was good use and what was God use of your time.  For that time, I knew I needed to be in Appleseed and having those devotionals. 

Then God put a devotional on my heart and had to keep nudging me to present it.  At our December shoot, I asked the devotional attendees how many of them would go back to work, back to their families and tell them all about the weekend.  How many would relate their experience, their struggle, the good points of Appleseed.

Then I asked them how many would go back and  be as excited to tell everyone about their experience with God?  We are all guilty of it, me included.  We throw ourselves into something heart and soul and want to tell everyone.  But when it comes to Christ, we shy away, back down.  We're afraid we may offend someone.  Yet His news is the best of all. 

This was a turning point in my christian life.  I had given all of myself to this 'project' and it was time to give it all to God.  It's a daily struggle, but it is worth it. 

My 12 weekends a year will now be spent with my family, nurturing those relationships because this is the next season of my life.  It's not to say anything is wrong with devoting yourself to something and being passionate about it, but make sure it is a God thing for you in particular, not just a good thing.  And make sure you put as much effort into your study of Him as you do anything else.

I met many christians in the project and will continue to pray for Christ to move through that organizatoin.  He is doing a great work there, using His soldiers to reach people.

Lord, I pray for You to be the passion of our lives.  Please guide us to those things that fall in Your will.  Amen.

Praise the Lord!

This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. 
Psalms 188:24 (KJV)

I learned this in a song as a child and the verse in Bible Drill many, many years ago.  Notice it says "we will".  It's not a request, not an admonition.  It is an afirmative proclamation!

Even though there are hurts and disappointments, this is still the day the Lord made!  He's here, sitting right next to you saying look at what I'm giving you today.  His sky, His trees, His animals, your breath, His strength, His promises, His nudges, His love, a needed smile or hug.  Keep Him with you today and rejoice because He loves you and He wants to show Himself to you today and that is absolutely amazing. 

Thank you, Lord that you love us and want to show yourself to us in the big things and in the little ones.  I will rejoice and count your many blessings today.  Thank you, Father.  Amen!

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

The journey is always more 'exciting' than the destination isn't it?  I've been trying earnestly to really think about things before I react and keep my mind on God.  But, like all of you, I am human.  I mess up daily and when things catch me completely off guard, my world can turn upside down and I don't necessarily react calmly and take it in stride. 

This happened to me Saturday and honestly, I was overwhelmed.  Many things happened all on top of each other and my mind and heart were going in all different directions.  During the night, I woke up and stayed up from the anxiety of it all. 

This morning, my stomach wasn't feeling so hot and I wanted to stay in bed rather than go to church.  But God reminded me I was in charge of breakfast for Sunday School.  Okay, I'm listening, quit thinking about myself and get my focus on Him.  I spoke briefly with a friend about yesterday's events (most of which she was aware of) and she smiled and said, "This too shall pass."  It brought such a calm to me.  Besides it being God's word, it is something I try to remember to get through the hard days.  God spoke to me so sweetly through her.

Then in worship, the words of 2 hymns filled my soul and calmed my spirit...

"Turn Your Eyes upon Jesus"

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!

Refrain

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

Refrain

---

"Amazing Grace"
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.


Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.


Lord, please give us the eyes to see You and ears to hear You above everything else.  Amen.

He always delivers

A couple of months ago, my father-in-law mentioned he was going to Haiti on a mission trip.  He pastors a small but mighty congregation with great faith.  Yesterday at 3:30 am, he set out with another pastor and his daughter (registered nurse). 

In preparing for the trip, they made plans and stepped out on faith they would raise the needed money to do all the mission work they planned.  This included helping build an orphanage.  There was a supper for donations and the pastors were on a local radio broadcast telling about their trip, hoping they would get support. 

A couple of days before the trip, they were still $600 short of helping the orphanage.  He was figuring out how to come up with some of the money and a guy called.  He wanted to know if it was too late to donate.  Absolutely not!  They met up and the guy said at first he felt led to donate $400, then he counted out 10 $100 bills.  He wanted so badly to help the people of Haiti. 

This is God at work in a big way.  My father in law is a diabetic and has had many ups and downs the last few years with his health.  But that didn't stop him.  God sent a nurse with him and provided in abundance for the trip.  When we step out of faith, with our hearts in God's will, he always delivers.  Amen!

Our cup and our action

Our cup...
"In times of suffering we are tempted to doubt God, to wonder if His promises are really true, to question whether He cares for us as He says He does.  Such lack of faith is sin...

Father, if my cup seems too bitter, help me to remember that it is Your wounded hand that is holding the cup.  Then no cup is too bitter, no water too deep, no burden too heavy but that I am willing to say, "Thy will be done.""
Originally printed January 2, 1941 in Open Windows.

This hit home with me because sometimes I feel overwhelmed by my cup, this week especially.  Yet this week I've been more calm than usual, seeing what is at the core of the problem.  This is coming from God, not me.

Mark 9:14-29 is talking about Jesus casting out a demon the disciples could not.  Verse 29 - "and He said to them, "This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer."" 

This explains my calm.  All my life I've tended to panic when the hard times hit, trying to figure out how to get through it or avoid it.  I would read anything I could get my hands on, search out my friends, etc.  But lately, I've been going straight to prayer instead of it being my second or third choice.  God is showing me that prayer is what will get me through and at times is the only thing that will.  Then He will guide me and speak to me through scripture, through a friend's word, through nature.  Prayer must be first and He will indeed get me through.


Our action...
"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." 
Romans 8:28
The writer in Open Windows referred to this, saying, "for those who love God and live for His purposes".  Sometimes as Christians we tend think if we simply love God in our heart, then everything will turn out for good.  We are called to do more than that.  We are called to be in the Word and in prayer, meeting God where He wants us to be.  We are called to actively love Him which means it's an action, not just a passive feeling where we sit back and tell God to go for it and make everything work out.

All throughout the bible our relationship with God is presented as a marriage and we are His bride.  A friend of mine has said many times marriage is about active love, not the feeling.  Otherwise it falls apart.  God is telling us the same thing about our relationship with Him.

Thank you, Lord that you are not one dimensional and you want us to know you.  Thank you for always seeing me through.

Deuteronomy 31:8

And 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

Reading this verse reminds me of something a very dear friend did for me.  Realizing I was going through a hard time, she took the time to type up 4 pages of 'promise' verses for me.  They are verses she holds onto and hoped I could hold on to as well.  When she sent them, she also wrote a prayer for me.  That prayer made the Holy Spirit so real to me that I carried it with me on a couple of trips and now keep it by my bed.  I know in my head God is always with me, but sometimes my heart needs a reminder.  I also look at those verses and a peace comes over me. 

The waters are still rough and God is still showing me He's here.  This week different phrases were said to me and today they make sense.  He was preparing me for another wave. 

Thank you, Lord, for always being with me, never leaving me.

Come Home

Another new song that gets to the core of life and God's response, which is our hope.



Come HomeArtist: Luminate
Album: (tbd)

You’re best friends with the word “regret”
And you’re afraid that your life’s been wasted
So why hope if it’s only gonna let you down?

You don’t think people really change
And you’re a mess and you’ll always be the same
And you doubt if you’ll ever get it turned around

So you’ve been running, searching for something
But you’re looking in a place you don’t belong
But it’s never too late, you can’t outrun grace
No, mercy doesn’t care what you’ve done
So, come home. So, come home

You can try and fix your broken empire
And put bricks on a cracked foundation
But you’d be building castles on the sand
There’s power in the blood of Jesus
And your Father’s screaming “just come home”
And He’s reaching out His hand

 I know you’ve been running, searching for something
But you’re looking in a place you don’t belong
But it’s never too late, you can’t outrun grace
No, mercy doesn’t care what you’ve done
So, come home. So, come home

From the shadows, from the wrong roads,
From the darkness, from the unknown,
To redemption, something beautiful,
To a new love, to a new home

Chorus