So Shall We Ever Be

"Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." 

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18

I have a friend right now who is getting all of her 'ducks in a row.'  Putting things in order for the 'just in case.'  It's hard to try to figure out the future when we are still trying to figure out what we need to do today.

Sometimes, when I read a book, the middle of the story begins to get intense.  I don't like intense, so I will read the last few pages in the book, just so I know that everything works out OK and to my liking.  lol. (I'm not going to read a book that doesn't end the way I want it to; I believe in Happily Ever After.)

But real life is different.

Things are going great and then WHAM!  From out of the blue something enters our lives that rocks our boat and shifts the solid ground we are standing on.

But if you are a child of God, then you already know the end of the story: Jesus wins, and one day we will be in heaven with Him forever.

If you could know what tomorrow holds, would you want to know?  

I don't think I would.  I think it would ruin my 'today.'

God is already in our tomorrow, and the next day and the next day after that, and He has promised to go before us in all things.  Isn't it nice to walk into the unknown and have our Saviour already there with His arms wide open for us letting us know that everything is going to be OK and that we are not alone? I take comfort in that. God sustains us in all things.  He never fails.

No matter how my life or your life may be right now...

    we can still rest in the fact that we know the end of the story...

            But that's just me!

But for A Moment

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

In Mark 5, Luke 8 and Matthew 9, there is an account of a woman who had a chronic illness, an issue of blood, for twelve years.  She had seen every doctor, and she had spent all the money she had to get help with this illness and instead of getting better, her condition worsened.  I can relate; and I'm sure many of you can as well.  We live with a chronic illness every single day.  We wake up each morning and wonder if this is going to be a good day, or if our condition will flare up and our day will be one filled with pain.  Pain that is often debilitating.

I often read this account and try to imagine the joy this woman experienced at the moment she touched the hem of our Saviour's garment.  She reached out in faith, and 'straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.' (Mark 5:29) This woman found healing.

Then there is the Apostle Paul, who earnestly poured out his heart to God in prayer to be healed from the thorn in the flesh, and God told him that rather than being healed from his infirmity, the Power of Christ would rest upon him. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Paul woke up every morning with his chronic illness, but was reassured by God Himself that the Power of Christ would be upon him!

Can you imagine?

And it was the Apostle Paul who penned 2 Corinthians 4:16-17 under the power of the Holy Spirit that reminds us that our chronic illness that we wake up with every single morning, is merely a 'light affliction, which is but for a moment.'

Sometimes it doesn't feel that way, does it?

I've been dealing with my chronic illness for 34 years now.  Some days are manageable, and some days are hard to bear, but in the context of eternity, this pain truly is 'but for a moment.' Our afflictions in the here and now, are 'light' and are 'short-lived' compared to what eternity holds for us one day.  

Albert Barnes once said, 'Our trials are not meaningless. The afflictions actively prepare, build, and secure spiritual maturity and heavenly reward for the believer.  While earthly pain is fleeting and weightless, the glory of heaven is substantial, rich and eternal."

The Apostle Paul didn't describe his affliction 'light' because it didn't hurt.  No, he described his affliction as 'light' because of what he compared it with: an eternal reward.

We can look past our fleeting pain today...

    when we focus on our eternal healing in heaven...

        But that's just me!

Until

"Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusteth in thee: yea, in the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpast." Psalm 57:1

These words were sung from a cave. David was hiding from Saul, and in his current position and his current state of affairs, he turned to The Only One Who could help him.

God.

Have you ever been there?  In a cave? Hiding from the enemy?  Have you ever been backed into a corner and realized that there was only one way out of that corner?  

You will have to walk past your enemy.

Is your cave of your own making, or a result of someone else? 

Are you hiding from a person? Finances? Bad news? Health?

Your situation can be anything, but the destination always seems to be the same: The Cave.

I've been in a cave for almost two weeks now, so when I opened my bible and read David's heart cry, I found comfort in his words.  He was in a dire-straight.

But he was not alone.

His prayer was so serious, he asked twice for God's mercy.  He also reminded God that it was in Him alone that He trusted.  But what is so beautiful to me is that in the midst of the cave, David found refuge in the shadow of God's wings. 

We also know, by the words of David's prayer, that he realized that his calamity would eventually end. He knew he was in a cave right now, but he also knew that he would not be there forever.

UNTIL: Up to the time that.

David would remain in the shadow of God's wings UNTIL it was over.

David also knew that this would not be his last calamity.

When David prayed, he asked for God's mercies UNTIL THESE calamities be overpast.

'These' is the plural form of 'this.'

In other words, David was praying, 'God, be merciful to me, be merciful to me, because you are the only One I can trust, and I will remain in the shadow of your wings until this calamity is finished because You are my refuge!'

Sometimes when we find ourselves in a cave, it seems like we will never make our way out; but we will.

But UNTIL then...

    Remain nestled in the shadow of God's Wings...

        He is our refuge and strength and through Him we can overcome our enemy...

            But that's just me!

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse." Helen Keller

Fears

 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1 (and in the margin of my bible, I added, 'Or what?'

Turning on the News, every day is enough to make anyone fearful.  The unrest, anger, and hate in our society causes most sane people to want to crawl under a rock. Crime, Food Recall, Viruses and the list could go on. Fear will take hold of your heart...if you let it.

So, what exactly is fear?

Fear is an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger, a particular instance, emotion, reason for alarm. (Webster's Dictionary)

Now that we know what fear is, do you recognize it in your own life?  Are you going through a situation right now that is causing you great fear or anxiety?  Is there someone in your life that you are afraid of?

And what about fear itself?

During the Great Depression there was much fear and panic going on in our Nation.  During his first inaugural address on March 4, 1933, Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke these famous words, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself."  What he was trying to say was that panic and paralyzing terror are more dangerous than the actual crisis we face because they stop us from taking action."

I believe it.  When I'm afraid, I shackle my mind to my fear and I am rendered useless.

But when I finally calm down by quoting God's precious promises to me, I'm reminded of another definition of fear:  It's the reverential awe of God.  It's amazing that when I focus on God, my fear turns into trusting in His promises, my fear turns into courage, confidence and fearlessness!

When I focus on God, fear runs!

Isaiah 41:10 is one of my all-time favorites.   It says, "Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." 

I can't tell you how many times I have repeated this verse over and over in my mind through different situations in my life.  God's ever presence, comfort and encouragement removes fear and anxiety!

When I fear God, I have nothing else to fear, why?

    Because everything I'm afraid of...

        Is afraid of Jesus...

            But that's just me!

"God's presence brings quietness in the midst of alarm." F.B. Meyer

'Fear not' appears 71 times in the bible.

'Do not be afraid,' or 'Be not afraid,' appears roughly 30 to 40 additional times, depending on the exact wording.  The combined total of similar comfort phrases adds up to around 100 to 145 times in the KJV

 

Pardon the Interruption

 "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."

Proverbs 18:13

Has someone ever interrupted you while you were speaking to answer a question, they think you are about to ask?

Has someone ever interrupted you while you were speaking to finish your sentence for you.

Has someone ever echoed the words you are speaking while you are saying them because they think they know what you will say?  

Has someone ever just interrupted you before you finished your sentence at all?

This has happened to me, and guess what?

I've done it to others.

It's annoying, isn't it?  Especially when our spouse does it.  I can't count the number of times I will be telling my husband something and he will finish my sentence before I do, and I have to say, 'That isn't what I was going to say.'

And guess what?

He has had to say the same thing to me just as many times.

Kidner once said, "This is 'a special snare of self-importance.'" 

Matthew Henry notes that a "ready wit is fun, but solid judgment requires patience."

But when you come right down to it, it's pride and it's just plain rude; and when we speak before knowing the full facts, it exposes us to disgrace.

I wonder if I've interrupted my Lord?  Have I been too impatient to fully listen to what He is trying to teach me?  Have I interpreted His Word incorrectly because I haven't read it in context?  Am I hasty in going about my Father's business and doing something He didn't even call me to do?

I'm sorry, Lord.

Do you interrupt the Lord while He is speaking to you...?"

    Let Him finish speaking...

        You might be surprised by what He says....

            But that's just me!

The Network

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." 

Philippians 2:4

There was a storm rolling in.  I could see the black clouds on the horizon.  I could smell the rain in the air.  And of course, I checked the radar on the Weather Channel. (lol) I knew it was coming.  I quickly finished the task I was working on, gave my little dog, Grace, her anxiety calming treat, and we hunkered down on the couch to wait for the storm.  As the thunder crashed, the lightning flashed and the rain came pouring down, I thought of a few people I knew who feared such storms, and I began to text each one.  I asked them if they were okay, and then I reassured them that no matter how dark it may get, or how hard the winds blow, yet there were no tornados predicted.  Each text that I sent out was met with a reply telling me how much they appreciated being thought of and being checked on.

Then a funny thing happened: I got a text from my husband and then my son asking me if I was okay.  I smiled to myself and thought of the wonderful 'Network' we had going during the storm.  The comforts of communication that got sent out to reassure everyone that we would all be okay.

I was reminded of another Network.  A Network that connects each Giant Sequoias tree along California's rugged northern coastline.  These mighty, gigantic, ancient trees that tower over 350 feet tall have a shallow root system.  So shallow that if they were to stand alone, they would not be so mighty after all.  In fact, they probably would not survive a storm.  Standing alone, they would fall.  But because their root system intertwines with the other trees around them, they can stand through any storm; and so can the tree next to it.

I love that!

You don't have to wait for a storm to blow through before you connect with someone...

    Just reach out and let someone know you are there for them...

        You just may have prevented them from falling...

            But that's just me!

My Personal Bible

"The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself." 

Proverbs 11:25

Brother Larry Ingalls recently visited our church and shared a video of his ministry, Baptist Couriers for Christ, with us.  In one picture, it showed a room full of people listening to the Word of God being preached.  Among the hundreds of people in that room, only two bibles were among them.  The two people with the bibles, sat in the middle of the room and when the Pastor referred to a specific verse, those two people would hold their bibles up in the air for all to see. As soon as the bibles were held up, the entire room turned to look at the precious word of God.  You could see the longing in their eyes; to one day hold a bible in their own hands.  

When I saw that picture, I cried.

I have a bookshelf full of bibles that I have purchased and used throughout the years.  When one bible shows wear and tear, I go online and order a new one and place the old one on the shelf with all the others.

Six years ago, I began an email bible study with my aunt who lives in a different State.  She asked me if I had a bible I could mail to her.  Her request made my blood freeze in my veins.  The thought of having to choose one of my personal, precious bibles to give away was like amputating part of my body.  Years of experiences and years of notes written in the margins seemed all too personal to me.  I couldn't believe her request.  Deep down I thought to myself, 'What?  Send you one of my bibles?'  I began to sweat.  Then I thought that maybe I could just buy her a brand new one.  But no.  She wanted one of my personal bibles.   I began to pray.  I prayed and I prayed and I prayed about which bible I should send her.  I ended up sending her one of my favorite bibles that was jam packed with notes, answered prayers, heart-cries and praises.

And do you know what?

I don't regret it for a minute.

Proverbs 11:25 tells us that a generous person will prosper and whoever refreshes others will also be refreshed.

I had nothing to lose.

And everything to gain.

I learned a lot about myself that day, and it also reminded me of something:

The Christian life is all about giving ALL.

The Christian life is giving SELF to OTHERS...and

It's about giving family and strangers the best of what you have in ALL things.

I also learned that giving a bible away...

    whether or not it's one of my own, or one I purchased to give away...

        is the most rewarding gift I can give to anyone...

            for them, and for me...

                  But that's just me!

            

Baptist Couriers for Christ was founded as a Bible smuggling ministry on November 6, 1979, by Donald Stertz.  During a survey trip behind the Iron Curtain in 1978, he made a chilling discovery; in a church of 100, only 2 had bibles. Since then, this ministry has grown to use containers of all shapes and sizes to send Gospel literature and Scripture around the world.  This material is printed in thousands of different languages and sent to churches and missionaries throughout the world. If you would like to help in this ministry, you can find Baptist Couriers for Christ online, or write to them at:

3030 Witzel Ave. Oshkosh, Wi 54904

Always Watching

"The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." Proverbs 15:3

There is a huge debate going on around our Nation.  It's about Flock Camera's, have you heard?  Flock cameras are automated license plate readers, (ALPRs) made by the private company Flock Safety that capture and log vehicle details like the license plates, makes, models, colors, and unique markers. They read plates, log details, build databases and track movement.  Like any debate, there are two sides; the Pro and Con.  The upset among most Citizens is that this is a Mass Surveillance.  They track everyday citizens who have broken no laws.  Privacy is at risk because Police can track a person's history and location data without needing a warrant.  All Officers are not good.  Some Officers have used the system to stalk or even look up romantic partners, and like any technology, it makes errors.  The Flock cameras have led to false accusations against innocent people.  There was one such incidence in the State in which I reside when a woman was arrested and jailed for up to 6 months because her facial recognition was identified in a robbery that she did not commit.  In fact, she had proven that she was out of State at the time, but that didn't matter.  During her 6 months of incarceration, she lost her job, her house and even her pets.  Her life will always be affected by this false accusation all because of error.  That's the Con side.  On the Pro side, it has been used to rescue kidnapped children and to arrest true criminals.

But what it really comes down to is this: People don't like to be watched.  What they don't realize is that we have always been watched.  We are watched by our family members, the people we work with, the people we attend church with and we are being watched by our neighbors.  

We are also being watched 24/7.  Day and night.  We are being watched when we are sleeping and when we are awake.  We are being watched when we are doing good and when we are doing bad, and I'm not talking about Santa Claus.

No, we are being watched by the One True God.

Some people might feel uncomfortable knowing that we have a Creator God that sees everything we do, even in secret.  I actually find comfort in knowing that my Saviour sees me.  He knows where I am at all times.  He is my Protector, my Help and My Stay.  He is my Constant.

If you were to watch a recording of your day made by a Flock camera, what would it show?  Would you be embarrassed by the things you did or said?  Would you be ashamed?  Or would the recording show that you lived a life that is honoring and glorifying God?  Is it showing you lie to your neighbor, or does it show extended kindness to your neighbor?

The bible tells us in Hebrews 9:27, "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."  There will be a time when we stand before the Lord and be shown everything our life consisted of, the good and the bad.   "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works."

Revelation 20:12

I don't think it matters too much that we are being watched by the world...

    I think what matters most is that God is watching...

        But that's just me!

God sees everything even when no one else does.

Endurance or Indulgence?

 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

True or False:

-This has never happened to anyone else; False.

-There is no way out of this temptation; False.

-I can entice myself in my strongest temptation and still deny myself; False.

-I can search the Scriptures to help me, BEFORE and AFTER my temptation; TRUE.

"According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 2 Peter 1:3

-Jesus is the answer.  He is my Rescuer and Deliverer, and He has made a way of escape for me; TRUE.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

Whenever I read 1 Cor. 10:13, the first person I think of is Joseph.  In Genesis 39 we read of how Potiphar's wife tempted Joseph to lie with her. This woman had set her eye on Joseph and literally threw herself at him.  When she first approached Joseph with such a scandalous request, he told her no.  He also reminded her that by doing such a wickedness that he would sin against God.  Joseph thought this situation had been dealt with, but the bible tells us in verse 10 of Genesis 39, that Potiphar's wife enticed Joseph daily!  She eventually even had the audacity to grab a hold of Joseph when there were no other men in the house.  What did Joseph do?  "...he fled and got him out." He RAN!

Sometimes the only way to escape temptation is to run.

In 1 Corinthians 10:13, "Paul pointed to the One on whom the Corinthians could rely. The temptations that seized the Corinthians were like those that the people had always faced. They could be met and endured by depending on God, who is faithful.  Part of the Corinthian problem was that some in the face of temptation were not looking for a way by endurance, but a way in for indulgence." Walvoord & Zuck

Which brings me to another example.

"At a market, a little boy stood by a candy display, looking as if he was going to take some without paying. A clerk watched the boy and finally said, 'Looks like you're trying to take some candy.' The boy answered, 'Mister, I'm trying to NOT take any.'"  Anonymous

This may be a cute example of temptation, but it also shows that the longer you look at your temptation, the greater that temptation becomes!

It's our choice.

We can be like the little boy in the candy store and keep our temptation ever before us, or we can be like Joseph and RUN.

The way of escape isn't necessarily an easy way...

    but it's available...

        But that's just me!

If You Knew, What Would You Change?

"My times are in thy hand:" Psalm 31:15a

I saw a commercial the other day that was centered around a song called, 'Live Like You Were Dying,' by Tim McGraw, 2004.  It speaks of a young man who had heard heart-stopping news; he was dying.  So, what did he choose to do? Rather than sit home and have a pity party, he went out and did all the things he wanted to do to enjoy the time he had left.  He made sure that he, 'Loved deeper, spoke sweeter, gave forgiveness to the one he'd been denying, and then said, 'I hope you get the chance to live like you were dying.'"

It really made me think.  What would I change in my life right now, if I was given the news that my life is ending?

I think the answer for the wicked would be to go out and live a life of wild, sinful activities; but for the saved, I think we would put things into better perspective and perhaps clean up and confess the sins that might have taken residence in our hearts for far too long.  Maybe we would treat our family, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ with more love and forgiveness.  Maybe we would speak up for the cause of Christ more.

Or are we already living in such a way that brings honor and glory to our Lord Jesus Christ?  Am I already living in such a way that I would change nothing if I were told I would die tomorrow?

I would hope that would be true.

I began to search the Scriptures to see if there were any instances where God directly told someone that they would die on such a such day and how they would die.  

Hezekiah was such a man.  In 2 Kings 20:1 and Isaiah 38:1, Isaiah went to Hezekiah and told him to set his house in order because he was going to die.  When hearing such news, Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and began to pray, and because he prayed and wept bitterly to the Lord, God heard his prayers and gave him 15 more years of life.

In Jeremiah 28:16 we are told of a false prophet by the name of Hananiah.  He was not a prophet sent from God, and he taught rebellion against the LORD.  His days were cut short, and he died that same year.

King Saul was told in 1 Samuel 28:19 that not only would he be with the Lord to morrow, but his sons also. It came to pass, just as God had told King Saul; He and his sons died the next day in the battle on Mount Gilboa against the Philistines.

Some people are given the opportunity to kind of know when they are reaching the end of their life through a slow sickness perhaps, and then there are others who die tragically by car accidents, storms in nature, or by the hand of evil people with no warning at all.

I think if we are really honest with ourselves, if we knew the exact date and time we were going to be called home, there would be things we would remove from our lives and things we would add to our lives; mostly those things that are of an eternal value and not an earthly value.

Erma Bombeck once said, 'When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything You gave me."'

I don't think I would want to know my time of death...

    but in the meantime, may my time not be wasted on myself...

        but on others, all for the glory of God...

            But that's just me!

" The nearer we live to God while we live, the more ready will be to dwell forever in His presence when we die." J.C. Ryle

Children

"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward." Psalm 127: 3

When a criminal kills a pregnant woman, he is charged with two deaths.  Why, then, can women kill their own babies and not commit a crime?  

Because the crime has been legalized by a sin-sick society.  A society that is just as pagan as the society that used to burn their children as a sacrifice to the pagan God, Molech. (Deuteronomy 12:31, 18:10-12, Leviticus 18:21, 20:2-5)

I don't normally write about Politics, or our government, but when I read the headline in the News this morning, 'Democratic Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts signs Bill allowing abortions up to birth,' I became sick.  A picture showed this governor surrounded by women applauding this decision; a group of women who have a total lack of instinctive family love or normal human warmth.  Women who have been given over to a reprobate mind, according to Romans 1:31.  A type of woman who identifies the wickedness in the last days, according to 2 Timothy 3:3.  

Even animals have more natural affection towards their children than some women in our society have today.

Society and women today...

     have forgotten that children are a gift from God....

          They don't just belong to the parents; they come from God....

             But that's just me!

🎵Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world, red and yellow, black and white, THEY ARE PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT, Jesus loves the little children of the world! 🎵

"Children are the touchstone of ourselves; when we see how we react to children, we see how we react to God." Oswald Chambers

Power-Washed

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17

I didn't really notice the condition of our front porch until I opened our front door the other day to retrieve an Amazon package that had been delivered. (We generally use our side door to enter and exit our home.)  The wood was faded to gray with moss growing on most of the boards.  Years of weathered decay was finally becoming evident because of its lack of use.  At first, my husband wanted to replace all of the boards, but I asked him if I could try to power-wash it first.  With his 'Okay,' and with his assistance to get the power-washer all set up and ready to use, I began to power-wash the porch.  As I washed each board, an incredible thing began to happen.  The gray weathered dirt and moss began to peel off like old paint, and what it revealed underneath was beautiful, new wood.  Untouched and untainted by time. 

As I was watching this transformation I was reminded of a great transformation that takes place when a sinful heart turns to Christ for Salvation.  Of course, a sin-sick heart is a heart full of decay. It's not just on the surface; a sinful heart must be replaced with a new one. It needs to be replaced by Christ Alone.

For the believer, each time we confess our sin, Jesus promises to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness; not just on the surface, but thoroughly cleansed!  Untouched and untainted by sin.

Black hearts turn white as snow.

I wish I could show you 'before and after' pictures of my front porch.  The difference really is amazing.

How much more so, the results of a sinner's soul...

    Being washed clean...

        By the blood of Christ...?

            But that's just me!

  

Reflex

"And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the Ark of God."

2 Samuel 6:6-7

The first time David tried to move the Ark of God, it didn't go so well.  He chose to move it by his own way instead of the meticulous instructions made by God Himself.  No doubt David had good intentions, but good intentions are not the same thing as obedience; it was a costly mistake.

The Ark of God represented the presence of a Holy God; it was to be revered.

It's been said by some who have read these verses that Uzzah's death had been unfair.  Even David was displeased because the LORD had made a breach upon Uzzah, (verse 8), but sinful man cannot touch a Holy God.  Uzzah's reaction to the Ark falling from off of the cart was probably just a reflex; but God doesn't need man's help.

Webster defines reflex as an automatic and often inborn response to a stimulus that typically involves a nerve impulse passing inward from a receptor of a spinal cord and then passing outward from the spinal cord to an effector such as a muscle or gland without reaching the level of consciousness and often without passing to the brain.

In other words, Uzzah's response to the Ark of God falling off the cart, was an action performed without even thinking.

The more and more I thought about Uzzah's response to the falling Ark, the more and more I saw myself.

I immediately thought about the mechanics of worship.  

We all know the drill-

We get up on Sunday morning, put on our Sunday clothes, go to church, sing hymns, pray, listen to the preaching, come home, put on our every day clothes, eat lunch, do things around the house, and then do it all again for the evening service.

All by reflex.

All by mechanics.

All without thinking.

Just like moving the Ark, God has an intended way of worship.  Do I worship God as He deserves, or am I in a 'reflex mode' of worship that no longer has any thought behind it?

No reflex...

    No mechanics...

        Just true worship...

            But that's just me!

"Uzzah made a decision in a moment to disregard God's command and to do what seemed right to him. Even decisions made in a moment matter to God." Guzik

Half-Truth

"A half-truth is a deceptive statement that contains some true facts but leaves out crucial context or mixes in falsehoods to mislead people." Webster

I thought what was said was true. I had no reason not to believe what I had heard;

But then I heard the rest of the story.

Disappointment and heartache set in.  A relationship built on trust will now always be questionable.

I reached for my bible to see who else had been hurt by a half-truth.

"Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister: that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee."  Words of Abraham to Sarah, his wife because he feared Pharaoh.  

Genesis 12:13

"And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah." Genesis 20:2

Abraham spoke this same half-truth twice.  This lie hurt his wife, Pharaoh, Abimelech and Abraham himself.  His testimony was ruined before worldly leaders, and trust was severed with his wife.

Was Sarah Abraham's sister?

Yes.  But it was a half-truth.  They shared a father but had different mothers.  Abraham's lie put Sarah's life in danger and proved that Abraham feared man more than he trusted that God would take care of them.

"And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD." 1 Samuel 15:13  

Saul failed to completely obey God's command to destroy the Amalekites and all their livestock.  When Samuel confronted Saul concerning Saul's half-hearted obedience, (which really is disobedience) Saul spoke a half-truth.  Yes, Saul did go into battle and destroy most things, but he hid the fact that he intentionally spared King Agag and the best of the sheep and the cattle to keep for himself.

Why did Saul tell Samuel a half-truth?  Because he feared the people.  (1 Samuel 15:24)

Saul was rejected by God to be king, because of his disobedience.

"For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." Words of the serpent to Eve in the Garden of Eden.  Genesis 3:5

This is probably the greatest half-truth of them all.  It caused Eve to ignorantly sin against God, and it caused Adam to willfully sin against God.  It was the fall that affected all mankind.

This half-truth revealed that yes, they would gain knowledge of good and evil, but Satan deceived them by not revealing the consequences of their disobedience against God:

Sin, shame and spiritual death.

We have all spoken half-truths.  If we think we haven't, we are just deceiving ourselves, but it was brought to my attention because of the hurt a half-truth caused me.  

Half-truths and secrets hurt; but they won't always be hidden and they won't always be secret.

"For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14

"For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad." Words of Jesus, Luke 8:17

"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops." Words of Jesus, Luke 12:2-3

"A half-truth masquerading as a whole truth becomes a complete untruth." J.I Packer

Charles Spurgeon, "Often warned that doctrinal errors and spiritual compromises rarely enter the church as naked lies; instead, they come dressed in the language of partial biblical truths to deceive believers."  

Friend...

    a half-truth is nothing but a whole lie...

        But that's just me!

Acknowledge Him

 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

The ladies in my bible study are beginning a new theme this month: Walking By Faith.  It's off to a great start!  Even though our first verses we are studying have been studied multiple times before, God showed me something new today.  I love that when it happens.  God's Word is alive!  This is what He showed me today...

vs 5-Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

•Trust in Who?

-The LORD!

•With what?

-ALL my heart!  It must be all or nothing.  There is no middle ground when it comes to trust.

 I can't try to make sense of something with my own understanding.  His ways are not my ways!  I must seek God's Word.

vs 6-In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

•In ALL.

-Every circumstance, every situation, in every trial, fear, joy and happiness.

•Acknowledge.

-To recognize the rights, authority or status of, to express gratitude or obligation for, to take notice of, to recognize as genuine or valid.

In other words, I must surrender to God's Will knowing that He is in control, He has the right to be in control, and He will never do me wrong, cause me harm or steer me in the wrong direction.  He always wants what is best for me.

But I did notice something new this morning, something I had not seen before.

•Paths

-Plural.

-Not 'path.' 

-PATHS.

For some reason, I had always read it as 'path.'  As if my life is one journey, one road.  It's not.  My life is made up of many decisions that lead me in different directions.  Some paths I remain on, some I leave.

Some paths are familiar, some are new, but this one thing is clear:  God promises that if I hand over the reins of my life, if I hand over the roadmap of 'my plans' and surrender to His will, He promises to direct my course.

He makes no mistakes...

    He will plan and lead me according to the purpose He has for me...

        He will not only direct my paths...He will clear the way for me...

            But that's just me!

3 Things To Remember

On my way into town today, I was listening to K-LOVE Christian Radio, and the Hosts were sharing an excerpt from Matthew West's book, Don't Stop Praying. (Published February 2026) It was so profound, that I decided to research this account and share it with my Readers; this is what I found:

"The 'exercise' Matthew West speaks about is a powerful trust walk from a father-daughter camp (attended at JH Ranch) that served as a spiritual metaphor.  He recounts this exact story at the beginning of his book, Don't Stop Praying.

The Camp Exercise Setup-

Fathers and daughters went deep into the woods for a guided hike.  The daughters completely blindfolded, and the fathers were tasked with leading them safely through the terrain.

Before starting, the fathers had to have their daughters memorize and repeat three strict rules:

1-"I will never leave you."

2-"You can ask me anything."

3- "Only listen for the sound of my voice."

How the exercise unfolded-

 •The Easy Phase- At first, Matthew kept his hand on his daughter's shoulder. They walked and talked easily, and she felt entirely secure.

•The Silent Command-A camp counselor gave a silent hand signal to Matthew, forcing him to remove his hand from her shoulder.

•The Silence-Another silent signal from the counselor meant Matthew was no longer allowed to speak to her. However, the rules permitted him to speak only if she remembered rule number 2 and asked him a question.

•The Detour-Because she stayed completely quiet, she began drifting off course. A camp counselor quickly took her hand and led her directly into a ditch without her realizing it.

•The Breakthrough-Confused and standing blindfolded in a ditch, she finally realized her father's promise and called out, "Dad, are you there?" Matthew immediately and emotionally answered, "Yeah, I'm here!"

The Spiritual takeaway-

Matthew West uses this viral story in his ministry and book to illustrate prayer and faith. He explains that people often act like his daughter in the woods-wandering into 'ditches' of life, feeling blindfolded and confused, while entirely forgetting that God is standing right beside them, waiting for them to simply call out and ask for help."

I couldn't stop thinking about this illustration all day long.  When things seem to be going great in my life, it's easy to feel safe and secure in the promises of God, but when things begin to change and I no longer 'feel' the presence of God in my life, fear, doubts and confusion enter my thoughts.  I being to make decisions without seeking the Lord and I find myself in a ditch of my own making.  But then I remember God's promises-

"I will never leave you" Hebrews 13:5

"You can ask me anything" 1 John 5:14-15, John 14:13-14, Mark 11:24, Philippians 4:6

"Only listen for the sound of my voice" John 10:27

Thank you, Lord, for reminding me that you will never leave me...

    I can call on You and ask You anything...

        and I know Your Voice...

            But that's just me!

Purposed

"But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself."  Daniel 1:8

Daniel purposed in his heart...

I've been thinking a lot about this verse lately.  Our church just finished a week-long Family Camp, and we all heard Spirit-filled preaching to help improve our relationships with our spouses, our children, and with our friends.  It's easy to make decisions based on what you have heard right after the church service, and it's easy to fulfill those decisions you've made for a week or two at least, but as the weeks turn into months, the decisions that we have made during special meetings, or after the weekly church services begin to wane and fall on the wayside, and we find ourselves right back where we started from.  Why is that?

Laziness.

It takes hard work and effort to change. 

Daniel made a decision.  His decision was based on a conviction, not on a standard.  Standards change; convictions will not change.  

He determined himself not to eat the king's meat.  This was a decision he had to make every single day. His determination was kept for an intended purpose: To please God.

Jesus did the same thing.  Every single day, Jesus purposed in His heart to please His heavenly Father.  To continually go about His Father's business.  Jesus set His face to go where He needed to go, to meet the person or person's He knew would be waiting for Him there.  To do what God the Father asked Him to do.  

Jesus never did anything half-heartedly or without reason or purpose.

So, how can we glorify God, whether in the time of ease or in the time of trial like Daniel?  According to Guzik, the heart must be set.  Daniel made up his mind beforehand that he would not compromise. It's to know in our hearts that "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31

Lord, help me to purpose in my heart to do...

     only those things that will please you...

        But that's just me!

   

The Voice of A Shepherd

"And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers."  Jesus speaking, John 10:4-5

I remember as a little girl, I could be in a room full of other kids and their mom's but when my mom called out to me, (and she didn't even have to call me out by name) I always knew that the voice I heard belonged to my mom.  When she called out to get my attention, for whatever reason, I heard her voice and I knew who she was, and I knew who she was speaking to; me.

During World War 1, some soldiers tried to steal a flock of sheep from a hillside near Jerusalem. The sleeping shepherd awoke to find his flock being driven off.  He couldn't recapture them by force, so he called out to his flock with his distinctive call.  The sheep listened, and returned to their rightful owner.  The soldiers couldn't stop the sheep from returning to their shepherd's voice.  

There is also a story of a Scotch traveler who changed clothes with a Jerusalem shepherd and tried to lead the sheep: but the sheep followed the shepherds voice and not his clothes.  (Dods)

Sheep do not follow after the voice of a stranger.  Why?  Because they only listen for the voice of their shepherd.  A shepherd whose voice they do not recognize, they ignore. 

Only their own personal shepherd has authority over their care, and they know him by his voice.

Do you know the voice of The Good Shepherd?

If so, He will lead you, guide you and protect you...

    But if you know not His voice, you will be led to danger and destruction...

        But that's just me!

The Search

 "But godliness with contentment is great gain." 1 Timothy 6:6

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

There is a tale of a king who suffered from a painful ailment. His counselors advised him of the only cure: to find a contented man, get his shirt, and wear it night and day. So, the king sent messengers to find such a man, with orders to bring back his shirt. After months of searching the kingdom, they returned empty-handed.
“Did you find a contented man in all my realm?” asked the king.
“Yes, O king, we found only one in all thy realm,” they replied.
“Then why did you not bring back his shirt?” the king demanded.
“Master, the man had no shirt.”
(Condensed from Tan, P. L., Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations, Bible Communications, Inc., 1996, pp. 272–273).

My friend, Cindy Burns, shared this story with me while we were doing a bible study about contentment.  When I read it, I cried.  

The world is seeking and searching diligently for contentment and happiness; but they are seeking and searching after the wrong things.  After the wrong people.

Why does it seem like those with the most possessions are the ones with such dissatisfaction in life?

And why does it seem like those who have nothing are the ones who have it all?

The answer, my friend, is Jesus.

Jesus is all we need.  Jesus is enough.

If you are searching for contentment...

    Turn to Christ...

        Your search will finally be over...

            But that's just me!

"Contentment is a sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit that delights in God's will in all situations."  Jeremiah Burroughs

 

Dehydrated

 Every year in the month of July, our small community takes a week to celebrate its town.  It's a week full of parades, picnics, food trucks and venders selling their wares on the Museum Lawn.  Alumni who graduated from our High School return and reconnect with old friends, and it's a time when families can come out and play family games and enjoy the benefits of small town living.

Our church kicks this week off by serving a free meal to those in our community to show them that we love and care for them.  We want to be a blessing to them and have the opportunity to tell them about our Lord Jesus Christ.

It was 100 degrees yesterday when we began to serve the meal, and in the heat, I lasted for about two hours.  I began to see black dots in front of my face.  I became overheated, dizzy and thought I was going to faint.  

Heat exhaustion.

I had never experienced anything like it before.  My husband ended up having to bring me home so that I could cool down and rest.  As I began to rehydrate myself, I remembered Psalm 42:1

"As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." 

Albert Barnes explains that "in the hot and dry regions of the Middle East, deer would often experience an intense physical thirst when pursued by hunters or suffering from drought.  These deer would desperately seek out water brooks to survive.  And just as deer pants for physical water, the psalmist's soul is driven by an all-consuming, desperate need for the presence and comfort of God."  In context, Albert Barnes notes, "This craving often peaks during deep affliction or when a person is separated from God's sanctuary. The psalmist-cut off from public worship and surrounded by enemies mocking his faith-finds that only God can satisfy his soul's profound thirst."  

"Ease he did not seek, honour he did not covet, but the enjoyment of communion with God was an urgent need of his soul; he viewed it not merely as the sweetest of all luxuries, but as an absolute necessity, like water to a stag." Spurgeon

Then I thought about Psalm 19:7

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." I love this verse.  According to David Guzik, God's law lacks no essential ingredient to guide, correct and instruct us.  The word converting is actually a Hebrew word that means to restore, revive or bring back.  God's Word doesn't just improve us; it completely revives our innermost being.  God's Word is completely reliable and unchanging. God's Word provides the ultimate foundation of practical wisdom and discernment to protect the vulnerable.  Literally, God's Word is like a cool spring bringing life to a weary soul.

Just as water refreshes our physical bodies, the Word of God refreshes our soul.  

Isn't that beautiful?

When we neglect the refreshing Word of God, we can become dizzy, disoriented, and dehydrated by the stresses of the world...

        But when we daily replenish ourselves in God's Word, we can be refreshed...

            But that's just me!

On a side note: I found two examples of actual heat exhaustion in the bible and I will let you check them out for yourselves.  

2 Kings 4:18-20

Jonah 4:8

There is also two comforting verses that promise God's physical and spiritual protection in Psalm 121:5-6: "The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night."