Run Away In-Box

It is hard to remember all the blessings of God when we are going through difficult times.  “Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord” (Psalm 107:43).

This morning I watched as my email inbox filled up with incoming mail. It was like watching a runaway train. When it reached 1,000 emails, I yelled for my husband to watch with me. My inbox was out of my control.

As I watched the numbers grow, I thought, how cool would it be to have email between God and us and each morning our inbox would overflow with past blessings as a reminder of where we’d been, His answers and how God poured blessings into our life!

By the time my inbox finished, 3,575 old emails from as far back as January, 2013 had resurfaced and needed to be deleted.  It was revealing to review some of the past prayer requests people had sent to me and how God had answered those prayers.

I took the opportunity to remember God’s blessings. Recalling how He blessed me and the many people that I love.  It gave me a thankful spirit, a thankful heart. As one of our daughters would say, it helped me to ‘reframe’ my thinking.

God loves us and sometimes we allow the difficulties of life to cloud His love, making it appear that He is absent.  None of us are exempt from trials. God will bring light from the darkness if we stay faithful and pray in His will.

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”  (Romans 8:28-29)

Let’s pray. Father, thank you for Your Word, where the pages are full of reminders to us about Your promises and blessings. Thank you that we can be like ‘a tree planted by the steams of water’ (Psalm 1:3) instead of a crumbled leaf blowing in the wind. We love You.

Until next time~

Blessings, Nancy

I'm Not Going Back To Egypt

How do you react to difficulty in life? Do you crumble with each challenging situation? Or are you strong, exhibit great faith and deal straight on with the difficulties in your life?

What about those long stretches of time when you’ve fought the good fight? During the dark seasons in your life that you wanted to sit this one out but you’ve kept going and been faithful to God. Just when you think I’m there, I made it through this unpleasant season and now I can relax a little bit… God has other plans for you.

You get a bill from the IRS in the amount of $6,000 because 2 years ago you incorrectly reported something on your tax statement.  The doctor’s report is not good. Your spouse seems a bit distant and discouraged and you wonder what’s changed. You have a prodigal child and years of unanswered prayers seem to be hitting a ceiling. Do you give up? Do you get angry? Or do you keep on fighting the good fight and take one more step?

I’m reminded about the Israelites and specifically when Moses was leading them out of their bondage in Egypt. They seemed to complain, rally, complain, rally, complain…get the point?  “The Israelites said to them, ‘If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.’” (Exodus 16:3) Is that where you are at today? Just take me Lord because the manna is not satisfying me and I just don’t see a way out of this life.

God heard their grumblings just like He hears ours today. “The Lord said to Moses,

‘I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites…’” (vs. 12) 

At times, even Moses was discouraged and we can learn great lessons from the transgressions of Biblical heroes. Moses was the man! God used him extraordinarily and even with the seemingly close relationship he had with God, Moses fell into sin. Are you a leader in your community or church? Do you have a close relationship with God?

God used something simple to get the attention of the second generation of Israelites. He used something we all need in our daily existence and He used this staple of life to show that no matter what your situation is, don’t give up, God will provide. God used the lack of water to get their attention. “There was no water there for the community, so they ganged up on Moses and Aaron.” (Numbers 20:2) Could this be the same thing as lack of money in today’s economy? What is God using to get your attention?

Moses, worn out from fighting the good fight, showed his lack of faith in the One True God. Right when the darkness of his season was great…when he needed to have the most patience, he allowed his inner most thoughts to be full of pride and anger. Who could blame him, right?  I get angry at the Israelites when I read the story of their constant grumbling too! “for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.” 
(James 1:20)

It sounds silly to argue the point and you may be thinking, it’s just semantics, but God asked Moses to speak to the rock, not beat it. Actually God told Moses to have Aaron speak to the people through Moses. You can read the account and get all the details but the point I’m trying to make is that Moses had already allowed his heart to turn away from God because of the pressures in his life. “…Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10b)

Frustrations get the best of us. Our feelings get hurt. We are disappointed in the people we thought were trustworthy. Our church doesn’t seem to do anything right. I never have enough money to pay my bills, what’s the use? God will never answer my prayers.

Pressures are inevitable but they can also be necessary. God is not sitting in heaven ready to answer the prayers of the highest bidder. Join me today in committing to a life of faithfulness in our God. Commit to not wanting to return to Egypt; back to a place where you don’t have to think or improve your life; to a place of captivity to something or someone. We typically stay in those situations because they’re familiar to us while we sit out life.

Instead, step out in faith. Improve your life by first making things right with God. If we want His blessings, we need to be in step with Him first.  “But the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’” (Numbers 20:12)    

Everyone’s life is imperfect. Don’t go back to Egypt. Each time you are tempted to return, remind yourself to take one more step forward. Let a perfect God be your solution.

Let’s Pray. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one." (Luke 11:2-4)

Until next time~                                  

Blessings, Nancy

 

 

A Mother's Day Message

The Senior Pastor at my church asked 3 women to give a Mother's Day Testimony. It was a privilege to be selected. I pray that the following words, that represent my walk with God, will bless you in ways that only He can do.

My Testimony about Motherhood

I’ve held many types of jobs. I began my work as a school teacher. I’ve also worked in corporate America, owned a small business and now work here at FBC. But out of all these positions, the best job has been mother to my 4 sons and 3 step-daughters.

God has taught me many things about being someone’s mom but my training began many years ago as a child. By observing my mother, I learned how to care and enjoy my children. By observing my dad, I learned how to explore my world and have fun and then use those experiences with my own children. During my earlier years of motherhood, I didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. Instead, God blessed me with loving parents that guided and helped me as a new mother.

Since becoming a Christ follower, God has taught me many things about being a mom and I will share 5 with you this morning

·         1. God taught me how to guard my heart.

My favorite scripture about guarding the heart is “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.” (Proverbs 4:23).  Out of the overflow of our mouths, speak our hearts.  

As moms, the things that we store up in our hearts will become what we teach our children. If the overflow of our heart is unforgiveness, bitterness and anxiety, then these are what our children will be taught. But if we store up good things like healthy forgiveness, pleasure, calmness, contentment, then our children will extend these characteristics to others.

God wants us to guard our hearts because they are valuable. We ask Jesus to reside in our hearts when we ask Him to take control of our lives. Our spiritual heart is our core and God’s Word instructs us not to grieve the Holy Spirit, so we must guard it. Today my heart is full of His blessings. God keeps His promises.

·         2. God taught me how to love my children.

My children can win my heart and break it, all in the same day. I’m not sure how to explain why or how a mother can exhibit feelings of constant love for their children, even when they disappoint us, but if we understand how our Father in heaven must feel about us when we sin against Him, then it makes it easier to love our children under all circumstances.

Unconditional love did not come naturally to me, especially when a 3 year old is telling you how much he hates you for not letting him do something.  I remember times when I would go into the bathroom needing a quiet moment and see little fingers reaching under the door eagerly awaiting my return. How can you not love them?   God showed me love through my mistakes and I learned how to pass this love onto my children. A favorite scripture verse about His love is: “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)  And today, years later, I feel much loved by my children. God keeps His promises.

 ·         3. God taught me how to train and grow my children.

As a child, my dad would send me to the dictionary if I asked him how to spell a word. I took that principle of how to think with me into motherhood by teaching them how to seek God’s Word to solve problems.  As parents we have a choice, we can either think for our children or teach them to think.

My boys will tell you that I can exhibit ‘that look’ when they’ve done something wrong. We laugh about it now. Raising 4 boys to become Godly men had its moments. Satan tempted me many times, especially during the teenage years.

Raising a family is hard work. Because we’re a blended family, the family of origin becomes diluted with many views. When my boys were teenagers, they tested these views and my reactions were not always holy. But God showed me how to trust Him in these situations. That if I was patient, He would use me to grow them into Godly men.  

I recall when one of my teenagers made an unwise choice and my punishment was for him to call Barbara Howell and sign up to work at the local soup kitchen. He was not happy with my choice of punishment. He ended up volunteering more than I expected; solicited his brother and developed a fond relationship with Barbara and Vern. 

Two favorite scriptures were needed during these teenage years: “Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3) and “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)  Today, both of these sons help in the soup kitchens at their local churches. God keeps His promises.

·         4. God taught me how to pray for my children.

Besides loving your children, pray for them. It is an awesome responsibility. God taught me how to pray for my children by praying with them. I recall one time asking one of my sons how I could pray for him and he said, You can ask God to change your mind about letting me have a cell phone.

Now they are young adults and those moments of praying are spent huddled together at an airport praying over their next steps; or sending text message prayers. These days I pray for them in the Spirit. I encourage moms of college bound kids to continue praying for your children as they leave home. The Spiritual Warfare is real for them and they depend upon your prayers. Prayer is a gift you can give to your children and precious time spent with God. I have 2 favorite scripture verses about prayer: “But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." (Daniel 3:18) and “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6). It is not uncommon for my sons to ask ‘how can I pray for you today mom?’ God keeps His promises.

·         5. God is teaching me how to be a mature mother for my children.

Today, my children live in many parts of the world. And they are always checking in to make sure that Gary and I are doing well. Keith gave you a great illustration this morning about the triangle. If you are married, remember to put God at the top of the triangle with you and your spouse at the other points, each endeavoring to get closer to God. If you are a single parent, do the same, put God at the top and as you endeavor to get closer to God, Your children will also be blessed by your actions.
I didn’t know to do this with my first marriage and I put my children first. But God blessed me with a second chance with Gary. God will honor your actions.

I love the opportunity to minister to other women and God gives the mature woman instructions on how to do this in Titus 2:3 “and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good;” As older women we should be helping our younger moms. We’ve walked the tough walk. We’ve experienced the Spiritual battles. My adult kids cheer me on and pray about my involvement with the single mom’s ministry here at FBC.   

On a recent visit to my sons in Arizona, I got a glimpse of what our 30-40 something age groups need from us. Their church is filled with young couples that told me: “We desperately need your Godly wisdom as we grow our families. We want the older members of our church to be involved in our lives.”  I pray that this encourages you to get involved with our young families. God is keeping His promises.

·         Some Advice to younger mothers

Aren’t you glad that you’re not Eve, the mother of all the living? The one additional thing I’d like to leave our young moms with is how social media will affect your children.

I was not a cool mom because I turned TV off and guarded their selections. They also had mandatory summer reading assignments, not from school, but from me. I did treat them to ice cream once they finished the book.

Today, TV and other social media deliberately indoctrinate young trusting minds with false teachings. Ben Stein, who today most people know as a humorist and actor, was a former speech writer for Nixon and Ford, has evaluated the scripts of TV and movies. He found 11 characteristics that are negatively shaping our children today. Two of these include:              1. Fathers are stupid and 2. Women who reject motherhood are heroic.  Give no opportunity to Satan. A favorite scripture verse to help you is found in 1 Peter 5:8. “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”   

·         To our Single Moms

Thank you Pam Moore for trusting me with this precious group of ladies. Mother’s Day can be a mixed bag of emotions for the single parent.  Remember that your identity and strength comes from the Lord. Your kids are listening and watching how you maneuver through these difficult days.

10^th Avenue North has a song called, I’m Worn. Here are a few of the lyrics:

I'm tired

I'm worn

My heart is heavy

From the work it takes to keep on breathing

I've made mistakes

I've let my hope fail

My soul feels crushed

By the weight of this world

And I know that you can give me rest

So I cry out with all that I have left

I want to know a song can rise

From the ashes of a broken life

And all that's dead inside can be reborn

Cause I'm worn

Let me see redemption win

Let me know the struggle ends

That you can mend a heart that's frail and torn

In a recent single mom’s retreat, we studied Matthew 10:34: ‘Don't think I've come to make life cozy. I've come to cut.’   Yes, God sometimes has to wreck a life in order to save it. Stand on God’s promises – He will not let you down.

Finally, our dear sister, Dottie Pallotta went home this past week to be with her Lord. I asked her daughters to tell me one thing they will always remember about their mom. They told me she was always concerned about their health and taught them to take good care of themselves by exercising and eating correctly. Good advice from a mom that loved her children.

Moms, you are leaving a legacy for your children. Because I stood on God’s promises, and He was faithful, I can delight in reading 3 John 4: “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”  

Thank you.

Are You Ready?

Oswald Chambers died in 1917 but his work continues today in so many of our lives. Some of us affectionately refer to him as Ossie. We’ll have to explain that to him someday!

Today, Ossie hit it out of the park again in his April 18^th daily devotion, from his book My Utmost For His Highest.

“When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am.” (Exodus 3:4)

Oswald asks us a question: Are you ready for the surprise visits of God?

Yesterday I had stitches removed from a skin graft taken for recent eardrum surgery. My husband could not believe that I’d never had any childhood injuries requiring stitches. I asked him if it would hurt?  He said no, but I wanted to be prepared. So I prayed and asked God to help me not be nervous, used the internet to find out about removing stitches, asked other people, and then in the doctor’s chair, asked him if it would hurt?  

I wanted to be so prepared for whatever the situation would bring me and then today’s devotional stopped me in my tracks. My mental preparation for having some half inch of stitches removed suddenly seemed silly to me. Do I put this much time and energy preparing myself for surprise visits of God?

How about you? Are you ready?

Oswald says ‘a ready person never needs to get ready.’

Let’s pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for gently showing us that we need to be ready for You. That we need to be ready to do the small things You ask of us just as much as we need to be ready for the larger jobs You will have for us to do. Thank you for Your constant presence in our lives. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen

Until next time,

Blessings, Nancy

(p.s. It was a breeze...didn't hurt at all!)

Encouragment from God

We all can use a word of encouragement and perhaps you need what I needed earlier this morning.  

Eight weeks into graduate studies, I woke up this morning feeling discouraged.  I did a ton of homework over the weekend and have my assignments done through the 13^th.  You’d think that this would exhilarate and not discourage.  But Satan had me in his grips taunting me with all sorts of mind games…you can’t keep up with this grad work pace Nancy…who are you kidding? So I went to God’s Word to ease my anxiety.

God lead me to Joshua 3:13 “And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD--the Lord of all the earth--set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap."

Isn’t God just amazing? Always giving us timely and  perfect advice ~ How many times do we ask God to remove obstacles but He doesn’t… and we think He isn’t listening to our prayer? Perhaps He is listening! Perhaps He is waiting for us to take that step~

In life, we are never going to see the waters part by standing at the shore. We need to take steps of faith into the water. As soon as we step out in faith, God provides. Alleluia!

Keep your eyes on Jesus. “If we would move straight on in faith, the path would be opened for us. We stand still, waiting for the obstacle to be removed, when we ought to go forward as if there were no obstacles.” (Streams in the Desert, 2/11/13)

Dear Father, thank you for always providing the way through, around, under and over every obstacle and discouraging thought we come up against. Help us to have faith in Your Awesomeness; that when we fearfully step into unknown waters, that You are there cheering us on to the finish line.  In Jesus' strong name. Amen.

Until next time~

Blessings, Nancy

Finding Beauty After the Storm

“…Weeping may stay for the night, But joy comes in the morning.”  Psalm 30:5b

Yesterday the east coast had a snow storm. A work commute that usually takes 20 minutes became 1 hour as traffic moved at a snail’s pace.  But today was different. Today, I wish something got in my way to detain me from getting to work.  Today, the beauty of the snowy draped trees made me want to meander on my way to work.

It started in my driveway and continued throughout the commute.  Beautiful blue skies as the backdrop.  Trees that used to stand tall, now leaning from the weight of snow on their branches, forming a canopy of winter wonderland.  I could hear Bing Crosby singing in my mind and felt giddy remembering childhood snow days of long ago.

 I kept saying, Lord, this is so beautiful. Yesterday was such a miserable day and today You have blessed us with such beauty!

Isn’t that just like God?  To take miserable days and seasons in our lives and make something beautiful from them?

Perhaps I am being too dramatic, but as I especially drove down my little road this morning, overly amazed at the beauty of it all, I wondered if my reaction to heaven will be the same.  Honestly, if anyone except Jesus had been in the car with me, they would have thought I’d never seen snowy trees before. 

‘I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.’   Revelation 21:2 

Like your first glimpse of a bride as she walks down the aisle at her wedding, we gasp with excitement and awe for her.  She looks radiant. We cannot take our eyes away from searching her face, the dress, hair and jewelry.  We take it all in but our eyes aren’t satisfied with just a small glance, we watch her every move.  Why? Because it makes us feel good.  It makes us feel happy.

That’s what I think heaven will be like. Ever searching with all of our senses.  Overwhelmed by the beauty of being in the presence of our Lord and Savior.  “And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.”  Revelation 4:3

 Earlier this morning, my eyes could not drink in enough of the snowy treat. Tonight, it is gone. Bare trees all standing tall again.  The momentary beauty melted until another day.  Unlike our future heavenly home where we will be co-heirs with Christ in His glory and majesty, forever and ever!  Alleluia!  Amen. 

Let's pray. Father, thank you for always taking care of the clean-up after our storms. Perhaps there is someone reading this that needs to know how You do this. I pray that they will reach out and ask. Father, thank you for always keeping Your promises. In Your Son's Strong Name I pray. Amen.

Until next time~

Blessings, Nancy