Joel 1; Matthew 7 - "We Won't Be Shaken"

God took me to Joel 1 this morning, specifically verse four. As I was reading, I wondered if I heard right. What does locust have to do with anything? Then I dug deeper and realized Joel was talking about what was going to happen to Judah at that time. It was not a picture of what it would be like in the final judgment from God but was what was going to happen then. Verse four reads in the New King James Version:

What the chewing locust left, the swarming locust has eaten;
What the swarming locust left, the crawling locust has eaten;
And what the crawling locust left, the consuming locust has eaten.

I read from Enduring Word Bible Commentary about a plague of locust in today's Israel and Syria in 1915. The first swarms came in March, in clouds so thick they blocked out the sun. The female locusts immediately began to lay eggs, 100 at a time. Witnesses say that in one square yard, there were as many as 65,000 to 75,000 eggs. In a few weeks they hatched, and the young locusts resembled large ants. They couldn’t fly yet, and got along by hopping. They marched along 400 to 600 feet a day, devouring every speck of vegetation along the way. After two more stages of molting they became adults who could fly – and the devastation continued.

This time with the locust was one that would be talked about for generations. It was a time never experienced before. Matthew Henry shared how God is in control of all creatures. He can make any creation do as He desires. He wrote: God is Lord of hosts, has every creature at his command, and, when he pleases, can humble and mortify a proud, rebellious people, by the weakest and most contemptible creatures. It is just with God to take away the comforts which are abused to luxury and excess; and the more men place their happiness in the gratifications of sense, the more severe temporal afflictions are upon them. The more earthly delights we make needful to satisfy us, the more we expose ourselves to trouble.

Will we see something of this sort come down upon us? What will God allow to happen or do to us as a rebellious people? Times are tough but how tough will they become? What is it going to take to get people to realize God is what they need in this life to not just through the temporal aspects of life but to spend eternity with Him? It is human nature to choose the easy road but we know from Matthew 7:13-14 which road we need to take. 

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." NKJV

Matthew continues in verses twenty-four through twenty-seven about how we are to live our life built on the Rock. He must be the foundation of our life if we desire to live with Him for eternity. No matter what comes our way we must be ready in our faith and trust Him. He desires us to be strong in Him. The desire of His heart is for us to be so strong in our faith others will desire what we have in Him. Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the reminder this morning of what I need to do to be ready for whatever tough days are ahead! Thank You for loving me so greatly! Thank You for the rest You provided yesterday! Thank You for being with me as I continue to take care of insurance, death certificate, etc.! Father, cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You ooze out of my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today in a meaningful way. Lord, be with Corey today with Kirstin's service. May he feel Your presence and strength. I pray the same for Nadine today. Lord, I pray for believers to live as You desire, loving on people with Your love so more people will come into relationship with You. I pray for bi-vocational pastors who are pulling together the sermon You desire of them to preach tomorrow as this is their 'day off' from their regular job. I pray for pastors who are struggling with what You desire of them to preach to hear from You today. Lord, continue to empower us all. Thank You for continuing to be with me through this time of adjustment without Doc here with me! Thank You for the way You continue to give me exactly what I need, when I need it! Thank You for being My Foundation! Amen.

John 1:4; I John 1:5-7 - "Alive"

Each time I woke up during the night I had words to Big Daddy Weave's song Alive going through my mind. The one time I woke He had John 1:4 on my mind. John begins his book talking about a life with Christ when we are in relationship with Him. Verse four in the New Living Testament reads: What came into existence was Life, and the Life was Light to live by. When we live for Him on this earth, we will live for eternity with Him. Woo hoo!

But God, rich in mercy
You came to save me
Now I'm alive
But God, strong and mighty
You reached down for me
So I could rise

Now I'm breathing in, breathing out
I was in the grave, but God you called me out
Now I'm breathing in, breathing out
I was in the grave, but God you called me out

In The Passion Translation John begins his writing with these words. In the very beginning the Living Expression was already there. And the Living Expression was with God, yet fully God. God sent His Son to earth to live among the people. He sent Him to die on the cross for all our sins. He sent Him to rise from the grave so we can all live. We have the opportunity to live in His presence when we choose to do so. His presence is where freedom and peace are found. I am so grateful for His love, mercy, and grace that is poured down upon me every day. He could have left me living with the enemy playing havoc in my life but instead He chose to lift me out of the 'junk' of life and save me. Woo hoo! Oh, how I pray for more people to get to the point in life where they realize He is the way to live. I pray for more people to get to the end of themselves and allow Him to have total control over their entire being. We all have the opportunity to live in His Light. As we allow Him to shine brightly through us, He will use us as His faithful servants. I love how one commentary put it...

All that in men which is true light--knowledge, integrity, intelligent, willing subjection to God, love to Him and to their fellow creatures, wisdom, purity, holy joy, rational happiness--all this "light of men" has its fountain in the essential original "life" of "the Word" 

His attributes will flow out of us as we become more Christ-like. I desire to shine brightly for Him in this fallen world. I desire for people to see Him in me and desire to be in relationship with Him.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace! Thank You for pulling me out of 'junk' of life and giving me another chance to live for You! Thank You for cleansing me so You can fill me with the empowerment of the Holy Spirit! Thank You for going before me today and being my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts so people will see You shine brightly in and through me. Thank You for directing my steps in the day ahead! Thank You for my appointment yesterday with the neurologist! Lord, I pray for the results of the MRI to be favorable and not show activity with the MS. I also pray it will happen sooner than later. It was different not having Doc to talk to about what she said. Another first. Thank You Father for continuing to be with me during these days of transition to being a widow! Thank You for being My Living Expression! Amen.

Psalm 2; Matthew 22:37; Luke 10:27 - "Refuge"

The Lord took me to Psalm 2 this morning. I feel like it was written for today instead of many years ago. It is about how people are living in evilness instead of with the Lord. I read it in different versions to get the meaning better. In The Message it reads: 

Why the big noise, nations?
Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth-leaders push for position,
Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:
“Let’s get free of God!
Cast loose from Messiah!”
Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing.
At first he’s amused at their presumption;
Then he gets good and angry.
Furiously, he shuts them up:
“Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet
Is spread for him on the holy summit.”

Let me tell you what God said next.

He said, “You’re my son,

And today is your birthday.

What do you want? Name it:

Nations as a present? continents as a prize?

You can command them all to dance for you,

Or throw them out with tomorrow’s trash.”

So, rebel-kings, use your heads;

Upstart-judges, learn your lesson:

Worship God in adoring embrace,

Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah!

Your very lives are in danger, you know

His anger is about to explode,

But if you make a run for God—you won’t regret it!

There are so many God-deniers in our world. People would rather enjoy a life led by the enemy because there are no consequences given by him. What they do not realize is there are eternal consequences they will deal with. Perhaps they are aware of that but do not believe they are true. Or perhaps they think there will be time for them to change their ways. The point I believe David is trying to get us to realize is we, as Christ's followers, need to realize how people are living. We need to make them aware of the need to be a follower of Christ. When he says Your very lives are in danger..., he is trying to get people to open their eyes to Christ. Right now in our world it appears the enemy is winning but he is not. We must remember God is in control. God may be allowing certain things to happen to stretch our faith. He may allow circumstances to be where believers will be persecuted in a deeper way to take our faith deeper. God has power in both heaven and earth. He is the Head over us and we must remember that. The last few verses of this Psalm remind us how we all are to live. We are to worship God and keep our focus on Him. We cannot allow the things that are happening around us take our focus away. Matthew Henry writes of this when he tells us we need to rejoice in God because of the uncertainty of all things in this world. He continues:

To welcome Jesus Christ, and to submit to him, is our wisdom and interest. Let him be very dear and precious; love him above all, love him in sincerity, love him much... Unbelief is a sin against the remedy. It will be utter destruction to yourselves; lest ye perish in the way of your sins, and from the way of your vain hopes; lest your way perish, lest you prove to have missed the way of happiness. Christ is the way; take heed lest ye be cut off from Him as your way to God. They thought themselves in the way; but neglecting Christ, they perish from it. Blessed will those be in the day of wrath, who, by trusting in Christ, have made him their Refuge.

No matter what is happening in our political world, with COVID19, etc. we must remember to love God as Jesus told us to in Matthew 22:37. "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." Luke 10:27 also includes we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. God's love is the answer to the 'junk' of this world. His love is all we need on this earth so we will spend eternity with Him. The last words of Psalm 2 in The Voice read: But blessings await all who trust in Him. They will find God a gentle refuge. Woo hoo! No matter what happens in the days ahead I will trust God. No matter how 'bad' life becomes I will trust God. No matter how much ugliness we see I will trust God. Plain and simple. I will trust God because He truly is the One in control. This morning I am reminded of the words to Refuge that Finding Favour sings...

My soul it sings to you
Oh God you are my refuge
I will cling, I will cling to you
My shelter through the storm
My peace when waves of troubles roll
I will cling, I will cling to you

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the reminder this morning You are still in control in this messed up world! Thank You for loving me so much that You do not give up on me when I miss opportunities You put before me to love on others with Your love! Father, cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You ooze out of my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today in a new, different way. Lord, my heart is hurting for so many people. I pray most of all You will be greater than the hurts of their heart. I pray Your peace to come down upon all who are struggling. I pray for Jim with today being Sandie's birthday. Thank You for Gay's brother's diagnosis being made! I remember when I received the same diagnosis Doc praised You and said 'now we know what we are fighting.' Praise Your Holy Name for being with me all these years through the fight with MS. Lord, thank You for my appointment with the neurologist today about the tingling in my face/head. I pray You will use doctors/medication to give me relief. Thank You Jesus for being My Refuge! Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20 - "Only Jesus"

I panicked when I could not find Doc's service in Ohio on-line. I had not saved it anywhere thinking I would always be able to go to the church page to watch it. Thankfully, it had just been moved to the district page. This is the second time I watched the replay of it. Once again, I was so blessed by all said by those who participated. This morning God woke me to the words of the song Only Jesus by Casting Crowns.

All the kingdoms built, all the trophies won
Will crumble into dust when it’s said and done
'Cause all that really mattered
Did I live the truth to the ones I love?
Was my life the proof that there is only One
Whose name will last forever?
And I, I don’t want to leave a legacy
I don’t care if they remember me
Only Jesus
And I, I've only got one life to live
I'll let every second point to Him
Only Jesus

Doc truly lived out a life for Christ. He mirrored Christ in the way he lived, the words he said, etc. Watching and listening to James, Ben, and Craig reminded me of how well Doc did what Jesus commands all of us to do through the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). He replicated himself in such a great way. I am grateful for the way he mentored people, especially myself. I am grateful for the way he took time to love with God's love. He had such a compassionate heart and wanted everyone to be in relationship with God. As I read his journals the other night, I read between the lines the hurt of his heart with people who were not walking with God. I remember one time he said in a sermon about how the birth date and the death date on a person's headstone were not important. It was how the 'dash' in between was lived out that really mattered. I need to get better at living out my 'dash' time. I do not want to waste the time God gives me on this earth. Listening to Shannon talk about even when we were seven hundred plus miles away Doc still ministered to the department blessed me greatly. Last June when Doc found out they were in a serious situation he not only prayed but he let them know he was praying. When people ask you to pray for them, they are blessed in knowing you will do as you say. This week has been full of prayer requests. People know when I say I will pray, I will. They know they can depend upon me to pray when they ask. I am thankful God has given me the heart of a prayer warrior. I miss praying with Doc. Even when he was in the hospital, we would FaceTime to pray at bedtime. I am thankful for the memories I have of doing life with him. He would tease me about always taking pictures but the many pictures I have continue to be a part of my healing process. Ben's words at the service of life in Ohio continue to be with me. This is a new season of life. It is a season I never expected to be in but God continues to be with me through it. This week has been full of times of healing. I am so grateful for the way God walked us through those last months we lived out together on this earth. I also am grateful for the way He continues to strengthen me as I adjust to life without my honey.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the memories that continue to heal my heart from Doc leaving this earth! Thank You for giving me so many ways to heal! Thank You for the upcoming holidays I am going to spend with family! Thank You for answering Kaleigh's prayers with a job and for Sam and his wife with their new home! Thank You for giving me a heart to pray for others! Lord, may You cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit. May You shine brightly through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today. My prayers are heavy for so many people. The lady who lost her husband this week; Jenn's daughter; Rebecca Belt's mother; Ashley and her family with the loss of Nick's mother; Gay's brother Walt with medical issues; a man in ICU from an overdose; Christy, Tammie, and Sandi with selling/buying homes; people without work or having less hours; Shari's little grandson; the homeless as the weather is changing; Valarie and her family with Little Melody's funeral; and so many others. I pray for safe travels for Bob and Beth today and for them to have an impactful time with family. Lord, once again I pray for my life to be lived as You desire. May Your will be done through everything I do or say. Thank You Jesus for being My Example To Follow! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; Psalm 89 - "God So Loved"

The Lord woke me to the words of God So Loved that We The Kingdom sings. Woo hoo, God! These words mean the world to me.

For God so loved the world that He gave us
His one and only Son to save us
Whoever believes in Him will live forever
The power of hell forever defeated
Now it is well, I'm walking in freedom
For God so loved, God so loved the world

The word forever is used in two ways in these lyrics. One to describe what life will be when we believe in Him. The other to describe how satan is defeated when we allow the Holy Spirit to live in and through us. We do not have to fear anything that comes our way but instead can stand upon II Timothy 1:7 in the strength of the Holy Spirit. We must stay focused on God so the enemy does not have an open door into our lives. He can creep in through people, music we listen to, what we watch on TV or see at the movies...there are so many ways. The more we fill ourselves up with God, the more we will be able to praise God. The more we focus on God, the more we will be able to praise God. The more we share our testimony and are bold in our witness, the more we will be able to praise God.

Praise God, praise God
From whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, praise Him
For the wonders of His love
Praise God, praise God
From whom all blessings flow
Praise Him, praise Him
For the wonders of His love
His amazing love

His love is so amazing! His love covers all our sins! His love is all we need to not just get through life but to flourish! His love needs to ooze out of us so others will desire to live for Him too. His love is what life should be all about. Our calendar should not be filled up with 'stuff' but instead we should be open to whatever He calls us to do. Our checkbook/debit card should not be filled with evidence of worldly things but instead should show God's business being done. Our lives should not be ones of distraught in the midst of the chaos of life but should show God's peace. The only way for us to live as He desires is to be totally sold out to Him. God gave everything including His Only Son so we could live. Jesus came to this earth to be our Example of how to live. His Word is full of great treasures to guide us. He desires us to conquer the enemy and be victorious. Woo hoo! That is how I desire to live my life too! I am determined to be victorious through the 'tough' days of life. I am determined to not allow the enemy one little foothold into my life. I am determined to stay focused on God so the passwords of praise will ooze out of me and I will live in His wrap-around presence (Psalm 89). Woo hoo! I am determined to be the woman God is calling me to be. 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace! Thank You for the way You blessed me yesterday! Thank You for the day ahead! Thank You for my time with my new friend Kaleigh! I pray blessings over her appointment today. Thank You for the way You spoke to me as I studied yesterday morning and then You brought everything together last night with what You desire of me to preach Sunday! I get so excited as we go through that process. Woo hoo! Lord, cleanse me so I can be filled with more of You. Empower me to be who You have called me to be. I pray for Cait as she goes through her test today to feel Your presence and know You are with her. I also pray for: Valarie and her family as they mourn Little Melody; Corey with the loss of Kirstin; and LaNora with the loss of Ray. May they and all who are grieving feel Your peace. I pray for Debbie with her broken arm and Teresa with COVID19 to experience Your peace. I pray for the family dealing with the husband having serious medical needs to feel Your peace. Lord, most of all I pray for those with spiritual needs to have someone go before them and be You to them. Lord, help me to get better at sharing Your love with others. Thank You for being My Example! Amen.

II Cor 4:16-18; I Peter 4:12-13 - "The Potter's Hand"

God is so good at encouraging me. Last night as I was reading for my Discipleship Band, He brought II Corinthians 4:16-18 and I Peter 4:12-13 before me. There was a statement in my reading that spoke volumes to me. "Brokenness may be the greatest qualification for ministry." We all must be broken before Him before He can use us to do His will. The reading continued, "God desires to use our pain not to harm us, but rather to bring life." Yes! God is not taking me through these 'tough' days for no reason. God is making new life in me (II Corinthians 4:16-18). As I allow Him to use my pain to shape me into His image, I will find comfort in Him. In my reading it was described, "When we hurt, we can discover the treasure of His comfort even in the dark places." Woo hoo! The more I seek Him, the more I will have the desire in my heart to walk in obedience to His will. The more I walk in His will, the more I will become more Christ-like. I must trust Him with my whole being. I must love Him with my whole being. I must allow Him to work in and through my whole being. None of these things can be done in just a part of my being but in my whole being. As I live in this manner, He will take my broken dreams and create them into being the dream He has for my life. Victory is found in living in this manner! Woo hoo! I love how God is speaking to me. He is so, so good. I desire for my testimony to be one of victory. As II Corinthians 4:16 says, 'I will not give up' when the tough days come. Instead I will allow God to shine brightly through my cracks as a broken vessel. I will strive to be bold in sharing my testimony and in sharing the Gospel so He can use me to further His Kingdom. Today starts another week. There are various things on the calendar but the most important thing for me is to stay in relationship so I not only hear His voice but walk in obedience to it. Woo hoo!

Take me and mold me, use me, fill me
I give my life to the Potter's hand
Call me, You guide me, lead me, walk beside me
I give my life to the Potter's hand

You gently call me into Your presence
Guiding me by Your Holy Spirit
Teach me dear Lord, to live all of my life
Through Your eyes

 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word that encourages me so greatly! Thank You for yesterday where You used me to preach the Gospel! Thank You for loving me so greatly that when Chris asked how I was doing my reply was 'good!' Thank You for the healing process over losing Doc that continues in my heart! Thank You for making new life in me! Thank You for my secret sister that sent me the perfect blanket that encourages me through the healing process! Thank You for cleansing me today so You can fill me with Your Holy Spirit! May You be my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts throughout this day in a mighty way. I pray for a family going through a tough time with the husband's health issues to feel Your presence today. I also pray for the one ministering to them to feel Your strength. Lord, remind us all of what C.S. Lewis said. "Life with God is not immunity from difficulties but peace in difficulties!" May we all take the things that come before us and allow You to work in and through them. Thank You Jesus for being My Peace! Amen.

 

II Timothy 1:7 - "Look Up Child"

I prayed before going to sleep for pastors who would be in the pulpit this morning. During the night God woke me to pray for pastors dealing with physical issues to lean into Him to get through them. One time He woke me to pray for pastors as they lead their congregations through these turbulent times with COVID19, elections, etc. He had me pray for all of us to lean into Him instead of allowing the enemy any open door. He also had me pray against division among the people and to pray for unity to happen. This morning I woke to the words of a song Lauren Daigle sings called Look Up Child.

Look up child, hey
Look up child, hey
Look up child, hey
Look up…

You're not threatened by the war
You're not shaken by the storm
I know You're in control
Even in our suffering
Even when it can't be seen
I know You're in control.

Yes! He is in control and we all need to remember that. He knows what we are going through and is right there with us to get through all of the junk of this world. He desires us to lean into Him. He desires us to allow Him to guide us through the 'tough' days on this earth so we can spend eternity with Him. He desires us to be on our knees seeking Him so we will walk the road of obedience to His will. He desires us to know His love so we can share it with others. He desires us to stand in the empowerment of the Holy Spirit instead of allowing the enemy to put fear upon us. Plain and simple. He desires us to live in Him. Last night as I read through Doc's journals I was so blessed by the prayers of his heart. He prayed for God to cleanse him so he could walk in His will. He prayed for me and the boys to go deeper in our faith. He prayed for his church people to receive what God gave him for them to hear and to live as God desired. The desire of his heart was to be who God wanted him to be. I miss him as my husband but I also miss him as my pastor. I miss his teaching and preaching but I especially miss his prayers. I pray God will empower me to be a better leader. I pray He will give me more of a heart to love with His love so people will realize His love. I pray for all pastors to have this desire.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your love, mercy, and grace! Thank You for another Saturday night of praying for pastors! Thank You for my time last night when You drew me to read Doc's journals! Thank You for his love I experienced through that time! Thank You for cleansing me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You today! Thank You for giving not only myself but all pastors a heart for You so others will experience Your love! Thank You for giving pastors what we need physically, mentally, emotionally, and most of all spiritually as we go into the pulpit today! I pray a physical touch upon those who are dealing with issues such as Mike Dennis. I pray for pastors who are struggling in their churches financially over these last months with COVID19 and for pastors dealing with division in their churches due to politics. May You be greater than anything that comes our way. May You take us all deeper in our faith through turbulent times. Thank You Jesus for being The One In Control! Amen.