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Changing Seasons and new things…

Dec30
Summer
Autumn
Spring
Winter

Be choosy about what you allow to enter your mind. Something like the following would be an excellent choice for the coming New Year.

Seasons of life come and go. And here we are with Winter season well underway and at the end of another year. As the year ends, most of us anticipate an opportunity to begin anew. If we’ve made some mistakes in 2025 that we would like to correct, here’s our chance.

Here’s some suggestions that hopefully will promote corrections. Identify what happened in our heads that set the course for some of those mistakes we made. Let’s start with how often do we spend time with God in prayer and His word? How balanced are those two disciplines? Remember, if we are going to thwart the enemy’s plans, we must know how he is going to attack. The Bible reveals Satan’s strategy. Is it any surprise that one of the foremost tricks up Satan’s sleeve is to keep us ignorant of what the Bible says about him? (Remember, he comes to steal, kill, and destroy)

Ignoring God’s word, leaves us wide open for Satan’s initial assault. And guess where that is. Yes, the family. Has bitterness and misunderstanding replaced the love that once reigned? Do we find ourselves blaming others for the emotional pain we endure? Does condemnation and finding fault with those who have hurt us rule our thoughts? I think we all know the source of such emotional fiery darts.

What can we do differently to break the cycle of division in our family? First, asking ourselves the following question would be a good start. Whose voice do I listen to and follow? Satan has orchestrated such deception in this area. What’s the deception? Placing Self in the position of authority in our lives. Direct opposition to the way revealed in the Bible. But we won’t know that, if we aren’t allowing God’s word to guide our steps. What then is our mode of correction?

From this point forward, go back to a balanced effort of reading the Bible and spending time with God in prayer. Ask God for the strength to forgive where we have been wronged and to ask for forgiveness where we have wronged others. Peace and harmony will happen as a result. Swallow that pride or you will be headed for a fall. God has better plans for you.

Next year, let’s make the switch. Submit to God’s authority and see if we don’t notice some healing and correction of past mistakes. See if we don’t experience some new things, some reconciliation in this New Year!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”

Alone but not alone…

Sep8
Ecclesiastes 3:4 – “There is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”

We stood by your grave today in the context of a calm and comforting autumn day

It was the first time since your passing that the two of us stood there, together

We stood there gazing in unbelief (still) that your name was on that grave marker

We talked about the loneliness that hung over us since we have been separated

And intensified since you moved to heaven

We were forced to move forward, without you, and without the comfort of each other’s presence

We were each on our own, and loneliness has been our constant (but hidden) companion

But in time we were reunited for a short while

Enough time to recall the past memories we all 3 had shared

Memories that were fresh and made fresher in their recollection

I heard myself laughing like I always did when the 3 of us were together

But hadn’t since you passed away and our paths took different directions

Now our brief reunion has ended

But we have tasted the sweetness of our laughter once again and felt its healing comfort

Now we will move forward returning to our individual paths

While the echoes of our laughter lingers in our thoughts

and though on our singular paths, alone but not alone!


Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh. Luke 6:21 b

Self-Satisfied Christianity

Jul20

Lately, I’ve been studying about the church at Ephesus. Remember, how John described the church in Revelation 2:4, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”NASB What that means is the church forgot why they did church.

Let’s compare this to a married couple. At first everything is rosy. We are super sensitive to each other’s needs. But as time goes by our sensitivity begins to wane. We begin to take each other for granted. We settle into a comfortable routine of living the married life. Yet, our relationship doesn’t call forth the love we had at first. And sadly, we become satisfied with this watered down routine. It’s like we forgot why we got married!

I think this is a clear illustration of what happened at the Ephesus church. AND what has happened to individual Christians thus the Church of today. We have grown comfortable with the way we live out our faith. We have grown comfortable with the way we do church.

We have become self-satisfied. We feel good about attending church (as often as we can). We don’t really delve into the Scriptures like we should (but aren’t that uncomfortable about it). We don’t really give the time we should in prayer (but let something we really need come up and spiritually speaking we are quickly on our knees). We knowingly fail to act like a Christian at times (but hey, we are only human). We would give more time volunteering to help out with our church’s projects (but life keeps us so busy). Oh, and when those projects conflict with our personal plans then the church’s projects often loose out. Self-becomes our priority; not necessarily Church or our faith. (Recognize the fiery darts?)

The sad fact revealed by our self-satisfied attitude toward our walk of faith and relationship to our church is abundant in evidence. Evidence of what? That we have left our first love, our love for serving God. We have forgotten why we do church. Just like the church in Ephesus!

Doing right in your own eyes – isn’t a new idea!

Jul10
God’s way is always lit up!

Prevalent in society today is a philosophy that some feel is a modern day idea. It’s referred to as Self-Autonomy or Self-Rule. Meaning that the control of an individual’s actions and decisions stems from within the individual. And is based on personal desires, feelings, or societal influences. When they feel it’s necessary, they will put up boundaries to protect those freedoms. Such as cutting off communication with those they are in conflict with.

But guess what, it isn’t new at all. It wasn’t referred to as self-autonomy though. In Judges:17, 18, and 21 , we have the description of the Jewish people during the time of the Judges. Before their first king was chosen, the Jewish people were ruled by several judges. It was a period of moral confusion and disharmony due to the fact that everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Sound familiar?

Anyone searching for words to describe society today would certainly admit that we are in a state of moral confusion and disharmony. For you see, the same source that fueled human reasoning and false assumptions in the day of the Judges, hasn’t changed his game plan. And as long as people look within themselves to determine right from wrong confusion and disharmony will continue to build.

I think that those who are most affected by this ancient philosophy are today’s emerging adults. Considered adults only by their age they lack the wisdom that comes with time and experience. Some don’t feel the necessity of being accountable to God, their parents, or older and wiser adults. What they fail to realize is that relying on human wisdom alone without divine revelation leads to no good end. We are warned of this in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is the way of death.”

Therefore, I encourage young adults to examine the end result of such self-rule decisions. What are the consequences of neglecting God’s rule over self-rule? Can you really define right and wrong apart from God? Research societies that have replaced God’s rule with self-rule. What happened to them? Why do they desire to rule themselves? Whose voice are they listening to? What are the end results of your present choices?

When you arrive at the age of an adult, don’t make assumptions that alone qualifies you as ‘being’ an adult. Recognize this for the lie, fiery dart, that it is. The enemy will beguile you with all sorts of lies. And he will dress them up to make them enticing and believable. He will convince you to achieve your freedom at any cost. Even if you have to lie to or dishonor the older adults in your life.

Those who avail themselves of God’s truth can avoid the enemy’s deception. Remember that and be forewarned.

New Things Await…

Oct27

It’s been almost 1 1/2 years since the death of my best friend, Joney. I moved through the stages of grief with the comfort and realization that as a Christian she had finally arrived in the home she was made for and longed for. Now she is experiencing the glories of heaven that words here on earth cannot describe.

And on the surface I appeared to be progressing, albeit slowly. While my life has and is moving on, it is disturbing to me that an undercurrent of sadness stubbornly lingers. Disturbing because I know this does not please God. I realized only just recently a likely explanation: Over-focusing on my loss.

It was as if God was saying to me, “Yes, I called Joney home and I’m aware of the profound loss you are feeling. But while you no longer have the comfort of her presence, I have not left you comfortless. I have replaced what you use to have with Joney with something new. You won’t be able to recognize it though, if you keep focusing on your loss. So lay aside what use to be. Be open to the new things I have planned for you:

Isaiah 43:19 “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

I am beyond grateful for the precious memories Joney and I shared, the support we were to one another, the iron upon iron that characterized our friendship. I know, though, I cannot linger there. There are new things awaiting me.

It’s a matter of perspective…

Sep5

By applying the truths from God’s word I mentioned in my previous post, Ignorance is not Bliss, the enemy’s efforts to steal my joy can be thwarted. So this post will be written from the point of view of one who applied those truths and claimed and is claiming the victory.

As each day unfolds, I choose my perspective. I can choose to be self-centered and limit my view to only those thoughts that reflect what concerns me. Or I can choose to broaden my point of view and ponder thoughts that reflect the wonder of God.

The fact that I am even here in Edinburgh is a miraculous gift from God. When my children were small I wrestled (yes wrestled) with God about surrendering my children to His will for their lives. Reason being I was afraid He would call them to go to far away places and I wouldn’t know the joy of living life within proximity of one another. So I asked God that if His plans for them would require the sacrifice I dreaded, would He please make it possible for me to visit them as often as I needed to.

I have four children and only my firstborn lives close enough to share in the living of life with them. My second born lives in New Jersey, my third born lives in Texas, and now my fourth born is living in Scotland. Yet God has been faithful and while I have not always gotten to visit my children who live far away whenever I wanted to, I have certainly been blessed to visit them whenever I needed to.

It’s a matter of not only choosing to surrender my children to God but of also choosing to surrender my will to God. And I believe because I made (and continue to make) that choice (although at times, it’s like I mentioned before. a real struggle) God has the freedom to fulfill my request to be able to visit them.

Yes, there is much in their lives and my grandchildren’s lives that their distant addresses have deemed I miss out on. But it’s once again a matter of perspective. In light of eternity what really matters here on earth? That I missed out on so much of my grandchildren’s growing up years, or that each one has made a decision to follow Christ?

Matthew 10:39

1 John 2:17

John 6:27

She’s gone on ahead…

May16

My best friend has gone on before me.

And I’m left behind

What do I do now when

I need her to pray for me

Or I just need to talk!

She helped keep my emotional balance

When life shifted & became upended

It worked both ways for us

For I lifted her up in my turn

Iron sharpening iron

We had that in each other

And in her final moments, I was prevented from sharing them with her

An event she look most forward to never happened

So we both were denied at the end

We shared similar dreams

We constantly found ourselves experiencing similar problems

As we helped guide each other through them

Our 20 plus years of friendship has been abruptly halted

Focusing on what I’ve lost is the tempter’s plan

I’ll not give in to that darkness

The things I don’t understand will just have to be filed away

To wait for a future revelation

In the meantime, I will grasp hold of God’s promises

He will never leave me or forsake me

He will work all things together for my good

He will be my strength at my weakest of times

He will give me reasons to continue moving forward

One day or moment at a time

Desiring a better country…

Nov4

October 19, 2022 as Mother lay in her own bed, in her own home, with family keeping vigil, she drew her final breath. She left her earthly country home for her heavenly country home. Her life here may have spanned a hundred years, but it was never designed to be her permanent home. It was never meant to be. Her earthly life was the proving ground for the home God was preparing for her in heaven.

As a young adult she gained citizenship into her heavenly country by accepting personally Christ’s death and resurrection. Then lived out her life guided by the precepts of her destined heavenly home. Expectedly, the growing up years of my siblings and I were flavored with these principles.

Therefore, the celebration of her transition to her new country home played out against that background. A background that colored all that we experienced in the present with the shades of God’s love and plans for us individually. As she loved her family unconditionally, she represented the unconditional love of God for His children. While we messed up on more than one occasion, all of us knew that Mother’s love and forgiveness was as constant as the sun rising. It’s the same with God.

During Mother’s home going and celebration of life afterwards, reminders of God’s tender care of those He loved continued to unfold. The fulfillment of Mother’s longing to live in her own house in her declining years and to transition from there to her heavenly home was, I believe, God’s gift to her faithfulness. God’s finishing touch was in holding back the predicted rain and gifting us with the splendor of a exquisite autumn day as we said our final goodbye’s at the cemetery.

Family bonding grew even stronger as we came together to celebrate her life. It was family that conducted the funeral. So we all were intricately woven. That’s God’s plan is it not, to bring family together in such times to share the strength God has given each of us. And in doing so, we are able to go out from that place stronger than when we came. Maybe even finally to have the realization to lay aside those choices that have distracted us and prevented us from honoring God with our lives. Or even blocked our way to understanding what it meant to have a personal relationship with God.

Mother’s home going reminded all of us that life in this earthly country is not permanent. The day WILL come when we will experience the outcome of our personal choices here on earth. It’s unavoidable. Desire a better country, as Mother did.

Moving forward though trials persist

Apr13

   

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Trials and Temptations

     2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

    Once we grasp the truth that God has a plan for our lives, (and that hopefully happens early on) we begin to move forward in that plan. As we exercise our faith muscles, our faith increases in strength. The more mature our faith grows, the wiser we become.  The expectation is that we would move forward consistently as our faith develops. 

     Our new nature, given to us at our spiritual birth, desires to please God. Yet, we will always struggle with our old nature always wanting its way.  Trials come and trials go, but with every one our character is improved upon. 

     But what about those trials that refuse to ‘go away’? They perhaps contain the strongest of life lessons.  You know, those every day trials that prevent us from living life victoriously. 

     Trials of this nature usually involve learning how to get along with others.  Nothing we say or do brings improvement in them or the relationship. Instead of growing wiser and resolving the situation, despair sets in. Satan manipulates and deceives our flesh, our old nature. Lying to us about what is wrong and setting our focus on ourselves. 

     We are primed to become distracted by human reasoning and false assumptions. Without realizing it, we have become influenced by Satan to do his will.   We get mired down in these kinds of trials with every lie cast upon us by the enemy. We take on the attitude that nothing is going to change and spiritual growth and/or pleasing God fades into the mist. Blindness rules on both sides of the equation.

     Perhaps accepting things the way they are in these situations may be the best way to move forward through them. By moving on we leave it up to God to make changes in His timing and will. Forgiving and accepting permits us to throw off the shackles of judgement and condemnation. The liberty to breathe free is ours to claim by the power of God’s word. This sort of example, is a lifeline for those  searching for comfort in their own stubborn trials .

     So, when trials persist without bringing the desired solution, there is still a way to move forward. Moving forward is possible but it takes a mindset that requires a high level of trust in God. A trust that even though the desired solution has not been realized, our confidence that God is in control and is working out His plan remains steadfast.

 Remember: God’s ways are not our ways, His thoughts are higher than ours.

He ALWAYS knows what is best.

Listening with the intent to understand!

Sep26

    I think guys, especially husbands, are convinced that it is impossible for them to understand their wives. (I know you know what I would call that!!!!) Therefore, husbands throw up their hands at the thought of trying to understand their wives, because the enemy has convinced them it’s impossible. 

     Ah, but God, has something quite different to say to husbands about understanding their wives in 1 Peter 3:7,

In a similar way, you husbands must live with your wives in an understanding manner, as with a most delicate partner. . . ISV

     I am quite sure that the reason this fiery dart has infiltrated the thinking of husbands is because our Enemy, Satan, knows full well the blessed effect this will have on the relationship between a husband and wife. So, he cuts them off from these blessings by lying to husbands and convincing them that understanding their wives is all but impossible. 

A personal testimony to the power of understanding

I can remember vividly a time when my son was about to leave to serve as a missionary in South America! We were driving around doing some shopping to prepare for his hiking of the AT and the night before he revealed to me his plan to go to South America.

I was overwhelmed! With great effort I had finally come to the point where I could release him to solo hike the AT and the night before, he had sprung this news on me! I remember privately crying out to God, “Really, God, couldn’t this news have waited a bit? I’m not at all sure I can do this!” 

As we drove around the next day, I labored under the burden of deep sadness, trying all the while to keep it from my son! Then my son said this, “Mom, I understand that this is going to be harder on you than anyone else.” Well, the floodgates opened and the tears flowed like a river. But they were not tears of heartbreak that my son was leaving me! No, indeed, they were tears of relief because he understood my pain. From those precious words of understanding, I drew the strength that would empower me to do this hard thing. It was all I needed to move forward.

     Now, I realize this isn’t a husband/wife scenario but it is a scenario that husbands can draw from to grasp the power of understanding your wife.

     Everyone, especially wives, have a deep desire to be understood by at least one person and the person of preference is their husbands. Their husband’s understanding is the source of their strength to deal with hard things. If they don’t feel they have their husband’s understanding they become all the more vulnerable to Satan’s fiery darts of self loathing, depression, taking personally all the negative things that you and others say about them, and wounding their hearts more deeply than you can imagine.

     Husbands, don’t allow the enemy to convince you that you can’t understand your wife. The Truth Thought is that God has mandated that you do. And when you commit to this, then God will show you how it’s done. Therefore, listen to your wife with the intent to understand, not to judge or criticize! The rest of verse 7 points out why understanding your wife is so important. 

Honor them as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing may interfere with your prayers.

After writing this post, I had a thought I want to share. It’s a good thing husband’s to praise your wives, but timing is everything. During a difficult or stressful moment an understanding word may be what’s required rather than praises! For your praises will ring hollow if they feel you lack understanding of their need during that moment.