HIDE AND SEEK

Romans 10:20 And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God, saying, "I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me."

When I first became a Christian, I loved the feeling of being among fellow believers. Church was a warm, safe place to go and have my spirit renewed. All my friend spoke the same language, asked the same questions, sought the same reassurance. I opened my heart and welcomed Jesus to bless me. He has provided for me in my times of need, carried me through my times of trouble, and restored my faith, time and time again.

Lately, I've started to worry that I'm not carrying His word to others to bring them into His fold. I'm not a preacher. I'm a faltering Christian. But, I know that I am doing His good deeds when I reach out to others and share what I can--a smile, a helping hand, forgiveness, love.

Just as the scripture above says, I am showing God's love to those who may not be seeking Him, and in doing so spreading good seeds for His harvest.

Thank you for visiting and remember to thank Him for all the blessings He bestows.

Rejection Hurts...

I moved from a friendly small town in the midwest to a suburb of Washington, D.C., when my children were not yet old enough to attend school. My first shock came when we entered a grocery store and I smiled at the clerk who waited on us. No return smile! I tried smiling at people I'd pass and found not one friendly face. Weeks and months passed. Still whenever I reached out to smile or share a friendly word with a stranger, the only thing I received in return was a cold, or distant return glance. That was a very hard time of life for me.

I wonder if that's what God feels when He smiles down on us and we ignore Him. Jesus walked the earth and people refused to listen, denied Him, and killed Him. How His heart must have hurt to be dying for our sins while being rejected by the people He'd come to save. Each and every day, God smiles down on us with the blessing of another sunrise, another sunset, clothing on our backs, food for our stomachs, shelter, and more...so much more. Yet, few thank Him.

Today, I still smile and speak to strangers. Sometimes I get a smile in return, sometimes we strike up a conversation, but sometimes I get rejected. It still hurts. Sometimes I think an ungrateful word, or silently call them an unkind name. That isn't what Jesus would do. So, each day I try to remember to share my smile and kind word without expecting anything in return. How can I love others less than God does?

Looking at Each Day with Expectation

Every day is a new day. A new beginning. A new chance at making a change in your life.

Life is an adventure. When I go on vacation, I am full of eagerness, looking forward to what I'll see, what I'll do, although I have no idea what that might be. There are so many new adventures we embark on every day if we only look at what is presented with an open, eager mind.

Only God knows what is in my future. Worrying about what will happen tomorrow only takes away time from today.

I'm looking out my window. The sun is shining. My spirit is smiling.

I don't know what God has in store for today, but I know it will be a grand adventure.

Facing Fear

Yesterday our preacher's sermon dealt with how we encounter fears in our lives and how we approach facing them. In the past month, I've had to face some very painful issues. First, my husband became very ill and I've had to watch his health deteriorate. I was approaching the last two weeks of my employment, since I'd turned in my resignation to retire at the end of the year. Trying to balance work and home life became a challenge. Then, my mother, who also lives with us became ill. On my husband and my 30th wedding anniversary, Mom was taken to the hospital, and she never returned. She went to be with Jesus. Difficult, dark days. Without my strong faith, and the knowledge that Jesus was with me, that He had his arms wrapped firmly around me to keep me from falling, I could have fallen into a deep depression.

When we are at our lowest times in life, if we take our eyes off Jesus, then Satan worms his way into our mind and tries to remove our faith with doubt and fear.

Remember Peter when he stepped out of the boat in the midst of the storm and began walking on water toward Jesus? Why did he begin to sink? Imagine the scene. He steps out in faith, and then he realizes that waves and wind are battering him. He looks at the surroundings and fear sets in. He immediately begins to sink into the water. He holds out his hands and asks Jesus to save him. Jesus, always loving, takes Peter's hand. How saddened He must have felt to know that Peter had taken his eyes off Jesus and allowed doubt to take control.

My husband and I are still waiting resolution on his illness. We don't know what might lie ahead today, tomorrow, or next month. But, we do have faith. Faith that Jesus is with us, that He is not allowing us to go through this alone. There are times when I cry alone, when I worry, and yes, even when I feel fear. But those are the times that I turn to prayer. And Jesus comforts and lifts me up.

It is my prayer for each of you, that you keep your eyes turned to Jesus. He will bring you through the fears that assail your lives.

Thanks for stopping by.

Worry Not, But Walk in Faith

I was saddened to hear that my son-in-law lost his job last week due to downsizing. Right now so many are unemployed and the numbers keep rising. Knowing how first-hand how difficult the situation, I was appalled to hear this story yesterday.

A senior manager at my place of employment told the story about having to rent Escalades complete with drivers for some "big wheels" who were coming to Ohio to visit our locations and promote new products. Fourteen people are flying in on a private jet to be escorted in these large vehicles to our location and they will have a huge catered lunch. Rather than ask them what they want to eat, the caterer has been instructed to bring fourteen steaks, fourteen fish, fourteen chicken, etc. The waste and pretentiousness sickens me when I think of how other employees in our facility struggle just to make enough money to feed their families.

Wealth makes greed. It is the devil's delight.

For me, I take comfort reading Luke 12 22-28.

"Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life--whether you have enough food to eat or enoughclothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. ANd you are far mor valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things?

"Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?"

God, please bless those who read this message today. I pray they turn to you and walk in faith. Amen.

Intruders

Lately we've had spiders of various kinds invading our home. They are silent intruders who show up in the least likely places to freeze my progress. I'm so afraid of spiders. I don't know where the fear came from, but it's truly debilitating. I've had a hard time learning to stand up to the challenge of banishing these eight-legged intruders. Once they are gone, the fear, too, is gone.

The devil works in the same way. Throughout the day he sets intruders on a path to invade my thoughts. Negative thoughts lead to self doubt. Self doubt is the devil's joy. But the threat is unseen. With spiders, the threat is visible. Spying the devil at work inside me is difficult. The devil sets his intruders on a treadmill inside my life that moves me in a path opposite of the path Jesus would have me walk.

But I have the ultimate weapon. I have God. God lives in me and through me and walks with me. With Him, I have the power to banish the devil. I speak aloud and tell the devil he is not welcome and that I will walk with God. I pray. I feel the power of His eternal love and the warmth and hope that replaces the self doubt.

Hope is eternal.

May the joy of the Lord fill you today.

Choices at the Fork in the Path

My life has followed many paths and I've had to make choices when confronted with a fork. Which way to go? Many times I chose without first asking God for direction. God knows the complete path of our life. He placed it before us on the day we were born.

I'm now faced with a fork in the road that I once thought clearly defined. There are two different paths branching before me. For the past two years, I've prayed and have heard God answer me directing me to go one way. As the time draws near, many obstacles are being placed along the way. Are these obstacles the devil trying to lead me astray, or are they being given to me by God showing me I've misread His instructions?

I'm troubled and fearful. As I stand here at the fork in the road, undecided, I am praying for God to show me HIs will. With all the devil's handiwork abundant in the world, the noise is so loud that it's difficult to hear God's words. I must be still and turn my ears and my heart to Him.

I share this for others who might be facing similar decisions. Before you run down the wrong fork, take time to pray and then to be still and listen for God. He will provide you guidance if you give your heart and soul to Him.

Disappointed by God? Unanswered Prayers?

Have you ever felt disappointed by God? Have you ever felt He isn't listening when you pray? Have you ever felt angry and disheartened because you feel He has abandoned you?

What about Jesus? When he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, he asked God to take the cup of suffering away from him. But Jesus went one step further and prayed, "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine."

How often when you pray, do you add these all important words?

We Christians live in a world filled with temptations. If we turn on the television, we are bombarded with ads for things that promise to enrich our lives. Unfortunately, many of us turn to idolizing things which are meaningless. We pray for God to give us what we crave. And, when we don't receive, we feel disappointed or angry because God wasn't listening--He didn't answer the prayer.

God is always listening. We just have this one-sided belief. A belief that we can achieve what we want if we just ask God to provide. But, God asks us to walk in faith, not in sight.

If you are disappointed or feeling abandoned by God for unanswered prayers, look at what God has given you. He always answers prayers, but not always with the outcome we prayed for.

Romans 5:3-5 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Prayer for today: Lord, if it be Your will, I pray that You will bless each person who reads this and that You will help them see how You have answered their prayers. I thank You Lord for the gift of Your son, so that we can find our way to You through the cross. Amen.