You Have Need Of Patience

Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

As I sat gazing at a lady in her van at a coffee shop, myself being inside by the register, as we both waited and waited and waited some more for our order, I simply smiled at her and shrugged. Why get upset? Our world is so much for instant everything. That is not God's way. When things don't happen fast or according to our time table it is easy to give up or get mad.

This is not what God wants. Throughout the Bible are stories of waiting. Man's way is always rushing and getting things now. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, God does not operate according to our rules. I know I am thankful for that! His plan is better and sometimes it involves waiting.

Do you have a problem with trusting God and waiting? Just as a farmer waits for a crop or lady  waits for her newborn baby, we too need to develop patience so as to not wreck God's plan.

PRAYER:Lord I am thankful for the times I learned to wait and want to forget the times I messed things up by not. Thanks for guiding me along the way. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Grinding Teeth...Stop It!

There will be weeping there and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. Luke 13:28

 Do any of you live with a person who grinds their teeth at night or have you been told you are the one who makes this awful noise? In my case a few years ago it was me. My husband said he was surprised I still had any teeth left it was so loud.

Did you know for those unfortunate souls who do not make it into the heavenly kingdom because they rejected Jesus it says it is not going to be a good thing at all. It is not going to be some cute little nonstop drunk fest  but instead eternal fire, weeping, grinding teeth, agony. Can you imagine burning forever? It is pretty bad when you burn your finger on a stove but that eventually heals. Some feel this is a big joke or fairy tale. Each of us has a choice to live for Jesus or turn your back on Him. He does not willingly want people to perish.

Have you made a decision to let Jesus be Lord of your life? If not why not stop now and say this simple prayer. 'Lord Jesus I need you in my life. Forgive me for ignoring you and going my own way. I want to live for you and serve you. Come into my heart and make me into a new creature.'

PRAYER: I need you every hour or most gracious Lord. Temptations will come and help me resist them. Help me clearly be convicted of things that displease you. Break my. Heart by what breaks yours. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link to listen to an awesome song of praise:

http://youtu.be/LuvfMDhTyMA

Close Calls

I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3

 Recently as I sat down to write and turned on my computer, Facebook stuff popped up. I read for first  post where my daughter in law had been hit by a car while riding her bike to work that morning.After a call to my son I was cool, she is okay but 3000 miles away. After I waited, and tried to get to writing, the tears came. I was so thankful she was okay. For a brief moment I experienced the panic that sets in when a family member finds out something is wrong with another family member. Both my son and his wife are medical professionals so deal with hurting families all the time and now they were the hurting family.

 Have you gone through the unimaginable where you are enjoying a wonderful day then comes the dreaded phone call? This call changes your day and sometimes your life. A car accident. A son or daughter injured or killed in the war. A parent has died. Whatever the news we are never really ready to have it happen. There is never a good time.

The first thing to try to do is remain as calm as possible and to pray. Prayer has a way of soothing your soul in the toughest of times. Just try to get alone and be calm with God and let Him do the rest. Above all be thankful for those around you daily!

PRAYER: Lord you are my great comfort in the trials of life. When the unexpected happens you are there. Oh Lord I thank you for watching over me and my family. I praise your name forever. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Continuing To Laugh

A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22

 I have often heard that laughter is the best medicine. When you are feeling down,  a good laugh always helps. But what happens when the person making us laugh has a death in her family, like her husband? This is the recent story of Christian funny lady Chonda Pierce, who I have had the pleasure to meet in person in Nashville as well as David her late husband, at a writers conference in Kentucky. When the person who causes us to chuckle is experiencing a loss how do we surround them and help them to get laughter back in their life? Perhaps they feel they will never laugh again.

Grief will come to all of us whether we are a professional comedian or not. For those who do make a living in comedy, they may feel like they just can't do it anymore. First of all, our deceased loved ones would not want us crumpling up into a little ball and doing nothing. That would be Satan's plan. We have to laugh in Satan's face and tell him he is not going to stop you from shining for Jesus, whether sad or not.

 If you recently experienced a loss in your family or a close friend just cry out to Jesus. It does take time to heal, but heal you will. We who are left behind must carry on and go on. Wake up each day and try to find one thing to make you smile. If you are the comforter of this person just be there for them and pray for them.

PRAYER: When I am weak Lord make me strong. Give me the words to speak to those who grieve. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Click link for a song of comfort:

http://youtu.be/LJTQPZuvAKo

David W Pierce Obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tennessean/obituary.aspx?pid=171845135

Stinking Rags!

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. We all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away. Isaiah 64:6

Sometimes in life we can possibly become pretty high and mighty and less than humble. Maybe we think 'our' church is best or we are 'too good' to do thus and such. This is called being self righteous. The word 'self' alone should set off alarm bells. Self is not to be on the throne. When self takes over then it is hard to find God.

Each of us need to be careful to not fall into the sin of self righteousness. Back in the 80's I was called self righteous by someone and it hurt my feelings so bad. I called a Christian toll free number I saw on TV to ask what it meant. What an awakening. I hoped to learn from that and try to not fall into a pattern of acting better than others ever again.

Every day when you awaken, try to go to God before the television or other distractions. Spend time in prayer and ask God to reveal what in your life needs to be tweaked. Stinking, filthy rags are something I want no part of anymore.

PRAYER: Forgive me Lord if I ever unintentionally acted better than someone. Help me to be your humble servant and shine for you. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Priorities In Life

 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.Colossians 3:2

Each morning what is the first thing you do after getting up and having breakfast? Do you run and get on Facebook and check everyone's status? Perhaps read the morning paper? Turn on the television to a talk show? Race out the door to work? 

Maybe deep down you know you are not truly putting God first. You try but all these other things seen to lure you away to capture your attention. Maybe you are distant from God and mad at Him over something that happened in life. It takes real discipline to spend time with the Lord each day. The enemy of our souls, Satan, is a master of getting you distracted. He will get you running to all sorts of things and try to squeeze out God. After all, if there is no time for God each day you are not strengthened to handle each days challenges. Don't be fooled to think Sunday is enough. Satan is the one who makes you make up excuses about why you do not need God or need church. 

Start now and challenge yourself to not do anything else until you have spent time with God. Facebook can wait! 

PRAYER: I love you Lord but sometimes I do not act like it. Forgive me for ignoring you some days. I'm trying to get better and I need you every hour. In Jesus' name. Amen. 

Problem Solver

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

A new business sprang up in my town with a sign the same as my title. It does not indicate it is a counseling service but simply has a phone number to call. Interesting approach to being an entrepreneur. But what kind of problems do you suppose people will call in with? Leaky faucet? Disobedient children? Abusive spouse? Problem weeds? Out of control pets? Mechanical problems? I am not sure and I certainly hope the person on the other end of the line is prepared to do referrals.

All of us have problems in life. They may not occur daily but things are bound to occur that will be put in the 'problem' category. It is how we deal with problems that matters. Do we melt down or do we realize 'this to shall pass'?  God can and will see you through if you cry out to Him. First thing to ask is if you are living  for Him or do you just give Him lip service and one hour on Sunday? You can handle things better when you have been equipped by studying  God's manual for life, The Bible. If you have not made a regular habit of reading God's word for whatever reason, why not change that today. If you are uncertain where to begin just start in the book of John. Also Psalms and Proverbs  and ideal places to read. The whole Bible is ideal but saying "I will read through the Bible" may not necessarily be the best method as you have a worthy goal but may be just doing it for a goal. Do a subject study. Just ask God to give you a hunger to know Him better. When you keep away from God's word you are making Satan so happy.

Today start calling out to God not just in problem times but all the time. 

PRAYER: You are my Lord and my God. I thirst for you in this dry and hungry land. Father I know you can give peace in the midst of problems. In Jesus' name. Amen.