Three small reflections

by // // No Comments

Psalms 34:5a “Look at Him and be radiant”.

“Mom, you sound so much better, you must have been sitting under your light”, said daughter Cindy as we chatted on the phone in mid January.

This came a day or so after a letter from daughter Becky, who lives in London. She said, “You sounded so much better in your last letter, you must have been sitting under your light. We were worried when in the letter before you said how boring everything was and the most exciting thing that had happened that week was getting a new toilet.”

Because of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) I sit by an “Argo” light in the mornings from January through April. I have seen amazing results because of the light therapy. However, after Cindy’s call and Becky’s letter, I began to think, “It is apparently very noticeable at least to my family when I have been faithful with my Argo light.” Psalms 34:5 came to mind and I wondered if it was as obvious to others when I have been in the presence of the “light of the world”.

Prayer: Oh Lord, today may your light shine through me to those whom I meet. May it be very obvious that I have been in your presence. May I radiate with your love today. Amen.

______________________________________________________________

Romans 8:24-25 “Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Our long driveway from our house to the road was an absolute disaster and looked like a war zone. After the recent ice storm of December 26th our beautiful “Drømmegaard” (Our Dream Farm) looked more like a nightmare than a dream.

I surveyed downed trees and fallen limbs and wondered if there was any hope under all that rubble for the previous peaceful sanctuary that this farm had become. Was all of Dick’s hard work in vain? Was there any hope for the future of this place?

Then one morning in late January I noticed the wild snow drops had begun to appear along the side of the driveway. Green leaves pushing out of the ground with little bell shaped white flowers hanging from them. To me it was God’s miracle of promised spring. The life of that little flower was there all the time under the ugly rubble and ready to burst forth in God’s perfect timing.

Prayer: Oh Lord, when things seem to be falling apart around me in my life, help me to know that your life and love and hope are alive and powerful, under it all and the evidence of it will spring forth in your perfect timing.

___________________________________________________________

II Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that you may always have enough of everything and may provide in abundance for every good work.”

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

It was a cold and dreary day in February, 1975. As I sat at my Quiet Time with the Lord that morning I was thinking about my life at the moment. My husband, a self employed builder, was in between jobs. We had a houseful of five children in age from 12 to 20. As I prayed, I asked the Lord to give me peace regarding our financial situation. That a new job would be forthcoming and that our needs would be met.

Later that day I looked out into our backyard and saw that the bird feeder was empty and the little birds were fluttering around the feeder. I was thinking, “You silly birds, you think there is no more food and you are looking very anxious. But I know I have a big bag of birdseed in the store room and you just cant see it”. Suddenly a light when on in my head. Oh Lord, Is that what you are trying to tell me? That I am fluttering around like those little birds, worrying about our next job, while all the time YOU know where the job is, and where the food is. It is only I who cannot see it!

Prayer: Oh Lord, help me to trust you for your provision. You are so faithful and you promise that you will not let the righteous go hungry (Proverbs 10:3). Help me to walk into this day full of hope and joy in you, knowing that you care for us and will provide for our needs. Amen.

January 30th 1988

by // // No Comments

An audio tape of a sermon entitled “But God” by Jon Coursen was recently given to me. His theme throughout the tape was “I don’t know the answers to your problem, but I do know who does- God.” It may sound simplistic, but as I have listened over and over to this tape, I am convinced he is right.

Let me share with you some of his thoughts about how God intervened in the problems of people recorded in the Bible:

  • Abraham (the patriarch) tried to pass off his wife, Sarah, as his sister- “But God” intervened and saved her. (Genesis 20:3)
  • Jacob struggled with the negative and changing attitude of his father-in-law- “However God” intervened and did not allow him to harm Jacob. (Genesis 31:7)
  • Jacob on his death bed assured Joseph that he (Jacob) would die- “But God” would be with him. (Genesis 48:21)
  • Joseph realized that his brothers had intended harm for him- “But God” had intended it for good. (Genesis 50:19-20)
  • Samson, after a difficult battle was feeling tired and discoursed, in need of refreshment. He felt as though he would die of thirst- “Then God” brought forth water to refresh him. (Judges 15:15-20)
  • David was being hunted like a criminal by King Saul- “but God” intervened to protect him. (I Samuel 23:13-14)

Time after time in scripture, we see evidence of difficult circumstances, problems and dilemmas. Yet with each of these, we see men and women of faith who said “but God” was there. Maybe you, like me, are in one of those situations in life where you cannot figure out what good can come of it. I don’t know what the answer to your problem is, but I know who has the answer! In the midst of trails and difficulties, there is hope. The advice that people give may have some merit, but listening to God, waiting for the unfolding of His plan, is always of value. In your rush to fix problems, don’t do what I often do…..forget to listen to God.

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Behold His Glory

by // // No Comments

Is it possible for us to “Behold His Glory”?

God says, “Yes” and He has a plan and a path for us to follow. The desire of my heart for today, is for you to ponder this thought. To allow the Lord to speak to you regarding how you can do this and also if you are doing something which blocks this from happening. I know it’s hard to put on the brakes, and quiet our hearts and mind. But I pray you will be willing to make time today. I hope you will try not to talk during your quiet time and really focus your thoughts on the Lord. Looking up scripture in your own Bible, and asking the Lord to reveal to you personally the truth of these verses.

II Corinthians 3:18 tells us that it is possible for all of us to “Behold His Glory”.

“And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Really think about this wonderful verse and what each part of it says to you.

John 16:13a “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.”

In Isaiah 58:8 we find a wonderful promise and then directions as to how to claim that promise.

“Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily, your righteousness shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.”

The wonderful promise in the first part of this verse is that our light shall break forth. ( I like to think of it as breaking thru to glory). Then the second part shows us how we are able to do this and with whose help. Our righteousness will go before us. Who is your righteousness?

Jeremiah 26:6b “The Lord is our righteousness.”

So He is going before leading and directing us into this wonderful promise. The song just came to me, “I’ve got a home in Glory Land that outshines the sun”. I know we have a place reserved in Heaven which is the ultimate Glory Land, but many verses seem to show that we can experience His glory on earth also. Not only are we striving to reach Glory- but the glory of the Lord is our rear guard, and prodding us along and protecting us along the way also. We are on a path heading towards glory.

Proverbs 4:18 “But the path of the righteousness is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until the full day.”

(Oh Lord, may the path you are putting us on today shine brighter and brighter and reveal wondrous things to us along the way.)

Consider this wonderful promise in Isaiah 40:5 “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Here are some thoughts about Moses seeing “The Glory” and then some thoughts from the Living Study Bible regarding those verses.

Exodus 24:16-18 “The glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud. Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. And Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.”

From the Life Application Bible page 1772: “The glory that the Spirit imparts to the believer is greater both in quality and longevity than that which Moses experienced. The glory gradually transforms the believer into Chistlikeness. Becoming Christlike is a progressive experience. The more closely we relate to him, the more we will be like him.”

(Lord, show me today the “hidden” things that are in the verses I am looking at)

Matthew 11:25 “At that time Jesus declared, “I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes.”

Some verses to ponder on your way to breaking through to Glory:

  • I Pater 4:13
  • Isaiah 28:5a
  • II Thessalonians 2:14
  • Isaiah 60:1
  • Psalms 104:31
  • Daniel 2:20-23
    • “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. He change times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; he reveals deep and mysterious things; he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. To thee, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for thou hast given me wisdom and strength, and hast now made known to me what we asked of thee.”

What is holding me back from breaking through to “His Glory” and becoming all he would have you be? If you are feeling that these verses and thoughts are great but you have had a hard time really experiencing what they are talking about, the Bible also has some help in that area.

Romans 3:23 “Since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

That is the basis for asking God to be our Savior and forgive us all our wins and accept us as his child. Therefore one of the reasons we are not experiencing all that is possible would be that we have not totally surrendered our lives to Jesus. Before doing that, we all fall short of his glory.

There are other reasons why Christians also fall short of experiencing this glory. Let us ponder these two verses, one from the Old Testament and one from the New.

Psalm 106:20 “They exchanged the glory of God for the image of an ox that eats grass.”

Romans 1:22,23 “Claiming to be wise, they become fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles.”

Have you come close to receiving God’s glory but before you open the package you make an exchange. Those mentioned in the above verses exchanged the glory for images. What kind of image or mirage could you possibly be exchanging his glory for. Something that looks real but is not the real thing God would have us have. Ask God to reveal to you anything in your life that would be a block in receiving his glory.

Also, let us look at II Corinthians 3:18 “And we all with UNVEILED FACE, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

(Lord, is there a veil of some kind over my face, keeping me from seeing your glory fully. Please reveal that to me and show me what I can do to be changed into your likeness, little by little, degree by degree.)

What needs changing first? My attitude? My busyness? My not putting God first in my life?

I would like to close with some comments from Oswald Chambers from April 22nd of My Utmost for His Highest:

“We must build our faith not on fading lights but on the Light that never fails. When important individuals go away we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do– to look into the face of God for ourselves……A Christian servant is one who perpetually looks into the face of God and then goes forth to talk to others. The ministry of Christ is characterized by an abiding glory of which the servant is totally unaware. Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.”

Exodus 34:29 “When Moses came down from Mount Sinai, with two tables of the testimony in his hand as he came down from the mountain, Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because he had been talking with God.”

Look to Him and be RADIANT!!!!!

Mali’s addition:

These finals words in this post really resonated with me because Grandma Rosy has been the faithful Christian servant who has perpetually looked into the face of God, and as a result shines God’s light into each of our lives. Grandma Rosy’s skin is shining with God’s light because she continues to talk with God daily. She doesn’t need her voice or strength to exude God’s brilliant and radiant light! What an amazing example for us all!

Stress

by // // No Comments

Everyone has a different level of stress. Some people can handle great stress in the work place and fall apart around the children. For others it’s the reverse. Sometimes we bring on our stress and sometimes its just a situation or circumstance. But what we want to learn in this lesson is how to handle it. We want to learn what to do with it before it does something to us. We tend to blame our troubles and stresses on the people around us, instead of blaming our troubles on our “re-action” to those people. Our stressful situations can either be a “problem” or a “challenge”. Problem is such a negative word and generates toxic poison into our system. Whereas challenge is a positive word and implies excitement and accomplishment.

I feel I am trying to teach you to build a fence at the edge of the cliff, so that you and your family wont fall over. Things that will help your marriage be happy, your children to stay close to you and the Lord, and your personal life to be happy. The Lord also provides ambulances at the foot of the cliff to help you and care for you there. But I think much of our troubles can be avoided by simply following the plan he has for our life at the top of the cliff. As a child of God, we can handle any problem if we allow God to be the one working with us. Phil 4:13 says “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Paul tells of his reaction to trouble in II Cor. 12:7-10. His troubles made him stronger. What if you husband comes home after a hard day and is upset because the house is a mess. You could react in rage, and shorten your own life, or you could refuse to let his ulcer become your ulcer.

Jesus promises us “peace” not stress. John 14:27 says “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid.” Then John 15:1-10 all about abiding in him which is key to controlling stress. Verse 11 says “These things I have spoken to you that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be full.” Meet each challenge with the peace of Jesus.

How can we practically do this? If our load is too heavy to bear we read what we can do in Matt 11:28 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (v. 29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, (v. 30) For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Sometimes we pray for healing or relief from stress, but work against the laws of God. An example of this is the woman who prays for healing for her liver disease but wont give up alcohol. Or the man praying for healing from bronchitis and wont give up smoking. What do we do similar in our lives, perhaps more subtle but the result are the same? David in the Bible learned to handle stress. In the idle of hectic situations he would state his problem to God and then praise God. Psalm 3 is an example of this. This was written when he fled from Absalom his son. In II Sam. 13 we read of the circumstances that turned Absolom’s heart to revenge.

I know I sometimes sound like a broken record talking about taking time with God in the morning. But I feel it is so key to also dealing with stress. Committing your work to him and allowing him to establish your plans. If you allow him to establish your plans for the day, He isn’t going to give you so much to become stressed about. Prov. 3:5,6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Why do you suppose he tells us NOT to rely on our own insight? Because he knows we will laden ourselves down with what we “should” do because someone else wants us to, or what we “ought” to do, because we will feel guilty if we don’t. You know the list goes on and on as why we do all the things each day, that are done on our own “insights”. Give God a chance to plan your day. Go before and prepare the way. It wont be a stressful day but a joyful one, anticipating what surprise the Lord has next in store for you.

When I said each person has a different level of stress I didn’t mean that the level of stress is different within us. What I mean is there is a different level of stress regarding situations and problems that bring different people to high levels of stress and pain. The pain and stress is just as real, but what brought it on could be very slight for one person, but extremely heavy for another. It seems to me there are only two answers to stress, either ask the Lord how we can remove it from our life, listen to his direction and then, do it. Or, learn how to live with it and re-act to the person or situation that are giving us stress in a manner so that stress doesn’t take over. Either way, we must rely on the Lord. Either to show us how to eliminate the stress, or teaching us to live with it, so we can live “above” it and not let it kill us.

Oh Lord, show me the path of life you have for me. A path of peace, joy, righteousness and anticipation, not full of stress and anxiety.

Psalm 16:11 “Thou dost show me the path of life; in thy presence there is fullness of joy, in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore.”

Proverbs 16:24 “The wise mans path leads UPWARD to life, that he may avoid Sheol beneath.”  

Burdens- a time to cast & a time to bear

by // // No Comments

After sharing my thoughts in “Casting your Burdens”, I continued considering and pondering further. I realized there are some burdens that we cannot cast away, but that the L0rd must help us bear them. Some of these would include:

  • Caring for an Alzheimer parent
  • Caring for a handicapped child
  • Watching parents grow older and coming to end of life
  • Watching loved ones die
  • Combatting a debilitating disease
  • Having been told you or a loved one has cancer

I think it is these kinds of burdens that Jesus is talking about in Matthew 11:28: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light”.

I was thinking of the story that someone shared with me that sometimes the burdens we carry are likened to someone pulling a little red wagon filled with rocks. Along the way of life we have picked up worry,  anxiety, sin, many “what if’s”, many fears, and they are rocks that we have piled little by little into our wagon. The wagon is getting heavier and heavier to pull but the rocks are not burdens the Lord has given us. For He says His burden is light. These are the burdens in our little red wagon that we want to cast away.

IMG_1505

This picture is a reminder of the burdens that we are to allow the Lord to help us bear. And the little wagon is a reminder to think about the rocks and burdens we are carrying that we really do not need to. These could include:

  • Worrying about what will happen next year
  • Being anxious about growing older
  • Feeling sad because someone has hurt your feelings
  • Angry with a family member
  • Being depressed because you are too thin, too fat, not as pretty as your sister, or having bad skin
  • Carrying the burden of past sin

The following verse speak about “casting” our burdens:

  • Romans 13:12
  • 1 John 4:18
  • 1 Peter 5:7
  • Galations 6:2

Lord, give us the wisdom to know when to cast our burdens and when to have you help us hear them.

Casting Our Burdens on the Lord

by // // No Comments

These are some thoughts given to me on Thursday morning December 8, 1994.

Thinking about my missionary friend, Alma Hagen, and her illustration of actually putting out your open hand, palm side up, in a gesture of giving our burden, desire, fears, anxieties…. to the Lord, and not grasping onto it with our clenched fist.

Thinking of Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”

Give it to Jesus– Not only the bad things in your life, but also the obsessive desires for good things. Even these can rob us of peace. Give it ALL to Jesus on an open palm. “Whatever Lord, Your will.. You know Lord my desires, my hopes, but is your plan better?”

Isaiah 55:8,9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

God may it be: Your plan for how my marriage should be…. Your plan for how my children should be….. Your plan for how my life should be… Your plan for how my house should be…

1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him, for he cares about you.”

Psalms 55:22 “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved” (We might be moved from our physical house or our neighborhood, but never moved from the closeness to God).

Think about fishing. Are we like fisherman, throwing out our burden to the Lord, and then reeling it back in? Just cast it and leave it! The definition of cast: to throw with a quick motion and sudden release.

Let us quickly with sudden release- cast our burdens on the Lord and then experience the peace that passes all understanding.

Knowing God’s Will

by // // No Comments

(Adapted from work by Pastor Erman K. Lunder).

The following is a guide created to bring clarity to the process of making decision.  After considering your options, as well as consulting with family and friends, it can be helpful to take a step back and simply listen to the Holy Spirit.

Step 1: Pray- Search the scriptures. (This doesn’t have to be scripture related to the problem. Simply being in scripture gets you in tune with the mind of God.)

Step 2: To the best of your ability, with all the facts and information you have available, make a decision.

Step 3: Wait. Give yourself a day or two without sharing your choice with anyone else. Keeping your decision private will allow you to process your thoughts and feelings clearly and without any influence from others.

  • If during this waiting period you experience:
    • calm peace
    • inner conviction
    • liberty of action
    • joyous anticipation
  • If so: your decision is most likely aligned with God’s will.
  • HOWEVER…. If during this waiting period you experience:
    • restlessness
    • bondage
    • dark dread
  • If so: your decision is most likely NOT aligned with God’s will.

(Be aware that fear of change, challenges, and the unknown can often complicate your ability to decipher God’s will. If you often struggle to accept changes or things outside your “plan”, spend some extra time praying and asking the Lord if your need for control is hindering your ability to hear His voice.)

 

Scriptures relating to instantly obeying the voice of the Spirit:

  • Isaiah 30:21 (The Rudder Verse)
  • Proverbs 20:27
  • Romans 8:14
  • John 10:27
  • John 8:47
  • Galatians 5:16
  • Galatians 5:25

When we have received direction from the Lord about which choice to make and then things don’t seem “just right”, here is a verse to cling to:

Proverbs 20:24 “Since the Lord is directing our steps, why try to understand everything that happens along the way?”

Newer posts »