Faith is one of those words used to explain something that we can’t see. It’s putting trust into something without having proof of its existence.
But it’s so much more than that!
To have faith, we must have confidence that the unseen actually exists. We must be willing to give our full allegiance to it. We must use that faith to penetrate the walls of fear, hate, anger, sadness. Our hearts must be so consumed with faith that no other path will do.
But even that isn’t all of it.
Faith is an obligation, but it’s also a free gift from the Holy Spirit. It’s ours to keep and as a result of it, good works will follow.
Even they are not our own doing.
Our good deeds are placed in us by the one who gave them to us. The very Spirit of God Himself. A means whereby we can show our gratitude. His love – His mercy – His patience – His compassion – His forgiveness, Covers us – encourages us – takes us in His arm and comforts us. He bathes us in His righteousness and washes away all our iniquities.
My faith is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
When our tears overtake us at the drop of a hat, we immediately think of ourselves as weak or lacking faith. Tears are an outlet. They are a blessed gift from God, designed within us to provide moisture for the eyes. They can cleanse the eye of a foreign object. They can release a ton of emotional stress. They are a necessary part of our chemical makeup and I thank God for them every day. It has been nine months of hospital visits, waiting for hours in an ER, watching others who are in severe pain longing for assistance but having to wait their turn. Going through six emergency surgeries only to have to return for more. Dealing with anesthetic each time. No answers. No solutions. No wonder there are tears.
When you go through any kind of medical issue your whole world turns upside down. It isn’t just your life that’s affected. Those who love you, who live under the same roof, family, friends, fellow Christians are at the ready with sincere prayers, but still the tears fall. Sometimes they are uncontrollable. Sometimes necessary for the healing process. Isn’t it amazing to know that God is aware of each of those tears. He has even stored them in a bottle. When we get to the point of tears, we are close to a breaking point – wanting the suffering to end – praying for solutions – wondering if our faith is strong enough. When it seems that the end will never come, we can be sure that God knows. He is with us. He walks with us through each step of our existence. He, the King of Creation, is our friend, our confidante, our Redeemer. When we get to that breaking point, He is the One who loves us unconditionally. He will intercede. His will is always good, but we also need His strength to accept it.
After our morning devotion today, we shared some tears as we prayed and hugged each other. The tears were genuine – but for both of us, humor always helps in tough situations. Paul started to sing, “There’s a Place for us,” from West Side Story. I started to laugh and said, “Oh, no, something is really wrong. You’re singing show tunes!” We both began to laugh as the tears vanished. It’s really true. “Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.”
There are so many times when we try to manage our lives and all the difficulties we face. When we seem unable to find a solution, , we turn to God for help. Maybe we should just do that in the first place. It seems to me that it would save a lot of angst and knots in the stomach. We can’t solve every problem that comes our way, even though God gives us common sense and brain power. We become stubborn, in a way, because we feel like we should be able to solve the problem alone.
There are things that go beyond our control. There are health issues that seem to have no solution. There are relationship problems that are one sided or unyielding. There are financial problems that make us feel oppressed or downfallen. When things get to that point, we logically turn to God for help. However, the solution doesn’t always show up right away. What we truly need to know is that no matter what happens to us, God is with us all the way. He is there for us. He hears us. He knows our needs even before we do. He loves us unconditionally. He has our best interests in mind in all things. He will not give us more than we can handle. Even with those truths in mind, it isn’t easy for us to let go of the reins. The dilemma than becomes even more difficult. Add to all that, we have an adversary who is trying desperately to win control over our souls. The devil never sleeps. He is like a lion on the prowl and will stop at nothing to mess with our heads – causing us to lose sight of the power of God over Him.
Remember that God is faithful. He is our defense in every trouble. He will not leave us. He has already gained the victory over the devil and provides us with everlasting life. As I write this, I am struggling. I know the battle will end and good will come from it, but right now it seems that it will never end. This is when our Christian friends and family can be of much help to us. Their love and prayers are like drops of honey to those who are going through daily trials. Maybe you will be the one to administer that help today. Maybe you are the one who needs it.
Psalm 31:14-16 “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love!”
We all have those days when feeling overwhelmed becomes overwhelming. I’m talking about a number of circumstances, but particularly when you’ve been faced with a recurring problem that just doesn’t seem to get better. The frustration comes in not being able to do anything about it and it might even lead to a state of depression that can physically drain you.
Jesus had those feelings on the night before He would be nailed to a cross and suffer a horrific death. He prayed that God might find another avenue to follow for the salvation of mankind. Since He was both God and man, he certainly would have been in conflict about this. He continued to pray, however, that God’s will would be done. He knew what the outcome would be, yet he struggled with the overwhelming part of it.
When we feel overwhelmed by circumstances that are weighing on us, we can see that we are in good company. The Son of God struggled with a life and death situation that night. Tears poured from His precious eyes as He prayed for an alternative. We might pray for things to be different for us too, but there are times when we must press on, even when it seems too hard to do so.
If you’re overcome by depression – if you feel totally helpless in your ability to get out of that state – if you feel you simply can’t go any further, trust that God is in control. His will is always for our good. He will never give us more than we can handle, and He certainly will help us to come up with a solution. Instead of getting to that point, turn it over to God in the first place. He assures us that He will carry our burdens for us.
As Christians, we’re told to trust God in all situations – to carry our burdens to Him – to be still and know that He is God. That sounds almost like a copout – like the easy way out of a situation. It isn’t so easy to do though, is it? We go through life trying to fulfill certain goals – build relationships – help people – do the right thing – be all that we can be, but when push comes to shove, we think we should be able to handle whatever on our own.
If someone told you that they would take all your troubles on their own shoulders, wouldn’t that be a wonderful offer? How could we resist such a great deal. God makes that promise to us every single day and still we try to muddle through the muck alone. The devil is a sneaky creature when it comes to getting into our heads. He uses our weaknesses to maneuver our thinking as well as our actions. He wants us to believe that we’re foolish to trust in someone we can’t see
I came across the lyrics to a Christina Aguiler song called, “It’s Not Easy Loving Me.” The words really fit when it comes to our relationships with others, but even more so when it comes to our connection to God. I don’t think it was written with that intention, but our first Love should be God and the rest will fall into place.
It’s not so easy lovin’ me It gets so complicated All the things you gotta be Everything’s changin’ But you’re the truth I’m amazed by all your patience Everything I put you through
And when I’m about to fall Somehow you’re always waiting With your open arms to catch me You’re gonna save me from myself From myself, yes You’re gonna save me from myself Oh, yeah
Don’t ask me why I’m cryin’ ‘Cause when I start to crumble You know how to keep me smilin’ You always save me from myself From myself, myself You’re gonna save me from myself
I know it’s hard, it’s hard But you’ve broken all my walls You’ve been my strength, so strong
And don’t ask me why I love you It’s obvious your tenderness is what I need to make me A better woman to myself To myself, myself You’re gonna save me from my, myself
Today, resolve to let God take the reins in your life. He has promised to carry your burdens and He will. Instead of turning into yourself for healing, turn to the One who created you and your uniqueness. He is more powerful, more intelligent, more available than anyone or anything else you could ask for in time of need.
“Though I walk in the midst of trouble,you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.” Psalm 138:7 ESV
I was born on June 19, 1942. I looked up the day to see which day of the week it was, and I was born on a Friday. If you’re old enough to remember the old nursery rhymes, the poem “Monday’s Child,” was designed to help children learn the order of each day of the week. When I was younger and learning these rhymes, I had a tendency and still do, to wonder about such things. Who makes up these words? Here is the poem in its entirety.
Monday’s child is fair of face, Tuesday’s child is full of grace, Wednesday’s child is full of woe, Thursdays child has far to go, Fridays child is loving and giving, Saturday’s child works hard for his living, And the child that is born on the Sabbath day Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay;
“Thursday’s child has far to go.” I suppose this could be because the week is almost over and it seems like the end is finally near, but it will return again next week. It might have to do with not being able to accomplish what we set out to do on Monday. Maybe Mother Goose simply couldn’t think of anything else to write that rhymed. The fact that I wonder about such things, gives one pause.
Some folks like to analyze these old verses. For example, some believe that Thursday’s child might be the child with special needs. Some think that it refers to the obstacles children run into during the week and by Thursday, they’re ready to throw in the towel. David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels wrote the music and lyrics for
Thursday was one of the most difficult days for our Lord, Jesus. On that day of Holy week His Holy Supper was instituted. He discussed His coming death, behaved like a servant and washed His disciples’ feet – foretold the betrayal of one disciple and the denial of another – prayed to the point of sweating blood in the garden where He often went to pray – replaced a man’s ear without surgery – was arrested for preaching the truth – was accused of blasphemy, placed before a kangaroo court and treated brutally by his accusers.
Most of us will never experience such suffering. Our days may have ups and downs, but they will be nothing like the Thursday of Holy Week. When we arrive at the end of our week, let’s be reminded of the great cost paid for our redemption. Because of Jesus love, we all have the promise of being full of grace. Heaven is waiting for those who believe that the price for our ransom has been paid by God Himself.
Life is like a roller coaster sometimes, isn’t it? You reach peaks throughout your journey and suddenly find yourself in the pits. I feel a little like Forest Gump this morning. I never have liked roller coasters. In fact, the idea of climbing those tracks to reach the top is more than just scary. There is the occasional bump along the way – the anticipation as to what’s on the other side – and then the excitement and fitfulness when you plunge back down to the bottom. There are the detours, the hiccups, the roadblocks and the downright tragedies that occur on that very roller coaster we call living. When we reach the end, we’re so glad that it’s over, anything looks better. We just want to get off.
It seems as though our lives have been subject to such ups and downs, twists and turns, joys and fears for the past few years. A worldwide pandemic turned joyful faces into masked marauders. Isolation turned extroverts into introverts. Anxiety and depression became the moods of the day. As we return to normal, we discovered that normal isn’t normal anymore. We don’t have a clue as to what’s normal.
Aging is like that too. With retirement we find a new way of living. If we’ve saved and prepared for it, we have many choices for adventure. If you’re living day to day on Social Security income alone, you soon find out that your working life isn’t over. To top it off, your body is falling apart. You aren’t capable of doing what you did at age 30. The roller coaster is now on a fast track to the end.
What does God have to say about this dilemma? Looking at Psalm 40, I found some encouragement in the entire Psalm, but particularly in verses 1-3.
I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. 2 He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
We are bound to face challenges each day. Man’s self-destruction occurred in the Garden of Eden when our first parents ate from the forbidden tree – but take heart. Our God loves us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to pay the price for our sin. We’ll still have a rough ride from time to time, but there will be plenty of times to enjoy the ride.
I must admit, I didn’t tune in to the Queen’s funeral. For the past few months, I’ve been trying to stay away from current events and the news. Our world is filled with so much bad reporting, false news and stories of hate, violence and crime, that it’s enough to depress the average guy. When you’re going through your own trials, the last thing you need is all that extra baggage. I do remember when she became the Queen of England though, and how beautiful she was. I was a child of ten at the time of her coronation.
As her reign lasted for 70 years, she witnessed changes in our ever-changing world – wars, technology, the coming and going of many political and world leaders. The inventions during that time period have been immense and she experienced all of them. She always stated that she was chosen by God to be the Queen of England and that she would devote her life to Him and her subjects. She did. She often spoke of giving our hearts to Jesus. She wept at her husband’s funeral and saw the passing of many public figures – an amazing woman.
What surprised me most was a conversation she recently was said to have had with an acquaintance. She supposedly said, “I wish Jesus would come back in my lifetime, because I would place my crown at his feet.” Such a tribute to her Savior. Now she is with Him and has given Him that very throne, which she borrowed for so many years.
MAY YOU REST IN OUR SAVIOR’S STRONG ARMS, DEAR QUEEN ELIZABETH II
Well, the word for today is “ARGH,” because it’s “Talk Like a Pirate Day.” Who doesn’t like Pirates? Other pirates, I guess, along with those they pillage and plunder. The kind of pirate I’m talking about is the Errol Flynn or Johnny Depp, who portrayed the adventurous life of a pirate with all the swashbuckling and rum swilling. Whenever I did plays with kids, one of the favorites was a pirate play. I imagine it’s because of the adventure and complete drama of those stories. It could be attributed to walking the plank or hobbling around on one leg or using a hook to carve your meat. Whatever it is, it still draws us in. So, to all ya wannabee pirates out there, be spending the day talking like one – or wearing a patch over yer eye – or searching fer buried treasure – or wearing a parrot on yer shoulder – or doing other piraty things. I highly recommend it for a fun diversion. You might get a chuckle out of these cartoons too.
My word for the day is “Theatricalizing.” This is what I do. I am a theatricalizer – or a Thespian – a playwright -a performer – an actor – and old to boot. This has been my chosen profession for most of my 80 years. I’m now involved with a group of 55+ theatricalizers. The group started about three years ago, right before the pandemic hit and sent most elderly people into isolation. I also happen to be one who enjoys her alone time, so that part of the pandemic didn’t bother me. We then discovered this new-fangled technology called Zoom. For the first year we met online and shared ideas on how to implement some of the problems the elderly face as they enter and go through the aging process. There’s much more funny material in that process than most of us going through it think there is. The fact that we can laugh at our own failures, lack of strength, disintegrating bodies and all the health issues that go along with it, was the impetus for our creative venture.
We wrote a series of episodes with characters named Ruby, Pearl, Crystal and Jade. All of these comprise our current company along with our new director. We haven’t yet named her, but you can bet she will be named for some gem. The Jewels of deNial is the name of our troupe. We do our show as if it were a live radio broadcast, which allows us to use a script while still having the ability to act it out. Our latest episode is about Medical Mishaps. We’ve all endured going to the ER. Maybe some have traveled by ambulance. Then there’s the long wait in the ER and the many forms which must be filled out while you’re bleeding profusely or half dead. The nursing staff, the medical team, the joys of being on a ward and sharing a room with three whackos is part of this adventure. It becomes so heightened that Pearl, Ruby and Crystal stage a breakout.
There are many of you out there that have had similar misadventures regarding the health care realm. The various pills and the inability to open the bottles – the boxed colonoscopy sent through the mail – the failed attempts at staying fit – and many more such situations occur in this episode. The greatest part of it is that we are given an opportunity to continue doing what we love as we age. We’ve been taking our show on the road and presenting it at various senior centers, assisted living venues and at our home base theatre right here in Minnesota. We’ve been received with a great amount of laughter for the relatable humor, and we benefit also by the roar of the crowd.
Psalm 92-12-15 “The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.
I love exploring unusual words and I particularly love the way some words sound as they roll off the tongue. The old English language is especially poetic and probably why many people use the King James version of the Bible. This language, though sometimes difficult to understand, has a lyrical tone – a not-so-often used – is reserved for special occasions and is set apart from the common language. It makes it seem more important and worthy of the One who is speaking it.
The word, “Withersoever” is used 35 times in various versions of the Bible. It is defined as “Wherever.” We tend to shorten beautiful words in the English language, which I believe gives them less power. When someone pledges their faithfulness, they might say, “Whithersoever thou goest, there will I follow. The formality of the word makes it sound official, doesn’t it? Words are used to communicate ideas, needs, plans, solutions and countless other reasons. To attach a whithersoever to a sentence would probably raise a few eyebrows today, but that’s because we tend to shorten a lot of words simply to save time,. Someday “whithersoever.” might become WSE in text language.
I personally read the ESV Bible for easier reading, but there’s something about the King James Version that seems to set it apart and gives it the honor it deserves. Therefore, whithersoever thou goest today, knowest that the King of Glory is at your side to guide thee through the outermost wanderings both hither and yon.
The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. Proverbs 2:1
This week I’m looking at words we don’t use very often, but they have a profound impact, nonetheless. Now that I mention it, the word “nonetheless” doesn’t get used on a daily basis either, but I’ll save that for another day. The word “tempestuous” stirs thoughts of chaos and things getting so out of control that we don’t know how to handle them. The storms of life are to be expected, but why do they always come at the same time? Why does it seem so difficult to navigate through them? Where is the captain of the ship? I actually wonder about that last statement. The captain is usually carousing with the passengers, so who is at the helm?
We don’t plan for disasters. We don’t look forward to financial problems. We aren’t ready to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but so often we expect to do so. Instead of waiting for something to happen, we must be proactive in the process. We can wait for the proverbial rescue, but unless we do something, chances are the answers will slip right past us without our even recognizing them. God gives us most of the necessary solutions through His Word, the Bible. He has also given us a brain, so that we can work through these things with His help.
The real guide for living comes in our daily communion with the greatest Navigator ever. So, forget about the weather channel and look to the skies.
“He stretches out the north over the void and hangs the earth on nothing. He binds up the waters in his thick clouds, and the cloud is not split open under them. He covers the face of the full moon[b] and spreads over it his cloud. He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness. The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at his rebuke.” Job 26:7-11
The image of Emmett Kelly is what I remember most about the circus clowns of the old days. Emmett expressed the epitome of maudlin. Maudlin describes itself as self-pity, over sentimental and often tearful. Later in my life, clowns took on a whole new image and instead of being funny, they became scary and evil. Emmett made us laugh with his apparent sadness – now clowns have become an evil force. Isn’t it funny how things change over time? The things that once were fun and safe have been corrupted and become just the opposite.
The word “maudlin” popped into my head this morning. Maybe it’s because of circumstances going on in my life right now. Maybe self-pity is creeping into my head and making a sad clown out of me. Tears can fall at any moment, and they usually do. There are times when we must put on a mask to cover the pain behind it. There are moments when we are required to be strong in adversity, but the only way to do that is to create a different face. There are days that we would rather crawl back into bed and forget about the rest of the week. Certainly, God doesn’t want that for us. Yet having experienced humanity Himself through His Son, Jesus, He knows what those maudlin emotions can lead to. Words like depression, anxiety, stress, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts might soon follow..
Jesus willingly took all our burdens, our worries, our maudlin thoughts to the cross and buried them in the tomb. When He rose again, His mission on earth was accomplished. He defeated death and the devil and gives us all the hope of a perfect destination after this one.
PSALM 56:8-11 “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?”
One of the most dramatic photographs that appeared right after the destruction in New York on September 11, 2001, shows the skeletal remains of the Twin Towers . The towers are silhouetted in the midst of smoke, ash and death. Today we’ll talk about that day. Many young children won’t remember. Even young adults will not relate to this event, because it isn’t often reflected upon in schools. The memory is still very fresh in the minds of those who lost loved ones – families of first responders – a city filled with dense and rancid ash – but, like what happened at Pearl Harbor, it must be remembered by all Americans.
Our freedom was attacked by terrorists. They somehow breached the system and were able to crush lives and the spirit of loyalty to country in just a short time. How could such a thing happen in the USA? The war on terrorism ensued and more lives were lost. Over the last twenty-one years, this event changed our mission statement. We grew further and further away from our Creator, when we needed Him the most. With a worldwide pandemic happening only nineteen years later, it was just another blow to our faith in government – our relationships – our patriotism – our God. It seemed our world was changing so much in that short period of time. Events seemed to be turning upside down. Respect for law enforcement – lack of taking responsibility for our actions – people were now isolated from friends and churches. It seemed we were falling backwards rather than pushing forward with the American dream.
I pray that our nation remembers the cost of our freedom. I pray that we return to God as a nation. I pray that we don’t need another wakeup call, but I fear that might be the only way we return to our only hope in life. Patriotist was born out of faith in God. Let’s not forget Him either.
Psalm 91:1-2 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
When we first moved into our new, old house, I discovered I was spending a lot of time on my knees. The old farmhouse we chose to inhabit had been restored and most of the interior structural work was done. All the walls were freshly painted, new cupboards installed, windows replaced. It was ready for us to move in. There was still the general maintenance of getting into a prayer position to clean both old and new wood floors. I’ve always scrubbed floors, by getting into a kneeling position, but these 80-year-old knees are having a difficult time doing so these days.
In the winter months I would sometime find myself on my knees while taking the dog outside. Sliding across the snow and eventually falling into it was a common occurrence. After a few years I finally went to see an orthopedic doctor in hopes of bringing some relief to my aching knees. He indicated that my x-ray showed the knees of a seventeen-year-old. I asked him if he had the right x-ray. After a cortisone shot, they felt better, but the thought of getting down on my knees has taken a back seat lately.
When I reach heaven, I will have a new body and won’t need to worry about my seventeen-year-old knees. I will continue to have conversations with God on a regular basis, but then I will be able to meet Him face to face.
Going through the ritual of getting down on my knees to pray has become a moment-to-moment conversation with God. I guess it doesn’t really matter to Him what position we take when we pray as long as that conversation continues on a regular basis. We often say our prayers in rote, and they lose so much of their actual meaning. When we rattle off certain prayers without really thinking about it, they become worthless words and meaningless action in God’s eyes. We aren’t getting much out of the situation either. When we pray, (and I don’t get on my knees to do so) our first inclination should be to thank God and give Him praise for all He has done for us. Our petitions should include the needs of others as well as our own. This time should be filled with reverence to God and gratitude for all He has accomplished in your life so far. It’s also a perfect time to confess your sins to Him. He already is aware of them, but through your praying you’ll find comfort in the fact that they have been forgiven on the day His Son died for all. Jesus made it possible for us to go directly to the source of our healing. His death and resurrection cut the middleman out of the picture.
Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference. ~Max Lucado
As I reach the end of my years, I find I have a lot of good information stored up in this old decrepit mind of mine. If I don't write it all down, it may vanish and no one will have the advantage of my thoughts. This is why this blog exists. I love the Lord, Jesus with all my heart and soul. I know I'm undeserving of all He's done for me, but I also know that His love is beyond my comprehension.
I've always wanted to write. I never kept diaries, but tucked my thoughts in my head for future reference. I use them now in creating stories, plays, poetry and my blog.
I continue to learn every day. I believe the compilation of our time spent with God will have huge affect on the way we live. I know I'm a sinner and I need a Savior. I have One through Jesus, Christ.
My book, "Stages - a memoir," is about the seven stages of life from the perspective of a woman. It addresses all the things girls and women go through in life as they travel it with Jesus, and it is available on Amazon.com.
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