He Calls You By Name

He Calls You By Name

by | Apr 13, 2022 | Belief, God, Hope, Redeemed

“Mary.”

When she heard him tenderly call her name, her search for Jesus at the tomb was over. She had left close friends at home in search of Jesus’ body, but what she found was Christ the risen Lord.

In his book, Mornings with Tozer,  A. W. Tozer says “Christ’s resurrection brought about a startling change of direction for the believers. Sadness and fear and mourning marked the direction of their religion before they knew that Jesus was raised from the dead.”

That direction changed with the sound of three simple phrases. “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” That day, their focus shifted away from the tomb to the telling of the good news. He is risen indeed! Tozer goes on to say “Thankfully, the resurrection morning was only the beginning of a great, vast outreach that has never ended – and will not end until our Lord Jesus Christ comes back again!”

The Bible is the voice of God calling us to new life. Leaving our sin life, we can live a new, redeemed life. Where we spend eternity depends on how we respond to that voice. My friend, is today the day to experience the power of Christ’s resurrection?

For believers, Satan would have us still beside the cross, mourning instead of proclaiming that Christ has risen. Because He lives and did not stay in the tomb, we can face whatever tomorrow holds. Because He lives, we can live without fear but with a sense of purpose and significance. Because he lives, we are called to act, to tell others about the saving power of Jesus.

For those who have not yet believed, is today the day to loosen your grip on the world and reach out to receive the salvation Jesus offers? He is also calling you to act, to accept His gift of eternal life and experience an Easter like none other.

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The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him. Now I have told you.” Matthew 28:5-7

The Presence of Wonder

The Presence of Wonder

by | Apr 6, 2022 | God, Hope, Joy, Moments

What a day that will be, when my Jesus I shall see.

When I look upon His face, the one who saved me by His grace.

Then He’ll take me by the hand, and lead me through the promised land.

What a day, glorious day that will be.

The verses from this old hymn popped into my head as I drove home from a basketball game late one night. This seems to be much of my life – ballgames, tennis matches and long drives. The moon was out, striking and bright. And there was a multitude of tiny feathery clouds floating over and around it. It made me think of an army of angels gathered around the Father. I tried to take a picture while driving but that became almost disastrous, so I decided it best to pull over and capture the moment.

Moments. I am learning to enjoy moments like these again. It seems I’d lost my way over time, forgetting to enjoy the little things life has to offer. Instead, I allowed the stress of situations around me to consume my mind and thoughts. Although many times I’d asked Jesus to speak to me and show me his presence, I would often miss it. That night, God showed up and I worshipped him in song, enjoying the brilliance of the moonlit sky above me.

E. B. White (American essayist and author of Charlotte’s Web) penned these words that carry a similar theme. “Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder.”

No matter the season or difficulty, don’t miss your moments. Take time to slow down and enjoy them so you don’t miss the presence of wonder and the beauty of this life.

Look for them in every circumstance or conversation. Look for them in nature around you and in every aspect of your day. They can be found in the form of a smile or a kind word. They can be evident through the gentle nudging of a friend. Or through the brilliance of the sunset at the end of the day. They can even present themselves in a moonlight night on a dark road headed home.

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The heavens declare the glory of God;
 the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Psalm 19:1

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
 Who created all these? 
He who brings out the starry host one by one
 and calls forth each of them by name.
 Because of his great power and mighty strength,
 not one of them is missing. Isaiah 40:26

 

God Sees Us

God Sees Us

by | Mar 30, 2022 | God, Grace, Hope

I have successfully loaded a ski lift for 30 plus years. Until today. Today, that lift got the best of me. It’s a special lift – I call it the magic carpet lift. When you enter, you stand still, and it takes you to the place where the seat picks you up. Except when my ski tips hit the slushy ice, my feet took an unnatural turn. Knees pointed together, I fell backward, the seat hitting my head while I lay there calling out “my knees, my knees.” Oh, I’m going to feel that stiffness tomorrow. Now, that was embarrassing enough. But that wasn’t enough. I did the very same thing again. The very same thing twice! Poor Parker. He was so embarrassed.

Sometimes life just gets the best of us. We may be enjoying a normal day when we’re struck by a sad moment. That moment can throw our whole day – or even week – out of whack. We could receive a dreaded call about a family member. Or things seem to fall apart around us.

In one month alone, Garrett, 15 at the time, ran into a barbed wire fence, our roof leaked, termites swarmed our neighborhood, our water heater needed repairing and we found a rodent living in our attic, just to name a few! Lord help us all when those types of weeks or months rain down on us.

If you’re like me, you just need to talk to your person to face the days when our hearts are heavy, our minds a cluttered mess.

I don’t know all the whys and answers to our questions, but I do know that God sees. He sees us, he knows us and he’s beside us during our painful moments. Scripture even tells us directly that God hears our prayers. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayers.” 1 Peter 3:12.

We may not always feel this way, and our feelings are likely to get in the way, but this is truth. He is attentive to our prayers.

I may not have voiced the words to the Lord, please save my knees, but God heard the cry of my heart. My knees will recover, eventually, and the young man who picked me up from my disarranged limbs was patient and kind. For that, I am grateful.

Side note. My boys talked me into trying that lift again the next day. I did not want to, but I survived it. I can leave Spring Break knowing I conquered my fear.

Dance with Me

Dance with Me

by | Mar 22, 2022 | Hope, Joy, Obedience

I have a secret . . . I can’t dance. No, that’s not the secret. If you know me well, you know dancing is not a natural ability for me. That footwork gets me every time. I’m a dancer wannabe. So, I’m taking dance lessons, but I’ve not told anyone, so it’s been a secret. Until now – I finally dropped my guard and told two people after seven weeks of lessons.

I’ve always wanted to dance well. I figure if I’m going to worship and dance before the Lord in Heaven, I’d better go ahead and learn here on earth. (Just kidding)

One lesson was on what would have been my 26th wedding anniversary. Memories came flooding back of the few times my husband and I danced at weddings and symphony pops concerts. That man could dance. Me? I would become a bumbling, stumbling, giggling mess. As I giggled, he would tell me to follow his lead. If I would do just that, we were in good shape. If I lost my focus and got out of step, graceful did not describe us.

My instructor reminds me to wait, saying he will guide me in what to do next. I succeed for a while, but when I begin to anticipate his next move I get out of step and stumble. If I’ve heard the word once, I’ve heard it a hundred times. Wait.

That’s what God asks of us too, isn’t it? Wait. Follow His lead. Don’t get ahead of Him. When we wait on his next move, our steps flow as they should. When we anticipate what’s next, and move ahead on our own, we falter and fail.

When we’re in sync with God, life is beautiful. That is when we hang on and enjoy the experience.

My friend, moments of joy await you when you’re in sync with the Father. Imagine yourself in the arms of Jesus, waltzing through life. Let his strong arms and hands guide you. Let his feet take you to places of inspiration and beauty. Let His words give you hope.

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Romans 10:15
15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Ecclesiastes 3:4
a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

Psalm 30:11-12
You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. LORD my God, I will praise you forever.

Psalm 27:14
Wait for the Lord;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the Lord.

Psalm 130:5
I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.

Psalm 73:26
“My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Exodus 15:2
“The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.”

Laughter is Good Medicine

Laughter is Good Medicine

by | Mar 16, 2022 | Joy

I wrote “Laugh every day” as one of my new year’s resolutions. Yep, right up there with lose 15 pounds and write an encouraging note to someone every week. Crazy to think that I need to remind myself to laugh. But with my tendency to stress and worry, it fit.

Sitting in my favorite chair with a cup of tea in hand, I researched Bible verses about laughter during my morning devotion. A quick Google search also informed me of the health benefits of laughter. What did I learn? I need to stop taking myself so seriously and laugh more.

Sometimes that’s easier said than done. After the loss of a loved one, holidays often are downright depressing. I try to stay upbeat but they can just get me down. I miss what I no longer have. I grieve for my boys because they’ve missed the influence of their dad. Seeing others enjoy holidays with ALL their family can sometimes lead to a downward spiral.

Have you been there? Are you in a season of disappointment and pain? Are you sleepless from worry? Does grief have a grip on you? Maybe you’ve lost your joy, and laughter is a rare occurrence in your life.

My late husband loved to laugh. I mean, a good belly laugh most of the time. He teased, he laughed, he smiled. He loved being with people and laughing with people. I, on the other hand, have resorted to reminding myself – in writing – to laugh.

Oh but it’s good to laugh. Research says that not only is laughter a result of comic relief, but it provides stress relief, among other health benefits. It’s good for us spiritually, emotionally and physically. While high stress levels disrupt our sleep – making us too revved up to sleep – laughter can bust up that stress and bolster us into getting a better nights’ sleep.

Proverbs 17: 22 agrees. “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” This “medicine” is free and available anywhere, anytime and to anyone.

Funny thing is, now every laugh reminds me of the promise I made to myself. And that brings joy to my soul.

What makes you smile? Write it down; keep it close to your heart.

Live. Breathe. Enjoy the day and be thankful for God-given moments to laugh and de-stress. Give it a try.  Allow yourself moments of joy and laughter.

Restore the joy in your life and renew your mind . . . And laugh.

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Job 8:21

He will yet fill your mouth with laughter

and your lips with shouts of joy.

 

Psalm 126:2-3

Our mouths were filled with laughter,

our tongues with songs of joy.

Then it was said among the nations,

“The Lord has done great things for them.”

The Lord has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

 

Luke 6:21

Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be satisfied.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

 

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